Expert: Ben Menard - 8/10/2011

Question
I'm sure you seen plenty of these:

One morning, I opened the rear driver's side door and the window went down, and never went back up.  Some time later, the master switch on the driver's side stopped working.  So, I purchased a new switch.  I hooked it up and I still had no power.  I checked all my fuses and none of them are blown.  

I'm thinking that I have some wires that burnt or I need to get a new motor.  My question is should I buy a new motor or check to see that I have power running to the motor.  I've had no power for over a year and I need it fixed badly.

Answer
Hello Kevin,

I don't see this problem all the time, but I have seen it often enough to suspect that you have one or more broken wires between the driver door and the body of the car.  If you will look at the front of the driver door where the hinges are you will see a black rubber "boot' that protects the wires running from the master switch to all the other doors of the vehicle.  More than likely you will find the broken wire(s) inside that boot.  

You are probably better off letting someone with experience make this repair for you.  You may have to do a bit of searching to find someone in your area that specializes in automobile electrical repair, but I think the effort is well worth it.

Ben ... the power window guy