Expert: Roland Finston - 9/20/2011

Question
QUESTION: I've had battery issues and fuse problems before but this is new. Drove to the store just fine, rainy day. Get done with my shopping and it wont turn over. Like the battery was dead. Course, I've had it not start before if the steering column just a little off, had it not start until the brakes were depressed(dunno why). So I spent a little while looking around. Dash lights came on fine, nothing looked like it was a drained battery. Was getting warm in the car, so I rolled down the windows a little. Trying this and that and a guy that was parked next to me asked if things were ok and offered a jump.  

2nd try it started.

I let it sit awhile, thinking maybe it was low.. or maybe my lights had stayed on while I was in the store(sometimes if I turn them off too fast they stay on even though the knob is off). I press the window up switch(electric windows).. no dice. Fiddle with things, check fuses. Course I can't find fuses for the windows. Sunroof I don't have? Sure.. there's the fuse! Windows? Nope. Anywho, I drive home. Windows still wont go up.

Now, my car chimes at me a warning that my engine temp was high. I had my fans not turning on last year. Had a buddy of mine just touch my car and it was fixed so I dunno what's wrong there. But, it hadn't been an issue in months.

As it sits right now(in the garage.. barely, dang small garages) Driver and passenger windows are seized. The power locks will unlock but not lock(altho, that's been issues). Battery volts on dash look fine.

Just not sure what to do about the windows. No idea where the fuses are or the circuits. I have no idea if it will still over heat, letting sit and cool down tonight.

Any help or tips would be appreciated.

ANSWER: Hi James,
The power for the windows/door locks/seats comes out of a circuit breaker #1 in the relay box located above the fuse box in the cabin, small rectangular in shape. The power to the circuit breaker comes directly from a section of the ignition switch which also feeds fuses 9,10 and 11.  See what happens when you reset that.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Follow up: let it cool over night. Checked all my fuses in the cabin, even got my hand up into the fuse for the windows. All the breakers were flush. Disconnected the negative from the battery and let it sit for a while, then reconnected.. windows still didn't move.

On a whim repositioned the steering column.. lost all power. Moved it again, partial power windows no go. Again, full power and got my windows up.

I haven't ran it long enough to see if it will still over heat.

Answer
Hi James,
I would suggest that you take a look under the dash. along the full length of the steering coulumn to see if there might be a plug-together connector that is partially separated or 'ajar'. If things electrical change when you move something that carries wire harnesses then that points to a flaky connection along that pathway. I may well be sections of the ignition switch that are powering various things that are failing on you.
Roland