Weird window problem. Need help

[325iklu]

I have a 92 325i. First the rear windows stopped working. About a week or so later the passenger window stopped working. Now today my driver window stopped working.

Sunroof and power locks still work. All fuses are good so is the comfort relay.

The lights in the switches are very dim and go out when a switch is pressed. If I press the window breaker the lights go out.

What could it be :help

[325iklu]

anybody?

[marineifra]

weak connection somewhere. if all the lights are doing that...remember that time your battery was dying and your headlights were dimming out as the power was draining? it sounds like a capacitor somewhere isn't storing up enough energy for the discharge if your switch lights dim out. (think alternator dying and lights dimming everywhere else).
somebody slap me and call me retarded if im wrong

[GardenBeast]

is there a relay under the hood? can they go bad, slowly?

[325iklu]

alternator is good and the battery is only a year old.

Is there a relay or something im missing here?

:help

[GardenBeast]

i know when i click mine to roll up, when they are, i can hear a click up in the dash area.... maybe there's one up in there?

[325iklu]

the relay for the windows (comfort relay) is good. all the fuses are good.

what can I test? what else should i check?

its getting nice out and I don't have AC.

[325iklu]

Are the windows wired in a circut where if one switch goes out they all wont work?

[GardenBeast]

that sounds like something bmw might do, to keep things efficient. silly germans.
do you get the click at all when you try the windows? like i said, it clicks somewhere in the dash area when i do mine.

[dejaygo]

Hopefully its not wires touching. Cause if it is that will drain your battery quickly and lead to more trouble in the future. I not for sure but I think on my coupe both of the windows wiring come through the driver side first. Because when the driver side window motor is not plugged in the passenger side window won't work either. So I kept the driver side window plugged in even though it didn't work. My problem was mechanical. I think yours is electrical.

[325iklu]

the battery is fine. just dull switch lights and none of the windows. go down.

[duce110]

try fuse number 43... believe it or not, that fuse has to do alot wit windows and the lights dimming... i had a problem where the window was down and i had my boy put in a remote start... when i got home from driving around, my window wouldn't go up... checked all the fuses and they were all good so i did a search... people kept posting to check number 43... after i went to check, the little sucker had a cover over it... i switched out the fuse and the window started workin and my light... might not help wit ur problem, but give it a shot...

[325iklu]

Thanks, for the reply. Ill ty it,

[325iklu]

that fuse was good. replaced it anyway. still nothin.

[325iklu]

So a bought a test light today. I am getting power to the comfort relay. (clicks when i key on the ignition) am getting power to and from the breaker. I am barley getting any power to the switches and from the switches to the motors. What is in between the breaker and the switches?

I have read a few threads on a ZVM? what exactly is that? the comfort relay is good. all of the fuses are good. I am getting power on all 3 wires on the comfort relay.

:help

[nahmed7878]

I have a 93 325i and I have the identical problem. Checked all the fuses, replaced the comfort relay and checked the circuit breaker as well but still the windows are not working. All four windows and the sunroof stopped worked at the same time so it has to be an electrical issue.


Did you solve your problem?Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!!

[bchitwood73]

I am having a similar problem with just the two rear windows. About 2 weeks ago the rear drivers side window would go down, but not up. I just figured I needed to take it apart and clean it up but then the rear passenger side started doing the exact same thing. It goes down just fine but it will not go up at all, it does not seem to even try. WTF?

[mazinkaiser]

I've got a similar problem since yesterday. Mine is a 96 328i sedan.

2 days ago when I drove my wife and her baby niece home while they were sitting at the back with rear windows lowered a bit for fresh air. I locked the window safety lock on the center console while driving. When we got home, I released the lock and closed the rear passenger windows. Yesterday, when I started the car again, I tried to lower the both rear passenger windows by pressing the switches on the console....nothing happen. I tried the switches on the doors, still nothing happen. I pressed and released the safety lock repeatedly but still nothing happen.

Usually, after I park, I will press the windows switches to make sure all windows are properly closed and I could hear a weak motor sound everytime. This time, none from the rear but the front are working fine with this weak motor sound.

Have not checked any fuse, relay yet but would appreciate some experts' enlightenment here on what happened. Thanks.

[berkeleyEE]

Hmmm, a 1992 325i with no power windows but the sunroof and locks work,
then a 1997 328i has a problem with Fuse 43,
then a 1993 325i also has no power windows OR sunroof,
finally a 1996 328i has power rear window problems (no mention of locks or the sunroof).
Too bad people don't return and report the cause/solution and help out the rest of us

On the 1992, was it the Central Locking Module (ZVM)?

On the 1993, was it the Comfort Relay?

On the 1997, F43 does have a wire to the Body Electronics Control Module (ZKE IV) so that's reasonable.

And the 1996 has a Child Protection Control switch that might be the rear window problem.
Or there is a Relay Module (see Bentley, p.ELE-235) that also has something to do with the rear windows.
But Bentley doesn't provide a schematic or a part number. The Module might be the same as the Rear Power Window Relay located behind the Glove Box with a bunch of other items. But I don't know.

Lastly, the microswitches in the door handles and door jambs could also be the problem. Who knows how the ZKE IV handles a OPEN or SHORTED switch.

Good luck

[mazinkaiser]

finally a 1996 328i has power rear window problems (no mention of locks or the sunroof).
Too bad people don't return and report the cause/solution and help out the rest of us

And the 1996 has a Child Protection Control switch that might be the rear window problem.
Or there is a Relay Module (see Bentley, p.ELE-235) that also has something to do with the rear windows.
But Bentley doesn't provide a schematic or a part number. The Module might be the same as the Rear Power Window Relay located behind the Glove Box with a bunch of other items. But I don't know.

Lastly, the microswitches in the door handles and door jambs could also be the problem. Who knows how the ZKE IV handles a OPEN or SHORTED switch.

Good luck

Thanks for your advice. I didn't mention the power locks and the sunroof coz the locks are operating just fine and my car doesn't come with a sunroof.

Cheers!

[mazinkaiser]

Getting back to my rear passenger window problem. I finally got the time to pop up the hood and check the fuse, and it was blown off. Replaced it and everything is just fine now. Just that simple~!