Car Window Question

[WI-Tom]

Yesterday an interesting quirk showed up with my car (a 2007 Ford Escort wagon). The passenger side rear window (electric windows) started randomly rolling itself down while I was driving on the highway. Then the driver's control stopped working to roll it back up.

After a bit of experimentation, I find that the rear door, passenger side, still works (reluctantly) to roll the window back up. But it rolls itself back down, apparently in reaction to any other electric switch in the car being used, including turning the radio on, or opening a front window.

Finally I used the rear door switch to roll it up, then put on the child lock to see if that would stop it from rolling itself down again. So far it seems to be working.

Thoughts? I'm not too worried, because I may be selling this car in the next month or so, but am mildly curious.

Tom

[Paul Pless]

ground short circuit, most likely in one of the two switches

[WI-Tom]

ground short circuit, most likely in one of the two switches

Thanks. Am I going to turn into a blazing fireball if I ignore it and keep driving this car?

Tom

[Paul Pless]

unlikely, since its not a tesla

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Thanks. Am I going to turn into a blazing fireball if I ignore it and keep driving this car?

Tom

We want to see the video.

[Canoeyawl]

Probably a defective master switch (drivers door) I have seen that before

[Breakaway]

Probably a defective master switch (drivers door) I have seen that before

Yep. Had that happen in my truck.

The replacement cost for the driver door " brain module" made me long for the days of crank windows.

[WI-Tom]

The interesting thing is, putting the child safety lock on the windows seems to have stopped the window from opening. Or, it may just be trying to lull me into non-suspicion for now.

Tom

[Jack Loudon]

Same thing happened to a Saturn my wife used to have. I found a Youtube repair video for that specific problem on that Saturn, ordered a new switch, and installed it. I'm not much of a mechanic but it wasn't too difficult. There's a Youtube video (or several) on pretty much everything.

[Canoeyawl]

It probably won't be a problem until someone inadvertently opens it just before it starts raining

[Garret]

I agree with Jake's guess on the driver's switch. One hokey thing to try - spray electrical contact cleaner down through all the gaps in the switch using the straw on the can. Test a spot first to make sure the plastic doesn't melt.

They made the Escort in 2007? It's not a Focus?

[WI-Tom]

They made the Escort in 2007? It's not a Focus?

Sorry, yep--it's a Focus. I had an Escort wagon before that, seems pretty much the same. It can tow a boat, and I can sleep in the back pretty much stretched out.

Tom

[Paul Pless]

Sorry, yep--it's a Focus. I had an Escort wagon before that, seems pretty much the same. It can tow a boat, and I can sleep in the back pretty much stretched out.

Tom

funny i always pictured you as being taller

stretched out? seriously??

[epoxyboy]

Probably a defective master switch (drivers door) I have seen that before

Yup. My Hyundai will quite happily open all the windows from the master switch, but two of the doors you have to use the switch on the door to get the windows back up. Trouble is, most master switches aren't just switches, they have a bunch of current limiting electronics or something on them too.
I just live with it, can't even be bothered extracting the switch for a looksee.

Pete

[JayInOz]

The other morning my wifes car was sitting in the carport with all four windows halfway down. I'd parked it the night before and it was a freezing cold, windy night, so I certainly would have noticed if the windows were down. We still haven't figured that one out. JayInOz

[Canoeyawl]

My experience is if you screw with and test it, it will stick forever open...

[Paul Pless]

My experience is if you screw with and test it, it will stick forever open...

i once had an issue with a window on the drivers side where it would auto roll up and when it fully closed it would immediately auto wind itself down

once this vicious cycle occurred it would continue to do this for a half dozen cycles or so

it was a rather rare occurence, maybe once per hundred times or so that you rolled the window down and up, howver those cycles always seem to occur while being passed by the giant tow plow truck on i94 during a blizzard or just after paying the car wash attendant at the drivethru car automatic carwash

muther****er!

[Paul Pless]

volvo xc70 btw

[ShorelineJohn]

The switch is probably CAN connected, if the connector is not loose just sell the car. I normally would say just replace it but you won't ever make your money back on it.

[WI-Tom]

funny i always pictured you as being taller

stretched out? seriously??

I'm 6'2". So no, not stretched out--but a lot more comfy than just reclining the front seat for a nap. Even with the back seat still up, lying athwartships on the seat is not bad, either.

Tom

[WI-Tom]

So far, my "lazy man fix" of putting on the child lock seems to be working. I'll keep it on until I sell the car...

Tom

[hawkeye54]

Tom, if you decide it needs to be fixed, perhaps check one of those 'pick a part' wrecking yards for the switch assembly ( that is a common car model ) and perhaps see if it can be installed for you (?)

[WszystekPoTrochu]

Cables in the door might have gone bad. I wouldn't expect a 2007 car to use CAN here, it's probably good old analog control. A *teen years old Ford and electrics rot is nothing uncommon

[Garret]

Tom, if you decide it needs to be fixed, perhaps check one of those 'pick a part' wrecking yards for the switch assembly ( that is a common car model ) and perhaps see if it can be installed for you (?)

Brand new (aftermarket) for the driver's door switch is $50 or so.

[DosRenshos]

What Garret said. Rockauto.com has new switch assy’s for $50-75 depending on brand.

[WI-Tom]

Thanks for the comments about cheap fixes. So far, the cheapest fix of all--leaving the child safety lock on--still seems to be working.

Tom

[AndyG]

I think all the above suggestions are wrong.

Your car is possessed. Probably by a long-dead malevolent Ford worker, whose spirit has found 'a new Focus'. You've basically three options:

1/ Get the car washed, preferably by nuns, using holy water.
2/ Park it at an unmarked crossroads and walk away.
3/ Use the cigarette lighter to light some incense. Think Cheech and Chong as to the amount of required fug.

Bishop Andy, automotive spiritual expert.

[WszystekPoTrochu]

I've browsed a bit and the issue might be connected to glass collision detection in the window motor. Disconnect the door connector for a few hours and check if resetting it this way helped.

[Garret]

I think Andy has the permanent fix.

[Ralphie Boy]

I had a Volvo wagon whose driver side window refused to roll up one day. I checked online and the switch cluster in the door was $350. Someone in the electronics repair dept at my work told me how to fix it myself. Removing the switch cluster, I disassembled the unit to expose the circuit board with all the contact switches. It seems that these get corrosion built up over time, and then the contact on the rubber membrane will no longer close the switch contacts. Some (light!) rubbing with an abrasive cloth (chore boy) did the trick. I sold the car because it broke down too often.

[Garret]

I had a Volvo wagon whose driver side window refused to roll up one day. I checked online and the switch cluster in the door was $350. Someone in the electronics repair dept at my work told me how to fix it myself. Removing the switch cluster, I disassembled the unit to expose the circuit board with all the contact switches. It seems that these get corrosion built up over time, and then the contact on the rubber membrane will no longer close the switch contacts. Some (light!) rubbing with an abrasive cloth (chore boy) did the trick. I sold the car because it broke down too often.

Unfortunately, most modern window switches are not reparable - no way to take 'em apart without destroying them.