electric windows not working - 90 bighorn

[nachi]

[rant] For a starter.. who in their right mind would want electric windows on a 4x4.. (not me)..
I wish it had the old fashioned winders. [/end rant]

No windows are working.. (luckily they were all would up when it happened and the air-con works ok'ish)

I'm not a sparkie and normally stay away from electrical's but this should be an easy enough fix.. if someone can point me in the right direction.

I've got a multimeter but don't really know how to check the circuit correctly..
(like I said, I stay away from this stuff if I can)..

I've done the basics, fuse check, worked the wiring back and forth with switch engaged.
Changed out the relay in the fusebox. (all tips found here)

fuse_relay.JPG

There's power at the fusebox but don't know where to go from there..
No power at the master-switch (drivers door).
I found a relay under the glove-box.. should this have power to it or when should it?
Under the dash is spaghetti and I'm a bit colour-blind but I'm heading there now to poke around..

In the meantime, if anyone's got ideas for me feel free to post..
(even clever ones are ok)

[geeves]

8 times out of 10 window problems are in the switch with these wagons. 5 of 10 out of the other 2 are the motor. Clean the contacts in the switch before anything else

[Pissy]

As geeves said its more likely the plastic switch itself degrading over time BUT it could also be electrical
See my post on the FAQ/DIY section regarding these annoying plastic switches, it was written for the MU but I guess/bet that they use the same switches. At least it gives you a starting point to rule out if electrical or if its the switch itself.

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=763

[geeves]

different switches. the ubs55 bighorn doesnt break the plastic but the contacts are hard to clean

[nachi]

Hi Pissy, I saw your FAQ/DIY.. handy, but not for me today

Hey Greeves, Have pulled the switch apart and cleaned with electro-cleaner (good stuff).. Tested with the multi.. all contacts are good. There was a fair bit of gunk but nothing that should have caused a problem. Re-assembled and nothing new.. not working. Like I mentioned I've tested with a multi and there doesn't seem to be any power to the plug in the door.. Can't find power under the dash. Tried all the plugs which lead back from the door. Next thing will be the fusebox. On the weekend I'll undo the mounts and have a look underneath.
If still no joy I will take it to a sparkie.. It's got me stumped.

Cheers for your help though, it's really handy.

[muzila]

Check the control box/relay in your passenger side kick panel.

That may have given up the ghost.

[nachi]

Hey muzila, how would I go about checking it?.. or would I need to find another one to try..?
.. Quite surprising how many 'doodads' you find tucked away eh
Cheers

[nachi]

Ok.. I've narrowed it down to the relay.. well not me, a mate at work.. turns out hes a bit of a dark horse and keeps it quiet because he hates working on cars..

Smart bugger put his keys across the relay contacts and said "Try it now, it should work".. I did and it did.. well bugger me I thought.

Got the multi on the relay and he reckons its a bad earth someplace.. furk.. someplace.. he shot off before I could collar him into sorting it out.. didn't even want beer!!
Hes got other commitments.. wife.. food.. no doubt hes getting a shag too cause I hadn't seen him move so fast all day.

Anyway.. its a step in the right direction.. now I've got some tinkering to do. I'll take a couple of pics of the back of the fusebox and see if anyones got an ideas...
(first time my windows have been down in six months!.. been too busy eh). haha

[muzila]

I would say use a multimeter but that might not work. If you can find another one to try out that should tell you.

I was going to take some fotos but my camers mu steriously hasn't made its way home yet. GGGRRRRR. but once I find its whereabouts I will.

[nachi]

snip/ If you can find another one to try out that should tell you.

Hey muzila, have done so.. checked both with a multi and they read the same...

Heres some pics of what I'm working with.

fusebox_relay.JPG

fusebox_relay_under.JPG

relay_bottom.JPG

See the stripped wire.. if this is grounded I've got windows, but they are live all the time.. not so good.
I suppose I could do a temporary fix and wire a switch to the stripped wire..
naaa gotta get it sorted or it will nag me.

I've only got a basic Trooper wiring diagram and some of the color codes don't match.. anyone got a better one?

Or would anyone know where the blue/black stripe/red dot wire goes?

Cheers

[muzila]

Its amazing what some people will do to vehicles then just leave it for some other poor bugger to fix.

Thats a nasty suprise though. I will have a hunt in all my PDF files to see if I have a diagram but I don't think I do.

[chrisfnq]

earth for the relay box is under the right front of bumber..lol look for about a 6 mm bolt with a wire on it.. try cleaning it or seeing if broken.

[nachi]

Its amazing who some people will do to vehicles then just leave it for some other poor bugger to fix.
Thats a nasty suprise though. I will have a hunt in all my PDF files to see if I have a diagram but I don't think I do.

Hey muzila. Not quite that bad, the windows worked ok for the first year n a half.. then they just stopped one day..
It looks to me like someone has been testing something and not cleaned up after themselves.. a bit of tape to cover..
Theres another wire for the engine relay which is stripped the same way?.. cheers

earth for the relay box is under the right front of bumber..lol look for about a 6 mm bolt with a wire on it.. try cleaning it or seeing if broken.

Hey chrisfnq. Be nice if it was that simple.. Will have a look when I have the time..
..working this weekend to help pay for my winch..
Cheers

[muzila]

Sorry mate I don't have a wiring diagram for the bighorn.

[nachi]

No worries muzila, cheers for the input
will post if I find out the problem.. or a better diagram

ahh sunday.. off to temuka to work for the day..