First issue with the Fairmont

[Polyal]

Its not a biggy but is annoying the hell out of me and now I think I need to take it to an auto-elec.

Its an odd problem with my passenger front window.

I can make it go down using both the driver controls and the passenger controls, but the bugger refuses to go back up.

On the passenger side the switch when clicked up does have a different feel and sound, so I was assuming it was just that, the switch.

But then why does that effect the driver side controls for the same window? Unless its a complete fluke that they both went at the same time.

It was intermittently working for the past few months, but I took the car to a shop the other week and forgot to mention to them to not touch the windows..doh.

Any ideas before I take it somewhere?

Im assuming its not a huge issue but I dont have the time to sit and do it myself at the moment.

Cheers

[Racecraft]

if one switch fails they all stop working iirc...


try and clean it, swap the posts inside

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...witch+tutorial

[LANKY 1]

Maybe the slides need lubricating??

[fourl6]

Originally Posted by Racecraft

if one switch fails they all stop working iirc...


try and clean it, swap the posts inside

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...witch+tutorial

thats correct, without the passenger side switch in, my drivers side switch wouldn't work on the passenger window

so just replace your passenger switch, that should be all it needs

[RG]

Try the Ford service trick first.

32 clicks up and down in quick succession. Failing that remove the switches and give them a good clean and clean the contacts too.

That worked for me.

[Auturbo6]

Window switches on Au's are horrific. When it rains the drivers window stops working on my daily, clean switch comes good for a bit then stops working. Unfortunally once the contact in the switch is burnt, its pretty much no longer reliable. Only true fix is new switch.. And don't forget to silicon lube ure window runners.... Goodluck....

[HLC]

yeah mine got stuck down one night. chaged all the switches over, got it up. pulled em all out, cleaned em the next day. all good til recently,

the passenger side switch works up and down both ways, now the drivers passengers switch (thats a mouthful) doesnt put the window down, but puts it up hahahah PITA. maybe ill have a fondle with it tonight.

[FGX335]

I tried cleaning my one once, but to no avail. Replaced the faulty passenger side, and hey presto!

[Polyal]

great thanks guys, ill have a quick look tomorrow if all it requires is replacing the switch or a bit of a clean.

cheers, let ya know how it goes.

[GK]

Funny this came up just now.

Last few days in the front passenger window in the wagon, you press the switch for "down" and you get the motor making its usual noise, with no movement of the glass.

I've never had this before. I operate the switch a bit and then "presto" it works again, however later on you get the same issue.

Anyone else experienced this, and know of the issue?

GK

[Professor Farnsworth]

i test drove an AU1 Ghia a few weeks ago and both front switches would make the passenger front window go down, but only the driver's switch would make it go up.

[mik]

it must be the time of year? about a month ago mine was doing the same thing , from drivers side and passenger side, i pulled the passenger side swith out gave the contacts a clean and it was good again................ followed with the drivers side passenger control and it also came good.
its fortunate they are very easy to pull apart.

[XR8AU2121]

Strange things AU power windows. I have had to clean the contacts on the front passenger window switch about four times but never had a problem in over 10 years with any of the others.
Also, while cleaning the switch gear take some time to spray all the window guides with silicon spray. You will find that the windows nearly double in speed.

[JC]

Touch wood, but my AU1 Fairmont has no window issues at all! Must be due to the LEDs MattP installed!

[Polyal]

OK well happy to report all is well, 30mins of stuffing about and trying to keep my temper and it all working again.

Issue was exactly as reported in the first link, so thankyou. For the heck of it ill add some pics I took, I think sooner or later the upper part of the switch with the legs will need replacing (just do the whole thing) as it was actually a few mm shorter than the other, Im assuming that not normal either and it will eventually not reach the contacts.

So yeah, thanks again guys, this site is awesome for stuff like that. Would have been charged an hour labour easy if I took it somewhere.

Need to keep reminding myself that a car is just one big piece of mechano

Dirty contacts



Housing dirty aswell



Munted leg on switch

[Bushbasher]

Quick fix for the munted leg; just heat it up with a lighter and mold it back into some sort of shape that resembles the other one then use a smear of vaseline on the leg and contact so it doesn't wear down again so fast. Not a perfect fix but you should get some more life out of it. I had the same issue with the legs on some of my reading light switches and that is working for me so far.


Bushbasher

[Racecraft]

Originally Posted by Bushbasher

Quick fix for the munted leg; just heat it up with a lighter and mold it back into some sort of shape that resembles the other one then use a smear of vaseline on the leg and contact so it doesn't wear down again so fast. Not a perfect fix but you should get some more life out of it. I had the same issue with the legs on some of my reading light switches and that is working for me so far.


Bushbasher

good idea... i used to cut a small bit of rubber off an eraser and 'pack' the guide stem on the button to gain that extra few mm....

[Auturbo6]

The plastic melts due to the heat created by the dirty terminals making and losing contact, pretty much acting like an arc welder inside the switch.. Just some useless information. Later everyone........