So,
for a long time, I thought it was weather related - the switches just seem dead, usually after a rain. Sometimes it seemed like if I pounded on the door, they'd start up.
Finally took a minute and popped out the switches from the door, checked the wires going up from the switches through the door - all seem good. Fuses of course are fine, because sometimes they work.

WHILE I'm holding the switches dangling out the door, they start working. Then they don't. No discernable pattern. I only took out the ones on the drivers side, and as I say, had luck and no luck.

I've experienced my share of loose and worn wire, and this doesn't feel like that. what in the world do you think it is? where do I look?

 

The wiring might have an internal break, the most common place is where the harness goes through the door jam. If it does have a internal break that is why the problem would seem weather related, wiring harnesses expand and contract depending on temperature and humidity also when you bang or pull on it.

I have a 93 dodge and a toyota camry with the exact same issue both vehicles had a internal break in the window power wire in the door jam.

Make sure you have power at the fuse box and try temporarily wiring a new power wire to the window switch to rule out a broken wire, also spray some electrical cleaner in the window switch to clean the contacts.

 

is there an easy way to know which wire is the power to the switches? I'd love to see a diagram. I have the book, but don't see an easy way to follow the wires to the switches and back.

 

If you slice open the harness that you see from door to jamb, the one wire to the motor is usually broken, or frayed. So, yes, you may be correct, as this was what was happening in my 92 W250.

A few months later, after the repairs were long over, the motor stopped working in the half down position. I removed the inner door panel, removed the motor and arm, and opened up the armature and found lots of dust in there, as well as a slight spot on the armature which needed to be cleaned up. Some emery cloth, and a blow gun, cleaned it all up, made sure the brushes were in usable condition, and put it back together.

Never a problem after that.

 

Yes there is, disconnect the battery and find the power window fuse at the fuse box and use a multimeter with a continuity function, one lead on the fuse and the other lead on the terminals for the window switch.

You could also completely forgo the factory wiring and install two reverse polarity switches to the window motors that's what i did, much easier than troubleshooting the factory harness.

 

Okay, so check this out. I was doing my annual clean out the rat **** out of the vents and realized that the blower fan was intermittent in that it turned on. And off by itself with the truck sitting still Ignition off.
i sat and waited until it turned itself on again. And then noticed that the power also went to the windows. That is to say something about my electrical system is turning off a number of parts and then turning on again and I don't know why.

It seems to be off for about two minutes, two and a half minutes.And then, on for 1 or 2 seconds

What would make the power to the blower fan And the windows turn off by itself??. And then turn on by itself? Again, sitting still, Ignition off, nothing Moving, or shaking.

 

Sounds like your wiring harness needs some serious work.
Look for frayed wires, broken wires, cracked wire casings.

Or maybe you key tumbler is very worn and it is turning things on and off as it thinks the key is being turned, due to how wallered out it is.
Like how some of you electric things [specifically some of the things you listed] work when you turn you key on to accessories setting.

 

well, I've already done as much inspecting as I can... without something more specific. I did find a few of the small wires on the left (behind the battery, 'the fused links') that needed work, but I didn't see much that looked rough, or cracked, or chewed on.
And honestly, that doesn't explain for me why the thing would cycle on and off while sitting completely still.

 

And what about my next comment on that same post I made about the key tumbler being worn?
Was that specific enough?

 

I'll check that out, but doesn't it seem weird, with nothing moving?

 

I am just trying to help you fix your truck… The help is free help at that, from a guy that works on a lot of 1st gens. I am not looking to argue with you that it is not the problem, before you even check it.
Take my advise and do what you like with it, but that would be what I would be checking if it was my truck.

The power is getting connection on and off without any movement somehow, from what you say.

I am ALL ears if you have a better explanation.

 

I've been there with my '92 w250 -- driving along & all of a sudden the driver window won't go up or down.

Sometimes banging on the door panel makes it work -- until it doesn't.
Then I came here looking for help from those who'd been there before -- like one does.

I always check the sticky's first and or do a forum search before asking.

That's when I found this sticky:
Intermittant window lift motor, A look inside. - Dodge Diesel - Diesel Truck Resource Forums

And this post:
Heater blower motor and power window circuit blowing fuses where to look next... - Dodge Diesel - Diesel Truck Resource Forums

I used those to isolate my issue & solve it -- by rebuilding my window motor as was expertly & succinctly laid out by the venerable Jim Lane (that Absolute DTR Legend's stickies have helped me with my '92 more times than I can count).
That fix has been working since 2015 - going on 10 years now. THANKS JIM !!

While neither of those absolute treasure troves of rare-highly-specific-to-our-trucks-information may be exactly what you need for your problem -- they will provide you with years of insight from fellow first gen owners of all stripes who have either had a similar problem or solved it (looking at you Jim Lane).
I'd encourage you to read through both of those threads (at a cost of no more than some of your time) to familiarize yourself with the system(s) in question (power windows on a first gen), the various potential failures & fixes of those systems, & the questions asked & answered by other DTR members over the years.

Specifically I encourage you to read through the second thread where moparman13045 starts with a post asking why his is blowing fuses.
He asks...
A few members answer... "try this" or "look here"
He replies... "tried that what next"
& so on until his problem is solved.
It's a very organized back and forth diagnosis/conversation that leads to the solution.
Note that at the end of the moparman13045 thread the solution was "New ignition switch" -- sometimes also referred to as a "key tumbler" -- as suggested to be inspected by oliver foster above.
While your specific issue may be different -- it is very similar involving the same circuit.

Good luck & keep the 'ole girl runnin'


This might be my first post ever.
I hope I did it well enough.
Been here learning from the old timers since I got mine in 2003.

 

Excellent 1st post redryan.

The sticky can be a big help. The posts are pretty old, but there are full of awesome info..

 

i miss Jim Lane's posts

 

Jim did post up a lot of great threads to help us out - that still live on in the sticky.

Jim called me last month to ask a question about his truck and check in. He is doing well and still super busy out in Cali..
So he is alive and well! Just an update for the older DTR'ers