2001 Camry with driverside power windows that stops periodically

[ukster21]

I have a 2001 Camry that now has a funny problem. The driverside power window stops periodically. It can stop at any position in its range and will be non functional for about 3-5 minutes. Then it will work again briefly, then stop working yet again. I took it in and they said it was the motor. So after a new motor and new regulator, the problem still persists. I took it in yet again and they said it is the master switch on the driver side. So after a new master switch, the problem is still there. It appears as though the window motor draws current which causes something to shut off causing the window to stop. After a period of time, it allows the current draw again but only briefly. I am at a loss as to how to proceed. So is my mechanic. Any ideas?
Thanks greatly.

[bcp477]

You have either a break in the wiring, which loses contact intermittently, or an intermittent short. Most likely, a wire in the harness which passes into the door from the body, has a break in it. It makes contact most of the time, but vibration and heat causes it to lose contact sometimes. Since the window is affected....and I assume the power lock for that door is still working fine....then the break is in the window motor lead - probably where the wiring flexes as it passes from the body into the door (that is the most common location for this to happen.....as you can imagine). Unfortunately, almost all car repair shops now are set up to simply "R & R" (remove and replace) parts.....not do this sort of detail work. What is required is to strip down the door, strip the wiring harness going into the door....and find the wire with the break. Then, a splice can be used to eliminate the broken area. An alternative is to replace that entire wire, from one end to the other.....or to replace the entire wiring harness going to that door. Either way, this job will cost very little for parts..... but probably quite a bit of labor time.