Help Please Power Windows and Lock Problems

[kendallt]

I need help!! I have a 1996 Toyota Camry that has developed some very annoying quirks, and I have tried everything I can think of to fix them. The problems originate in the power locks and windows.

First, the locks. The power lock button on the driver's side door will only unlock the doors but will not lock them. The driver's side button works fine. However, the driver's side power lock itself will not lock or unlock at all using the power lock button on either door. Manually locking the driver's side door works, just not using the power lock button. I've taken off the door panel but can't seem to find anything amiss. Also, since the other locks work, I don't believe it is a fuse problem. Any ideas?

Second, and most annoying, only the driver's side and back passenger's side windows will go down. The passenger's side and back driver's side window will not go down at all. The motors have been replaced and everything but no one can figure out why. Does anyone else have this issue? How do I fix this?

[71Corolla]

You could have more than one problem. The most likely is the wires going into the drivers door are broken or on the process of breaking. The fix is to pull harness out from the kick panel and out of the door, then pull on each wire to see which ones will come right out. You then have to solder in a new section of wire to replace the broken/stressed section.

The drivers door switch assembly could also be bad, everything is routed through it.

[drhardway]

Funny...i have the exact same problem with my 96 ,had all the locks but no windows but one, a back one.swapped out switch ,Nada. then one day i pinched the pack of wires where they come out of the body to the door and instantly all the locks went dead ,guess i`ll have to try and get at those wires, what a pita ....anyone done this before ,before i dive in...??? thanks
nice site.

[BMR]

Originally Posted by drhardway

....anyone done this before ,before i dive in...??? thanks
nice site.

Yup. Twice. Both times it was in the driver's door service loop... the bundle of wires inside the rubber boot going from the door to the front of the door opening (jamb?). The hard part is that the wire isn't usually completely broken; the insulation is intact, but the wire inside is severed. Makes it damn hard to find which wire is the problem, and there's about 2 dozen in there. I think I found them by pulling on each wire gently at each end, and watching the insulation for a "necking down" section where the wire inside was broken.

Good luck!