Electric Windows - Troubleshooting Help

[RWoodva]

1990 Camry

I'm in need of some ideas to troubleshoot what seems to be a wiring issue with the Right Passenger window.

The symptom was that the window only rolled down, not up, so it was stuck in the down position.

I pulled out the regulator and motor, plugged it in on the Drivers Side and it works, both up and down.

Back on the Passenger Side, I tested for voltage on the two connectors that go to the motor. With the voltage meter connected to ground, I got 12.21 VDC when connecting positive to the green lead and operating the 'up' switch, and also got 12.21 VDC on the red lead when operating the 'down' switch.

But when reconnecting the motor on that side, I still get no movement. I also get no movement on it when I operate it from the Drivers Side.

So from what I can tell, the motor works and the switch works, just not at the same time, on the same side!

I took apart the switches and cleaned the contacts on both the RH and the LH (main control center) sides. All were filthy, but even once cleaned they did not help the situation one bit. All other windows work, btw.

Sooooooo.....any ideas on how I might solve this mystery?


Thanks,

RWoodva

[toyomoho]

So, the passenger switch can control the motor hooked up to it. The drivers side console switch supplies power to the Red and Green wires of the passenger motor.

Did you check to make sure the drivers side motor works using it own harness and plug?

There should be 12V coming out of the passengers side switch (Red and Green) (alternating with the switch direction) when either the drivers side or passenger switch is used.

There are two sources of 12V to the passenger switch. There should be three wires going to the passenger window switch. Green/Blue, Red/Blue and Blue. The Green/Blue and Red/Blue wires carry the power from the drivers side console switch through the passenger switch to operate the passenger window. The Blue wire carries power from the Power Main Relay to the passenger switch. This allows the passenger switch to operate the window independently. Is there power at the Blue wire?

[RWoodva]

Thanks for the reply! Here are some answers to your questions:

Originally Posted by toyomoho

So, the passenger switch can control the motor hooked up to it.

Only in the "down" direction

Originally Posted by toyomoho

Did you check to make sure the drivers side motor works using it own harness and plug?

Yes, it works fine.

Originally Posted by toyomoho

There should be 12V coming out of the passengers side switch (Red and Green) (alternating with the switch direction) when either the drivers side or passenger switch is used.

There is; this is what has me puzzled. It seems to test okay.

Originally Posted by toyomoho

Is there power at the Blue wire?

Yes, there is a little over 12V. I double checked this today.

The only thing I can think of is a worn wire - - perhaps a ground wire - - is shorting out or creating an open circuit. I am at a loss. Speaking of grounds, the only thing different about my testing the 12V at the switch is that my meter is connected to ground. When I connect the motor to the harness, holding it in my hand, there is no ground connection. Yet when I try the motor on the drivers side plug, also holding it in my hand, it does work with no apparent ground connection. Where does it get it's ground?

[toyomoho]

Good point. There only ground connection for the window motor(s) is at the driver’s side console (appear to be White/Black wires).

Recheck with the meter leads connected on the Red and Green motor wires. The meter should read zero at off, then have 12V +/- depending on the direction of the switch. The switch changes the voltage polarity to the motor. Up is the Red wire, down is the Green. The power flows through the motor, the passengers switch to the driver’s side console, then to the ground via the same ground wires above.

The lockout switch on the driver’s side console disconnects the passenger window motor(s) from ground.

Rather then explain this, TN has an on-line wiring diagram. Go to the Camry TN section, General Discussion. Find the Gen 2 - Gen 6 Repair Manuals post. Click, and then click on the hotlink to Oregonstate. Find your year, then electrical wiring diagrams. It may take a little bit to understand just how the system really works, but one schematic is worth a thousand words. Page 104 has an explanation of system operation.

The fact the drivers switch works OK with the passenger window means the ground should be good. Plus the wires from the passenger switch to the motor. If you are getting 12V at the Purple wire, this leaves the switch as a problem source.

If you think it is a wiring problem, one place to check is where the wires go from door to the cars chassis.

Post back with what you find out. Curious as to what the problem is.