Window wires

[Huw Powell]

> go down.  So it's time to revive the dead passenger window in my '89 200
> TQ (Type 44).
> 
> I'm 90 percent sure it's a broken wire in the rubber boot between the door
> and the door jamb. 

You're probably right...

> I pulled the armrest and removed the window switch.
> There are five wires going to the switch: thin white, red/black, and
> black/green wires, and thicker green and black ones (as per the Bentley
> manual).  With the ignition on, I don't get juice from any of the wires
> (touching the leads of a voltmeter between the five wires). I'm assuming
> the thick green and black wires carry the juice/ground? to the window
> motor, and that the smaller ones just switch the current for direction
> (up/down).
> 
> Here are my questions:
> 
> - I can't find the thick green and black wires in the door jamb. Are they
> supposed to pass through the boot, or are they wholly contained within
> the door itself?

There shouldn't be a green and black wire... according to Bentley...

Let's do it by pin number on the switch:

1. white wire.  power or ground output to remote switch/window
2. black/green wire.  ditto #1 (opposite polarity of course)
3. brown wire.  ground input to switch
4. red/brown wire. (or red black?) power input to switch
5. brown wire. another ground

why two grounds?  i think one makes sure the light in the switch keeps
working, the other is passed along to the remote switch.

the wires that finally reach the window motors are always black and
black green.

> 
> - Do the wires go from the battery (i.e., door jamb) to the motor, and then
> to the
> switch? Or from the battery to the switch and then to the motor?

it's rather complicated due to the relay that control when the windows
and sunroof will operate.  (this is the same control unit that provides
the one touch down feature on the drivers window - position 15/16 in aux
panel - top row, center)

Battery power goes through a circuit breaker, to the control unit, which
also "knows" when the ignition is on and when the front doors are
opened.

It sends power to the switches from the time you turn the car on to when
you open a door with the car off.

Then the switches send 12v and ground to the motors, reversing the
polarity for the opposite direction.  The 3 switches for "remote" doors
also send along 12v or ground so the remote switch, using a local ground
or power wire, will work.  In other words, one of the outgoing remote
window wires is energised or grounded all the time.

When measuring your switch wires you should reference to known good
grounds and 12v sources, not each other.

> - Which wire(s) carries the juice?  Since I can't find any at the switch, I'm
> assuming that the power feed wire is broken.

I think your best course of action is first to try another switch in
that position, in case it is bad, then open up the door panel, pull back
the hinge area boot, remove the interior covers, cut open the bundles of
wires and look at them all for damaged wires.  then solder or crimp in
12" pieces of good wire, the connections should be in the car and in the
door, ie not in the flexible section.

You should find the problems cured then.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/