Power windows operate normally to beging with, but as the car has been driven for some time, they slow and struggle to go down, using a lot of voltage from the engine.
Anyone experienced anything like this?
Cleaning/lubricate the runners can help. Also if slow to go up and down try cleaning and treating the glass slide point on the quarter light posts to some rubber treatment as Autoglym sell, other brands too.
Of course if both windows are affected it could point to switch problems.
Thanks for your response. They operate normally to begin with but as the car has been used for some time, they start to slow down.
Omar
Are you saying that both windows operate with more vigour when you enter your car but after a run they are sluggish?
If so, the issue is charge/battery related as clearly the voltage getting to the windows has reduced, hence the lacklustre performance. Normally the charge effect at say 14.6 volts whilst driving would boost the windows performance, so your windows problem is indicative of another issue, I’m sorry to say.
Yes, that’s exactly it. I’ve had the battery and alternator checked. The reading was 14v. Is that too low?
This does sound like a charging problem so you were right to have the alternator checked. I do wonder though if the alternator check was thorough and or when the problem was occurring.
Get a voltmeter [cheap on Amazon and a worth while investment] and a friend. Go for a drive with your friend and wait for the problem to happen. Pull over, leave the engine running and pop the bonnet. Check the voltage across the terminals of the battery while the windows are being lowered. It should dip and then rebound as the windows lower. Try with the lights, the blower and the heated seats and screen on [basically if you have a button that makes things work press it]. See what readings you get and report back.
If the readings are where they should be, then the problem is likely in the relay for the windows, the switch or the wiring between the two. A bad earth/ground connection, a furry plug contact, a pinch in the wires or a very slight short circuit that gets worse as things warm up are just some of the possibilities. If both windows are acting the same way then you can eliminate any issue with the wiring after the switch, if only one is doing it then things get simpler.
Thank you. I don’t think the other window is as sluggish. But will check that again.
I will report back shortly.
I did forget to mention in an earlier post, that the window is only sluggish at around 75% the way down. And to reiterate, this only happens after I’ve taken the car for a run.