1999 Montana Strange Power Window Problem

[jkelly6000]

Hi everyone. I have been reading quite a few forums and help sites and can't find a situation quite like mine, so I thought I'd ask here.

I have a 99 Montana, and over the last couple of months the master switch on the side for the power windows gradually stopped working either the driver OR the passenger side window. Sometimes it worked fine. Sometimes it worked but had to keep flipping the switch back and forth and trying and the window(s) would move weakly. Sometimes it just wouldn't work at all. I should note, however, that the passenger side switch controls the window there just fine - no loss of power, no weak motor, etc.

I first swapped out the master switch. The original had started to make a grinding/clicking noise in the switch. The new switch didn't make the noise but still acted like both sides aren't getting enough power. Now it has totally failed. I have cleaned the contacts, checked the wires (had to put a new mirror on so I checked everything and lubed the rail while I was in there). I can't figure out why the master switch made both windows move weakly, when at all, while the passenger switch works just fine.

Also, over the last few days, the power Unlock switch has stopped working on BOTH sides at the same time. I can lock the doors, just can't unlock them with the button.

Finally, this one has me even more baffled - every now and then, running or stopped, I hear a buzzing/vibrating noise coming from the glove box area. I swore there was a cell phone in there on vibrate at first, but nothing in there at all. It seems to be random, and I catch it maybe once or twice a week, though yesterday it did it about 5 times while I was waiting for my wife to come out. Nothing else seems to happen when it buzzes but I'd love to know what it is.

Any ideas what may be going on?

I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks!

 

[Steelcity]

Just a few guesses here, but the buzzing noise may be a relay that has low voltage to it and not able to open or close, and the window thing may be bad wiring shorted against one another or worn through itself with maybe a few strands left to make contact , that would explain why the window motors are slow to operate? Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[jkelly6000]

Hi, thanks for the response. When you talk about a relay, do you mean the ones under the hood in the secondary fuse box or somewhere else? It literally sounds like its right above/inside the glove box when it makes the really strong vibrating noise. It did it again today while I was waiting on the wife, nothing was on, no radio, nothing. Key was in the Off position and had been for at least 10 minutes. I've noticed other weird electrical things too. For example the display on the radio goes from really messed up and unreadable to perfectly clear. Sometimes the traction control button works, sometimes it has the orange traction warning thing on the instrument and the button wont work. I have been sitting in it not even in gear and watched the "Low traction" light come on. The AC now is running a few minutes, stopping a second or two, running again, repeat. Could the computer/ECM be going bad? Or could one bad cluster of wires cause it? I can't afford to sink a bunch of money into it and I am hoping its something simple. With the AC not even working properly I need to figure this window thing out before the heat is unbearable.

Thanks again!

 

[Steelcity]

When you have a bunch of weird electrical things happening to multiple areas it sometimes is a bad ground. Which is hard to find. I would at least check under the hood a d check the battery ground and make sure it is tight and clean especially where it connects to the chassis . Even check battery connections for tightness and no corrosion.