Why won’t my car window go down?

Checks in order

• The window lock button on the driver’s door, which disables the other switches.
• The switch on the door itself, not just the driver’s master switch.
• The other windows, to see if one door is dead or all of them are.
• The fuse for the power windows, if all of them are dead.
• Ice in the track, in cold weather, which can freeze the glass in place.

Power window not working on one door

When one window will not go down but the others work, the problem is on that door. The switch, the motor, or the regulator is the likely cause, and the wiring inside the door harness can also break from flexing over time. A technician tests the switch and the motor before replacing parts, because a dead switch and a dead motor produce the same symptom.

When all the windows are dead, the cause is usually upstream. A blown fuse or a failed relay cuts power to the whole system, and the window lock button, if it is on, disables every switch except the driver’s. Check the lock button first, then the fuse, before looking at the doors.

Ice is a separate cause in cold weather. Water freezes in the run channel and grips the glass, so the motor cannot move it. Warming the glass and clearing the ice usually frees it, and a silicone spray on the channel helps prevent it. If the window is dead after these checks, the motor or regulator is the likely cause, and the repair is handled at the shop or mobile.

Window will not go down → where to look

More questions about a window that will not go down