Installing electric windows in an automobile involves just four components per door: the car window itself, a regulator assembly, which moves the window up or down, a motor and a control switch. You buy a power-window kit that fits the make, model and year of your vehicle, and it contains everything you need to complete the installation, except the tools. Read all kit instructions carefully before beginning the install, and wear safety glasses and gloves at all time. Remove the negative lead from the vehicle battery whenever working on any car electrical system.
Instructions
- 1
Remove the window crank handle with a C-clip, a tool designed for removing window cranks. The C-clip can also help snap out the clips holding the door panel cover to the door. Unscrew the armrest on the door and remove it, and then take out the door panel. The door panel unsnaps from slots in the metal door frame beneath the panel. Peel off the moisture barrier directly behind the door panel and retain for later.
2Loosen the two clamps holding the window in the regulator assembly, inside the door, with a Phillips screwdriver. Tape the window so it is tightly closed, and pull down on the empty regulator. Remove six bolts on the door-frame that hold the window regulator inside the door, and remove the old regulator assembly.
3Fit the new window regulator inside the door frame so the motor mounted to the regulator fits into the door cavity below the window. Take the four color-coded wires connected to the motor and let them hang out of the door cavity for later. Bolt the new power-window regulator inside the door frame using the six bolts, remove the window tape and lower the window into the new regulator. Tighten the two clamps that hold the window in the regulator. Repeat this procedure for the other three doors.
4Remove all the kick panels and under-dash panels on the driver's side to expose the electrical wiring. Locate the wire harness loom, a bundle of wires from the kick panel beneath the driver's side. In most cars this will contain the wiring needed to install power-windows. Find four pairs of red and blue wire from the under-dash harness loom and unroll the wiring. Run two pair of red and blue wire to the passenger side of the vehicle and run the other two pair to the driver's side of the vehicle. There is an access hole in the door-frame where the wiring can be inserted into the driver's side door and the passenger side door. Insert one pair of red and blue wires into the passenger door and continue running the other pair back to the rear passenger door. Unscrew the carpet molding and run the wires beneath the carpet to the center pillar between the front and rear door. Removing the carpet molding allows access to the inside of the center pillar. Run the wire up the inside of the pillar to the access hole for the rear door and insert the wiring. Repeat on the driver's side.
5Pick up the end of the red wire from the window motor that is hanging out of the passenger-side door and insert it into a barrel crimp from the kit, a small cylindrical plastic sheath open at both ends that is used to join wires. Then insert the red wire from the under-dash wiring into the other end of the barrel crimp. Squeeze the barrel crimp tightly around both ends with wire crimps, so the wires inside make a good connection. Repeat this process for the blue wire. Leave the pink and green wire from the power-window motor for later. Crimp the red and blue wires from the window motor and the under-dash wiring together on the other three doors of the vehicle. Stuff the crimped wires into each door so there is plenty of slack and no chance that any wire will be pulled loose from being too tight.
6Fit the template from the power window kit over the window crank slot in the door. Mark the screw holes and the window control switch outline. Also fit the template over the door panel and mark the outline where the new switch will fit. Cut out the outline from the door panel. Drill new screw holes where marked to fasten the electronic window control switch to the door. Enlarge the crank slot with sheet metal cutters so the electronic window switch will fit inside. Insert the remaining pink and green wire connector into the plug-in slot on the electronic window control switch. Replace the moisture barrier, and insert the window control switch through the door panel. Snap the door panel into place, screw the control switch into the door, and screw in the armrest to the door. Reconnect the negative lead on the battery.
