hot wiring power window motors

[lateracer]

Not sure where to post this but since I'm building a track car, I thought I might start here.

In removing the interior, I did an OK job of pulling out the dash and wiring that I no longer need. When all was said and done though, my power windows didn't work anymore.

I'm going to be permanently removing the window glass in the future (track rules), but for now I would like to be able roll the windows down when I'm driving and up when the car is just sitting.

Before I start experimenting and make things worse, I thought I'd ask.

There are two wires running into each window motor. Can I just connect a + and ground to make the windows go up/down?

[Pudmunkie]

Yup, I hooked direct power and ground to a single window switch, no reason you couldn't hook it up to the motor directly.

[lateracer]

Cool. I'll give it a shot.

[SFGadgetGuy]

when you reverse the polarity on the wires it will go either up or down.

[george graves]

Yep - Just don't leave it plugged in. You'll burn out the motors - or worse - fire.

[jlevie]

Run power over to the door and mount a double pole on-off-on switch in the door. Wire the switch as a reversing switch.

[lateracer]

Thx for the advice.

Jlevie, yeah, I was thinking about the double pole switch idea you mentioned. I think I'll cut a motor plug off the harness and wire up a switch assembly with a power cord. That way I can just completely remove all the wires from the door assemblies and make my way around the cabin with the switch to raise or lower/remove windows.

Rather than worrying about burning things up, I was thinking that I might just wire a 12v circuit breaker (like one of these) in with the switch. From what I can tell the fuse block has a 30 amp fuse in place. Assuming a 30 amp breaker would do the job.

[Jean]

just wire in the stock window switches, easy and safe w/o having to add any circuit breakers or anything else .

[Dave]

Anyone who has been at the track with me can tell you about my pigtail and jumper cable window routine - yes, you can do it.

Fixing this is on the punchlist of things to fix this off season that is taped to the Rat's windshield.

[jlevie]

Thx for the advice.

Jlevie, yeah, I was thinking about the double pole switch idea you mentioned. I think I'll cut a motor plug off the harness and wire up a switch assembly with a power cord. That way I can just completely remove all the wires from the door assemblies and make my way around the cabin with the switch to raise or lower/remove windows.

Rather than worrying about burning things up, I was thinking that I might just wire a 12v circuit breaker (like one of these) in with the switch. From what I can tell the fuse block has a 30 amp fuse in place. Assuming a 30 amp breaker would do the job.

If you didn't discard it, you should have the circuit breaker BMW used for the windows...

[lateracer]

If you didn't discard it, you should have the circuit breaker BMW used for the windows...

...Oh yeah....that would probably be a better idea.

Still have a pile of stuff I've removed from the car that I've categorized as "not sure what this is, but I might still want it", which includes relays, long runs of wire I nervously cut out, fog lights, etc. Chances are that if it's not still in the car, I know where to find it.

Any idea where they're located and what they look like? I've done a search, but haven't turned up any images yet. Bentley manual is in the shed, but I'll check the diagrams there tomorrow.

[jlevie]

The breaker would have been installed in the console or above the radio, depending on car model. It is a rectangular push type.

[whiltebeitel]

The circuit breaker is the size of a window switch, with a rectangular black button on top. The button has red sides that become visible when you disengage the breaker,

[Adrian_Visser]

That is a circuit breaker not just an on off switch for the windows? I always thought that was for disabling the windows when you have kids in the car.

[george graves]

There are two kinds. You can tell what kind you have when you push the button so that it pop's out.

If there is RED on the sides of the button when pop'ed out, then it's a real breaker. It will even have an adjustment screw on the back.

All the others (with out the red sides) are simply a switch, and do nothing. I've taken apart both and tested them.

You can even remove them from the car if you would like. Just conect the two wires that they normally connect to.