Ninespub

I was coming home the night before last and the window kinda had its own mind about staying closed. It was raining and I finally got it to shut and locked the car. When I got up the next morning (after raining all night) I found both windows were down and the sunroof half open???? I closed the drivers window and then it would not open again and the passenger side and the sunroof wouldn't move now either. Now I have one up, one down and a sunroof half open in a 90+ degree day with no AC. Not a good thing! What the #*!? do I look for?

SQLGuy

Does the 91 have the "one at a time" relay controller for windows and sunroof? (In my '85 and '88, the windows and sunroof were directly controlled by the switches, and you could open or close all of them simultaneously. Later cars, like the'93 GTS I used to have, use relays and only allow one to move at a time). If you have the relay setup in your '91, that module is the first place I'd look. Sounds like it's losing it... maybe bad connections at the unit making it think someone's pressing buttons? BTW, that module works with ignition off, because it can close the windows by key from outside.

Ninespub

SLQGuy: Thanks! Yeah, its "one at a time" open/close with the outside lock/close feature. I'll dig out my relay sheet and pull the mats and panel face for a look see. Hope its a easy relay to replace (like #53)instead of one of those $90 dedicated jobs that I'd hafta wait a week to get!

Ninespub

SLQGuy: Wait a minute, You said "module", not relay.......where is that puppy located?

Maleficio

It's under the coolant reservior. Best way to access is is to remove the header, let it hang out of the way, then you can almost reach it.




Just kidding. I don't know where it is.

jeff spahn

I believe that is under the driver seat and is black in 90 and later cars. YOu can also replace it with a VW module out of the Jetta. Do a search in the forum and you'll find the thread. If I get bored here at work I'll post the link

Bill Ball

Driver seat, like Jeff says. You should be able to see it and barely remove it by putting the seat all the way forward and up. It is held down by a bracket that has one Phillips screw and there may be some double-sided tape under the controller too. I had a helluva time with a 90 whose windows did weird things which I finally traced to a short in one of the wires going from the controller to the sunroof. The controller itself was OK.

Ninespub

Thanks guys. Bill: I found the 172 post thread on your past problem. Jezus, I hope I don't hafta go thru that. My mechanical abilities are close to non-existant and my electrical is negative sum. I did pull and replace my seats a couple weeks ago, maybe I jacked something up then. I checked the window fuse and futzed around with the switches; thinking was one was stuck and not allowing the others to operate (normal) and heard the motors trying to work, but no joy. NOW I have a dead battery too. Looks like my Saturday morning (at least) is now spoken for. Oh yeah, no room to work in the garage and its suposed to rain for the next 2 days (with the window and sunroof still open).

Bertrand Daoust

If you did remove your seats few weeks ago, I would definately start by checking the control box under there.

Good luck.

Ninespub

Okay......I yanked the driver's seat, checked all wires for cuts, nicks or abrasions (none) and pulled the control module out, disconnected as much as I could without pulling pins and then reset the plugs. When I moved it I tried the switches and nothing happened.

I then tapped it with the back of a screwdriver (Don't ask me why, I just did it) and black liquid (water?) dripped out. I shook it, wiped it and then shook it some more (just like I do something else) and it kept dripping. WTF! I let it stay tilted on a rag to drain for a while, came back and now I can hear the control module contacts clicking when I try the window and sunroof switches but still no movement.

Bill Ball, please don't tell me I've gotta dick around like you did. Tell me there's an easy way. Tell me there's something else to try before I put the seat back in.

Anybody have a good window control module gathering dust?

AO

More importantly... WHY IS IT WET????

Ninespub

Andrew, that's a mystery to me. There is no real indication HOW it could have gotten wet. Its protected by the seat cushion on top (not wet) motor & cover, etc. in front and is above the back floor level in height. In my OP I indicated it started weirding out on my way home and in the morning everything was open after a rainstorm. There would have to been a couple inches of water deep in the interior for it to have gotten into the module and nothing indicates (like soaked leather seats or carpet) that happened!!!!

Anybody have a good window control module gathering dust?

AO

Paul,

The only thing I can think of is the sunroof drains are plugged (the seal around the hatch is not waterproof). If the area around the sunroof fills up, it could drain along the tops of the headliner and run down the side undetected resulting in a pool of water on the floor. You can try using some weed-whacker string and try running it down the drain holes.

BTW, the module you're looking for was only installed on '91 thru '95. Might want to call 928 Intl or Potsiewebber to see if they have one. Gonne be expen$ive.

jeff spahn

Andrew. I was not able to find the thread about the VW Jetta window module (or was it Passat?) But I do recall reading it here that someone was able to use one in their shark.
Would you have a lead on that thread?

Bill Ball

I may have the one I removed and replaced from the 90 S4 in that saga I posted, which I believe was a good unit after all. I'm not sure if I kept it or gave it to the owner. I'll poke my parts collection around today. I don't know anything about a VW controller.