GTA Windows - issue

Has anyone had the issue where the electric windows go up but not down?
Windows were half way open, so I used the switch to close one and then when I tried the switch to lower it and it didn't want to know. Now the other side is the same.

If I operate the switch to close the windows, then you can hear the mechanism which I guess confirms the 'UP' movement is fine - though obviously the windows don't move as they're shut already. But when I press the switch to open there is nothing.

Both switches are around 7 years old - as I replaced them soon after I bought the car.
Cant recall which other Renault shares the part - probably R5, R25 ?

I'm thinking wiring / earth issue ? Any pointers please ?

This does ring a bell with me.
I think I disconnected the switches and cleaned all the contacts on the connector and then they worked fine again. I don't think I took the switch caps off or dismantled in any way

If I operate the switch to close the windows, then you can hear the mechanism which I guess confirms the 'UP' movement is fine - though obviously the windows don't move as they're shut already.

Paul, The circuit is really quite simple.
There are two fuses (30amp) which separately supply each Left or Right Up / Down switch. Depending if you push Up or Down, the switch sends 12v to the motor. but with reversed polarity for up or down. The motor only has two wires feeding it.
Once the window is either fully up or down, the motor will stop turning as it has been forced to stop as no more movement of the window is possible. The bit that puzzles me is your quote above. You say " If I operate the switch to close the windows, then you can hear the mechanism" , but you go no to say "though obviously the windows don't move as they're shut already".
Can you confirm if you can actually hear the motor turning with the window in a stationary state.
Hope that makes sense to you.

John

John,
What I meant was that when the windows are closed and I press the UP button then I can hear (momentarily) the window wanting to go up further but obviously it doesn't. Also, the lamps on the dash ever so slightly go fainter which indicates the UP movement of the switch is working. The lamps on the dash don't go fainter when I press the DOWN buttons.

Thanks Paul ... all makes sense now.
Clearly all the wiring to the switch from the fuses is OK, as is the wiring from the switch to the motors. The only thing that is not happening is that the switch/s are not providing the reverse polarity to the motors to open the windows.
The only strange thing about this is that both windows are affected the same way as each window has a totally separate circuit, even down to separate earths.
However, I think you will have to get the switches out for inspection then firstly, as jonc suggests, clean the pins of the two connectors attached to the switch .... one for each window, and see if that fixes the problem.
If you can indulge me, a pic of the underside of the switch would be appreciated as I have not seen what is under them to reverse the voltage polarity for correct operation.
Let us know how you get on.

John

Sounds like a similar fault to mine.
The switches Pop out easily, just remove gear leaver gaiter to get to underside.
Once you have removed switch, post disconnecting wiring, you can remove the top easily. My fault was just fluff in the connector. When you are there the bulbs are in view too, so check to see if you need to replace them.

Dave

Removed switches completely, sprayed switch cleaner on the connections and re-fitted. Seems to have cured it

sprayed switch cleaner on the connections and re-fitted. Seems to have cured it.

Paul, Glad to hear that the windows are both working again after cleaning the connectors ..... However, I am not convinced that the fault has been cured.
If my reading of your quote is right:-

Now the other side is the same.

As each window has its own separate circuit, and the windows will go up, this means that the voltage from the 12v fuse and earth return to the motors are OK .. even through the connectors ..... as all the pins on either side are used to move the windows up. The only difference is that when you switch the windows to down, the voltage is reversed on to the same two pins which are used to run the window up.
My guess is that there is a dry or cracked solder joint somewhere by the switch its self.
Should you have further problems with the windows not opening, I would remake all the solder joints around the switches.
I think the reason why they are working at the moment is because the solder joints have been disturbed and have temporally remade which does happen with dry or cracked joints.
Time will tell.
Hope this all makes sense to you.

John