The 5 Most Common Reasons Your Power Windows Aren't Working

February 25, 2020

It's easy to take power windows for granted. Easy, that is, until pressing down on the switch suddenly yields no results. Though power windows that aren't working are obviously a huge inconvenience, there is a bit of good news: the exact symptoms your windows have can help you pinpoint the problem. Below, we've listed five different symptoms of non-functioning power windows, as well as the problem most likely to cause them.

5. None of the Windows Work

If one window doesn't roll down, try the others. If you find that none of them work, you may be in luck: there's a chance that a fuse has blown. This can often be treated by simply replacing the burned-out fuse with a new fuse of the same amperage. If the new fuse continues to work, it's possible there's no underlying electrical problem, and your windows should continue working as well. But if replacing the fuse still leaves the windows unable to operate, or if the replacement fuse blows right away, you may have a bigger problem with the wiring or the relay.

4. Rear Windows Don't Work

The solution to this one is even easier than the previous symptom. If only the rear windows don't work, it's possible that you have the child lock turned on. Check your owner's manual to see how to disengage the child lock, and then try again.

3. One Window Works, But Slowly

Each power window in your Chevrolet uses a motor to move the internal mechanisms. Over time, this motor may begin to wear down. Often, a failing motor will lead to a window that works slower. In cases like this, it's important to get the motor replaced before the window stops working entirely.

2. One Window Doesn't Work and Produces No Sound

As you may have guessed, a motor that fails completely will cause a power window not to work at all. While this motor can sometimes wear down, it may also simply stop working without warning. In addition, the switch itself could be experiencing trouble, and not supplying power to the motor. In either case, the motor won't move--which means that you won't hear the telltale whir when you press the switch.

1. One Window Doesn't Work, But Produces Sound

If the window makes the whirring noise, but still doesn't work, you can usually rule out motor problems. This leaves the regulator as the most likely culprit. The regulator consists of the mechanical components that respond to the motor and actually raise or lower the window. There are a number of ways a regulator could fail. A cable could become disconnected, a gear could break, or the window glass itself may have become separated from the regulator.