1999 s70 electric gremlins

Post by **wallymn** » 17 Jul 2012, 17:40

Background: I wanted a Volvo so I purchased a 1998 s70 GLT a month an half ago, 30 days later it was totaled in a construction zone. I used the insurance money to buy another volvo. A 1999 s70 base with just 99,000 miles. I think I can be really happy with this car.

I have only owned the car a few days but ALL the power windows failed at the same time and the power mirrors .

The power lock button on the driver's door still works.

I assume since they all failed at once (window will not work from ANY door control). That there is a master switch somewhere that failed. I checked fuses and found nothing.

If anyone can point me in the right direction, I thought I should just start by replacing the driver door "master switch" but I don't see how that failure would affect the passenger door. And if the power lock button on that switch works should I assume it is NOT the driver switch?

Note: since if failed it "worked" once but not again since.

Thank you everyone , I have found this site to be extremely helpful.

Post by **rspi** » 17 Jul 2012, 20:51

Why do you call that a gremlin? Did you check the fuse? Or the breaker?

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 18 Jul 2012, 01:33

99.9% of the time, this problem is caused by dirty, shorted switch contacts in the window master switch.
There's no fuse to blow because the windows and sunroof are protected by an auto-reset circuit breaker.
That breaker is hiding under the fuse box cover and is probably cycling on and off whenever the key is on.
You may want to pull that breaker ( location #37 in the fuse box near the windshield, 4 screws gets the
cover off.) to prevent any further problems until you fix the switch. Be careful - it may be hot!

98 S-V 70 Fuse Locations and Legends .pdf: (662.26 KiB) Downloaded 120 times

And since the master is the first stop on the way to all the other window switches, they won't work either
if the master is having problems.( You'll probably notice that the sunroof is also inop...

)

The good news? There's a great writeup here at MVS that will walk you through cleaning the master:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=38245

If it can't be cleaned and returned to service, you'll have to replace it.
IMHO, a new, stock Volvo switch would be the best option.

Good Luck!

Post by **wallymn** » 18 Jul 2012, 08:48

thank you, for your responses, I have confirmed the roof is also inop so that leads to the switch , I attempted the cleaning (great write up , btw), no luck. I will order a new part.
The switch was really in rough shape but I didn't want to assume that was the issue.

I will let you know if that works after replacing.

Post by **wallymn** » 18 Jul 2012, 09:34

I thought it might be worth showing what the switch looked like before cleaning, what a mess...'

Post by **wallymn** » 18 Jul 2012, 18:50

As expected, replaced the master control switch and all windows (including sunroof) work again.

Thanks everyone. Expensive part but easiest fix in the world.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 18 Jul 2012, 19:12

That 5th set down looks pretty well fried.
I don't think the contact burnishing tool
is gonna clean those up. Bummer...

Save that old switch, though.
You may need parts down the road.