I've had my 1997 XK8 for just one week and have a major problem with the driver side window - it's stuck/froze. When I opened the door it dropped an inch or so but would not go up using the buttons or the lock. It continued to drop each time the door was opened and eventually disappeared. (the passenger side window works fine) I've tried everything without success. I've had the door panel off, checked the door lock, and looked around for something that might have jammed - nothing. Has anyone any experience in getting the window up without power ? How do you get the window out if it's down ? Any suggestions before I head to our local Jag dealer. Please help this newbie. Thanks

 

Place the key into the outside door lock and turn it forward and hold for a few seconds and the window should go up. Then reprogram the limit switches if necessary. If the window doesn't go up using the outside lock, start checking power supply (fuses, battery voltage, etc).

 

It sounds like you might have a bad window lift motor, a bad switch, or a bad door control module. There are two wires going to the window motor. Applying power to the wires causes the window to lower. Reversing the polarity causes the window to raise. The wires go straight to the door control module. If one of those wires was broken, then the window wouldn't go up OR down. It would just be stuck.

I'm guessing that the lift motor itself is good. I suppose that it's possible that the motor will only turn one way, but that seems unlikely. The more likely culprit is the switch itself, with the door control module a close second. Try the key in the door lock as Skid Mark suggested. If the window will raise that way then you know the lift motor is good. That only leaves the switch itself, or the wire between the switch and the door control module.

If the key hasn't been used in the door lock for a while it might be hard to turn. Just jiggle it and it will eventually move. When I first got my car it wouldn't move at all, but a little jiggling and some silicon spray lube into the door lock eventually loosened it.

 

Reverand Sam, thanks for the response. I wanted to put power directly to the motor but found a multi-pin plug at the motor end and I think it's the same at the switch (Door lock). Any suggestions as to how I can find the two wires ?

 

The multi-pin plug is because the motor also has a movement sensor in it. It's a 6 pin plug. Pins 1 and 3 go to the lift motor itself. Those wires are orange with a blue stripe (pin 1) and orange with a black stripe (pin 3). If you put 12v on those two wires it should move the window one way or the other, and reversing the polarity will cause the window to move the opposite direction.

Those two wires come out of the door control module on pins 15 and 7, respectively. It might be easier to access them there. I'm not sure. Watch my video on how to install the remote control convertible top module to see how to access the door control module. You go in through the speaker.

 

Here's the wiring diagram for the window lifts on a 1997 XK8. It might be helpful. I also included the page with the wire colors.

 

Rev Sam - Thanks for the info. I'll try putting 12v to the lift motor on Monday and will let you know how I make out.

 

I decided to check a number of things while I had the door panel off. At first I thought I had a Driver Door Module (DDM) problem as I couldn't get any voltage from the DDM when I pressed the window up/down button. I ruled out the Module by swapping it with the one on the passenger side - I guess they're interchangeable. I put 12v to the passenger side motor and that worked but no luck with the driver's side just a couple of "clicks" when I changed polarity. Getting the motor and regulator assembly out wasn't that difficult but I had to remove the window as the scissor mechanism couldn't be moved. I checked for a replacement with the local Jag dealer - $800.00Cdn for the motor plus 13% sales tax. God bless Ebay - I found a used one for $100.00.

I've had my XK8 for a week now and look forward to using it in September and October before I put it away for the winter. Thanks to all the guys who contribute to this forum as this job was made easier by them.

 

That's great that you figured out the problem. Once you had the motor out did you try putting power to it to see if it would turn? Maybe the window/scissor mechanism was stuck.

 

I did put power to the motor and it did rotate but not all the time. I had to give it a bump to get it going. Hopefully the new motor will be here by the end of the week.