Windows, Sunroof and Seat = BROKEN!
 

I just went on a 2-week long trip to the east coast, when I came back the first thing (of course) was to go out in the SVX. Everything started fine but my my windows, seat and sunroof nolonger work, I looked through the manual and it doesn't specify and fuse the goes to those things. When I was looking at the fuse-box I noticed that under the power seat is soaked, as well as behind it. I also thought that It was a little weird that the door was like sealed shut and it took more (but not all that much more) force to open. What are all of your suggestions on my problem?

Thanks in advance -

Todd Gilbert

first dry it all out, then I would pull each fuse and make sure it's good. Sometimes Subaru uses an electric flow that goes through more than one fuse for a system to work (don't forget the underhood ones too).

I completly dried out the car, and no fuses are blown. But now when I press the drivers window switch or the sunroof, they buzz at me, not through the speakers or anything, they just make a buzz sound, and the little light thats on the drivers switch goes out when I use any of the windows/sunroof/seat functions. Please help Ive only had the car for 2 months and Ive allready dropped over $400 at the local Suby dealer.

Thanks in advance.

Todd Gilbert

my guess (and that's all it is) is that the contacts aren't making good "contact". I say that because I'm assuming the buzz means some juice is flowing, but not enough to properly function. Also check any ground points - especially that might be under the seat area.

Reaper has posted a bunch of PDF files that has the wiring diagrams if that helps.

I do want to look under the seat, but I am 6'5" so my seat is all the way back, and like I said at my last post the power seat doesn't work. Im in a catch 22. Sometimes I could get it to work, but not anymore, It seems like its just given up, and even the buzzing gets weak pretty quickly, it a buzz like something is shorting out. I will bring it to a auto electric shop if need be but I'm really really broke and not being able to talk to friends while driving around, use atm or drivethru's its getting pretty annoying, plus the cool windows I have now are just stationary, and thats one of the main reasons i bought the car.

PLEASE HELP ME!!

Thanks in advance -

Todd Gilbert

Rainroof?
 

Loki

Must have rained while you were away. Lee's advice is good. You have to dry out the car.

How did the water get in? Does the left passenger window work? I take it the buzzing comes when you try to move the driver's seat? Also the door switches. Sounds like the switches are wet, and you are losing power to earth at the switch or power connection.

Leave the doors wide open to let the water evapourate. Turn on the engine and the heater full blast to help it. Stay with the car while doing this, don't give thieves an opportunity to drive away in your pride and joy, just because you have a leak.

Your sunroof [see title :D ] has a drain channel piped down to the left rear wheel arch to let water out at wheel level. There is a vent pipe just below the power antenna for it. I suspect this pipe blocked up somewhere, and the water around your sunroof channel got into your interior. If this is correct, you must fix this. Take off the panel in the trunk, left side, for accessing the rear bulbs. Remove some rubber trim, and you can see how to slide off the left trim panel in the trunk, it is pretty easy. You should now see where the sunroof drain connects to the outlet behind and below the antenna, connected to the outer metal of the wheel-arch. You might try disconnecting this drain, pour some water on the sunroof, see if it is making it's way out the drain. If it's not [as I suspect] the drain hole at your sunroof channel is blocked, and you need to free it up.

Best of luck with it.

Joe:)

PS If the sunroof won't open, and you can't get to the drainage outlet in the channel to check for blockage, consider going to a sunroof specialist to get it powered up and unblocked. They probably get this all the time, and would be quicker getting it sorted than you would.

St Louis Blues
 

Todd

Just a thought. You say you have "completely" dried out the car. The buzzing suggests you still have water in the seat power motor, possibly the switches, maybe the sunroof motor.

Don't forget, if the sunroof is leaking, and it's raining, and your car is ouside, water is getting in. Cover the car, or put it in the garage till it's dried out properly.

With the heater on full defrost, and the doors closed, your aircon should be able to recover all the moisture in the car, may take a while but it will, and I am assuming your aircon is good to go.

Joe:)

When I say that I put in a dehumitifier, I meant a full blown house one, I let it run for hours and It pulled out quite a bit, I tried it again last night and it pulled nothing. Nothing feels wet anymore, If I look at the light on the power window switch its intensity fluxuates, If I press anything it turns off completly. I brought it to the suby dealer and they didn't have a clue, but they of course would be willing to figure it out for me at 98 bones an hour. A couple of days ago I got them down and when I got to my girlfriends house they wouldn't go up, I drove around the block and It seemed to fix them enough to at least get them up, Ill try the sunroof bit but I dont think thats it as the inside of the sunroof always looks clean, unlike the rear trunk. It is always filthy. Anyways Im going to try to remove the seat and get to the relays mabye just try to just reconncet them. Anyways please keep helping me.

Thanks for you responses, keep them coming!

Todd Gilbert

There is a good chance your having water vs. electrical problems but don't forget what else likes a car that has been sitting for two weeks. MICE!

I dont think it gets in from the sunroof, I think it got in from the drivers door. Mabye it wasn't slammed shut or something? There is a way to crank the sunroof open manually, but the wrench thats suppposed to be in the glovebox isn't there anymore. Anyone else know what size it is? I am getting so frustrated as I have no time to work on it. Could it be a relay? I HATE electrical problems... are there any grounds under the seat that might have corroded since being dried out? I will just have to figure something out... Please keep helping..

Thanks again..

Todd Gilbert

I called the Auto Electric Shop this morning, they said the first hour is $125 and after that it was 75$, Ive had the car for 2 f$cking months and it will allready deplete my savings!! I want my Bronco back. Also what kinda a fluid goes in the front diff?? ATF? I will figure out this problem my self (w/you guys help hopefully) if it kills me. Ive got a shotty modem so I cant really dl 4mb of PDF from reaver, could someone just tell me where the realy is that controlls flow to them, I think there just not getting enough power or not constant of a rate or something cause the 500w sub still pounds just as hard as ever.

Thanks for listening to me rant and rave...

Todd

You may still have water in the door - try removing the panel (plenty of threads here about the number and location of screws holding it on) and spraying some contact cleaner on the window switches. Unless the door was left open significantly - like not latched at all - I don't see how enough water could have gotten in to soak the carpet -- I'm with the sunroof crowd on this. Note - the contact cleaner might not be a bad idea for the connections under the seat....
Good luck.
-Bill

Pictures
 

I think its the relay under the seat, I finally got the seat out the the connections look nasty, any suggestions on how to clean the connections? Plus who thinks the relay is bad? When ever its moved it clicks a whole lot. I mean a LOT! It is a $47 part at the dealer. but I really want my windows back. Thanks again!

Todd Gilbert

PS - The padding under the carpet was really really wet. I could ring out like 3-4 cups of water. The ground points look good though. It looks as if maybe the wrapped wire is even a little corroded but I havent had all that much time to unwrap it.

Here is the other picture...

Try sandpaper on the male connectors and contact cleaner (available at Radio Shack) on the female. If the relay is "clicking" it means it is getting power - check to make sure the seat motor isn't "wet". Another way of saying this is - "get a multimeter and start measuring for current along the circuit"