Chevrolet Repair: Driver side power window, jumper wires, gm vehicles

Question
Hi Van,
I have a 99 Chevy Suburban with the drivers side window that just quit working with no warning. I bought a master switch thinking that would fix the problem. All the other windows work. I also noticed that switch that locks out the other windows from operation does not work anymore. Could you please point me in the direction in to resolving this annoyance.  Thank you for any help in this matter.

Answer
Hi Frank,
Check the fuses first. There is a module in some GM vehicles that allows the drivers window to be express opened, meaning you can start it down, then let off the switch and it will continue. Keep that in mind before you just buy a new motor.
That said, the motor could also be the problem. They have solid state circuit breakers inside them, and if it wears out and doesn't reset, there is nothing to do except replace the motor.
But before doing that, I would get to the wires to the motor, and jump them directly from battery power and ground.
The motor housing is not grounded or part of the electrical system of that motor. It has two wires. Power to one of them, and ground the other will make the motor run in one direction.
Reverse the jumper wires, both power and ground, and the motor will run in the other direction.
Check that with the motor still mounted, even if you need to cut the wires. On most vehicles, they have the connector where you can't get it unhooked, much less use jumper wires.

That uses full battery voltage.

Van