Jeep Cherokee Forum

Jeep Grand Cherokee 1993-2004: Why is My Power Window Not Working?

Has your Grand Cherokee's power window stopped working, leaving you out in the cold or unable to order your favorite drive-through burger? This article will help you diagnose and correct the problem to get that window rolling again.

By Brett Foote - September 14, 2015

This article applies to the Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ and WJ (1993-2004).

There are two common causes for a busted power window in your Jeep: a worn out window motor, or wiring issues. The motor is exactly what it sounds like, as it controls the up and down movement of the window, and sometimes, they just flat out die of old age. Additionally, the wiring harness for the power windows are a common source of window troubles. Water can leak into the harness, corroding it; also, of equal issue is the tampering of previous owners—commonly when doing speaker upgrades and damaging something. Whether it be from corrosion, old age, or some previous tampering, these two items are going to be your first stop in troubleshooting.

Materials Needed

  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Panel removal tool or putty knife
  • Voltmeter
  • Spare wiring
  • Crimps
  • Crimp tool

Step 1 – Check your wiring

You could have worn or broken wires.

One of the most common issues with power windows is that the wiring used to power them breaks down and wears down over time. This wiring is usually cheap as well as frail, and once it is damaged to a certain point, it can cause electrical components like power window motors to stop working. Open the door you are having a problem with and remove the door panel. Visually inspect all of the wiring looms for damage, and use a voltmeter to check the wiring that goes into the power window motor. Next, check inside the door jamb and look inside the wiring loom for the black (ground) wire and check it for damage. If you find any wiring that is damaged, you can splice in a new section of wire by removing the kick panel to gain access to it. Simply cut out the damaged section and crimp in a new piece. Also, check to make sure you are getting power at the master control switch. If not, the switch might need to be replaced.

  • Figure 1. Power window wiring diagram (part 1).
  • Figure 2. Wiring diagram (part 2).

If the wiring is in good shape, move on to Step 2.

Step 2 – Replace the power window motor

Your motor could be bad.

If you have power going to your power window motor and it won't budge, you probably have a bad motor. This is common with all cars, not just Grand Cherokees, because motors simply burn out over time and with use. It's a good idea to replace both the motor and regulator at the same time, as the regulator will only cost you a little bit more and it tends to wear out as well. The motor and regulator are attached to the inside of the door skin, behind the door panel and is held in place by a few bolts. Remove the bolts and the wiring harnesses connected to the motor, then simply install them on the new motor and bolt it into place. Be sure to test the motor before you put everything back together.

Figure 3. Diagram for a Grand Cherokee door.

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