Replacing 88 Avant PW switches with BMW and Relays

[ernier]

The window switches on the '88 "beater" Avanti have been giving me fits since I've gotten the car. In fact the power windows have been the only real problem I've had. It needed a motor on the driver's side and a gear on the passenger side. It has since eaten two more gears over there so I need to find out why but that's another post.<BR><BR>Most later cars use reverse polarity motors for the windows. If you have only two wires to your motor it's a reverse polarity motor. The way it works is that one wire is powered while the other is grounded to spin the motor in one direction and vice-versa. Most cars have relays in the circuits but not my '88 Avanti. It has switches that were altered, I assume by Avanti Motors, to take care of all the powering and grounding.<BR><BR>I took the switches apart a couple of times, cleaned, lubed adjusted etc but just when I would really need the windows to go up or down they would fail. So I went on ebay looking for some switches that would fit the console and found dozens of BMW window switches for sale. I bought 4 for $9.95 plus shipping. I figured for the price if I couldn't make them work it was no great loss. The nice thing about the BMW switches is that they are like two separate switches in one and the push down to activate design doesn't require any type of rocker or pivot to wear out.<BR><BR>So much for the history. I took one switch apart and saw which connector would transfer power to the up side and the down side when each was pushed. No matter how many connections the switch has you only need the main power connector and one connector that gets power when you push up and one when you push down.<BR><BR>I went on Amazon.com and found 5 pin Bosch style relays with wiring harnesses from a company called Uneeksupply. Great deal at 10 relays for $24.10 including shipping! You'll need 4 relays for the job.<BR><BR>So heres how you wire it up without even having to cut a factory wire or run a new power lead or ground.<BR><BR>Remove the shift handle by prying out the 'u' clip at the front of the handle. You need to shift the car out of park to get to it easily. Next pry the console plate up at each corner. It's held on by spring clips and should pop out easily. Remove the connectors from the switches. I took the wires out of the connector but it's not necessary. If you want to pull them out you need to put a stiff wire or wire pick behind the spade connector to relaease the one way lock and pull the wire from the connector.<BR><BR>the wire coding is as follows for the switches:<BR><BR>green (both sides)=ignition power 12V<BR><BR>black (both sides)=ground<BR><BR>yellow and black= driver's side down<BR><BR>orange and black=driver's side up<BR><BR>yellow = passenger side down<BR><BR>orange = driver's side up<BR><BR>I don't know if all relay harnesses are color coded the same way so if you are doing the job the number on the relay takes precedance over the colors that being said here's the connections to the relay with numbers and colors:<BR><BR>Each side will need two relays, one for up one for down.<BR><BR>Twist terminal 86 and 87A wires from both relay harnesses together and crimp on a yellow solderless male spade connector. Attach that to the black ground wire from the factory harness.<BR><BR>Terminal number 87 needs to have a wire added. So twist an additional 7 " piece of 14 ga wire and crimp on a yellow male spade connector to the two 87 wires from the relays. The connector needed on the additional wire is determined by the switch you are using. If its' a BMW switch then you need a narrow blue female spade connector. Connect to the green 12V ignition wire.<BR><BR>Cut two 7" wires and attach the narrow blue female connectors to one end and wider blue male spade connectors to the other. These wires connect to the switch and one will go to the up relay and one to the down. Connect one to the 85 terminal on each relay.<BR><BR>Finally, put a wider male spade connector on the 30 terminal wire from each relay and connect that wire to the orange or orange and black for the up relay and yellow or yellow and black for the down relay.<BR><BR>To simplify if you buy the relay and harness and the colors match up to the harnesses I have here's the color connections:<BR><BR>White and black (86 and 87A) from each relay to black from factory harness.<BR><BR>Yellow (87) from each relay to green from factory harness. An additional wire needs to be attached and connected to the power terminal on the switch.<BR><BR>Red from each relay harness (85) to either the up or down output terminal on the switch.<BR><BR>Blue (30) from each relay to either orange/orange and black for up or yellow/yellow and black for down.<BR><BR>Remember one relay for up and one for down but you can share the 12V ign and ground for both and you only need one wire from the 12V ign to power the switch. <BR><BR>A recently found but easily remedied quirk has shown up with this installation.  When the car is turned on the window motor will drop the glass a little.  Simple fix is to also run a ground wire to each switch attached to the center spade on the left side of the switch...looking down at the switch in its mounting position.  It's the red wire to the right of the white, 3rd wire from the left.<BR><BR><IMG src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/AvantiR2/104.jpg"><BR><IMG src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/AvantiR2/011-2.jpg"><BR><BR><IMG src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/AvantiR2/018-2.jpg"><BR><BR>

Edited October 22, 2010 by ernier

[Twnchgr]

Your the man...

Have had same problems with my windows in my 88 LSC for years...

Can you send me the Part # for the switchs and relays.

karlsparks2@sbcglobal.net

Karl

Edited June 30, 2010 by Twnchgr

[ernier]

Your the man...

Have had same problems with my windows in my 88 LSC for years...

Can you send me the Part # for the switchs and relays.

karlsparks2@sbcglobal.net

Karl

Link for the relays...

http://uneeksupplies.amazonwebstore.com/IMC-Audio-10-Pack-3040-AMP/M/B0032JMKZY.htm

You only need four but for the price to have a few extras is a good thing. They are so versatile you can make use of them for sure.

I don't have a part number for the switches. Here's a link to the same switch on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/...RK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Later cars have pin type connectors you want spade so just make sure of the type before you buy.

Easy install but if you have any questions email me directly r2r5388@yahoo.com.

My windows have worked now for the most days in a row since I bought the car

Edited June 30, 2010 by ernier

[Twnchgr]

parts are on the way.. Will e-mail you if I have any questions. Thanks again.

[Twnchgr]

parts are on the way.. Will e-mail you if I have any questions. Thanks again.

Finally had time to install new relays ans switch's...So nice to have working windows ...Thanks again Karl

ps, you should write up a article and sent it to LEW. Know there are others who would benefit from this mod.

[ernier]

Finally had time to install new relays ans switch's...So nice to have working windows ...Thanks again Karl

ps, you should write up a article and sent it to LEW. Know there are others who would benefit from this mod.

Glad it worked well...

Lew knows he can take my post and use it if he feels it's worthy.

ErnieR