Windows Stopped Working

[mbsickness]

Hello all, a friend of mine has a 98 C230 an it is having some strange electrical issues. About a week ago the windows would only roll down a little at a time. You would have to keep pressing the button repeatedly to get the window all the way down or up. This happened on all four windows. Today the key would not remotely lock the car so the car was eventually locked manually with the key. After coming back to the car, the remote wouldn't unlock the car. When manually unlocking the door the alarm went off and there was no way to shut it off. The car did however start and was driven to the MB dealer. Once they arrived the service advisor asked for the key and kept pressing buttons and the alarm finally stopped. The service advisor said the key was bad and they would need a new one...simple enough. Now for the strange part...the windows do not work at all using the center consul switches....the motors are working because the windows open and close using the key in the trunk lock. Sounds like a huge coincidence but I'm thinking the consul switches have given up the ghost. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[benzaddict]

Sounds like you may have a bad key, but a bad key won't effect your windows, so you may have 2 problems. If the key won't lock/unlock and the batteries are ok, it's probably bad. If the car was locked electrically with the key and unlocked mechanically with the key the alarm will sound. There is no microswitch in the door tumbler anymore like the older cars to tell it the door was manually locked, which could possibly explain the alarm issue, and yes the car will start with the alarm going off. Here's a little trick to try and test the elec RF function of the key: tune any radio to 700-720AM and press the button for approx 5 seconds, you should hear a short buzz(very quiet) if the key is sending an RF signal. This test is a little sketchy and not very effective in my area because we have a strong station at 710 here in Seattle that overpowers the key signal and I hardly ever hear it so I don't trust it much, but it may work better in your area. It's at least worth a try for free!

Is it possible there was coke or coffee or some liquid that was spilled into the window switch area, it's pretty common and easy to do and will raise hell with the switch assy. While the car was at the dealer did they hook up an SDS machine and check for codes? They could also look in the actual values menu with the machine hooked up to see if the switches are actually working and sending a signal.

Then there's the obvious question: did you check all the fuses? Good luck!

[bikeman311]

from the way you are describing the window operation, it sounds like the battery may have been disconnected (or a short) causing the windows to need to be re-synched (or whatever its called). try just pushing the window button 1/2 way. if that isn't it, then it is above me (very likely).

the talking about the window rolling down little by little reminded me of when that happened to me.