Power windows

[brian121268]

All of my windows, including switch lights have constant power. I can shut the car off, remove the key, get out and close the doors, come back at any length of time and windows still work and window switch lights are on. Is this a stuck relay, and if so where is it? Please help. Something keeps draining my batt. if car is not driven for 2 or 3 days. I wouldnt think the window switch lights would be enough to drain batt but I can find nothing else on.

[walky_talky20]

All B5's have constant power to the window motors at all times. There is a very small wire - a sort of 'enable' wire to each motor that allows it to operate.

Both the red, button illumination AND the 'motor enable' signals are ultimately driven by a single wire. This wire comes from the Central Locking Module.

There are 2 possibilities:
- This illuminate/window enable wire is shorted to constant positive somewhere
- The Central Locking Module is faulty and providing power to that wire at all times

I would say the second possibility is more likely. They modules are in an area that is known to collect with water in the case of a drain clog. Water damage to the module is not uncommon. They can do all sorts of crazy things once they are water damaged. Up to and including randomly rolling down all your windows...while sitting unattended in a parking lot for a week. Or, my personal favorite, rolling down the windows when the trunk is opened...and then rolling them back up and locking the car once you shut it. Crazy Town.

If you can't find the problem (or don't want to replace the locking module just to fix this minor thing), you can clip the wire and power it another way. I would suggest powering it from the 15 circuit, which is probably available at the pump location already. This would delete the "courtesy power" for the window button illumination as well as courtesy power for the windows themselves. But it should remove the parasitic draw that is killing your battery. And do so for almost zero dollars.