electric window not going up

[Giles F]

OK, I've done a search but I'm getting a bit desperate now as the light is fading. My drivers window will only go up about 3" then it stops, or sometimes goes straight back down, any ideas please?

[itavaltalainen]

Most likely the motor shuts down as it draws too much current. Normally this is because the mechanism (window regulator) is faulty.
You have two steel cables in each door that make the window move up and down, they are lined (similar to handbrake cables), at the ends they have plastic bushes/sleeves, they often break....

Time for a new window regulator me thinks.... that should solve your issue.
They are not too expensive, ballpark 30£

[Giles F]

OK, thanks. Do you still think this would be the case even if I try to pull the window up while holding the switch, it just jumps straight back down.

[gasketface]

Your cable may have snapped and become trapped so it will not go anywhere until it is released from wherever it is trapped.

[itavaltalainen]

Ever tried pulling a wide drawer from only one of its corners?

The same is happening with the window, hence pushing up by hand to assist motor doesn't help.

[Giles F]

Nice analogy! Yep, the cable is frayed and trapped, no amount of pulling would have done it. While diagnosing it though I did find some corroded terminals on the multi plug on the door jamb, I fixed those, so it's not all bad. Thanks for your help.

[carpetviper]

What I would add is buy a quality replacement the £20 ones from ebay last about 6 months as my mate can testify. Mine was about £45 and has been on about 2 years up to now.