Driver side window switch

[Chris]

Hello Everyone,

New to the group. 1964 Cadillac DeVille Convertible. 

The 4 way switch operates the other 3 windows ok, but not the driver window. Today I took it of the switch off the plate and tried to raise and lower the window. It raised the driver side window. When I tried to lower the window, smoke came from the switch. Now the driver side window will not got up or down.

Is the switch shorted some how? Does anyone fix these switches? Is there another way to test if its a bad switch or possibly the the wire board attached to the back of it?

Thank you all,

Chris 

[Jason Edge]

Sounds like the hot switch is the result of an bigger issue (i.e. short) somewhere else down the line. The switches usually just stop working because the contacts become corroded or broken. Cleaning them is pretty easy as they are simple switched and easy to take a part. I would check the wires running from door to body in the rubber conduit.  Those thick wires break all the time due that driver door swinging open and closed thousands of times over 60 years. I’m guessing you have a wire that is touching metal or another. It could also be a problem with the window motor going bad, and/or you window regulator is not tracking smoothly in the cam channels. That could be making the motor pull a lot of current with the switch being the weak spot getting hot and smoking.