Anyone out there with experience on early Olds power windows? Spent a lot of time trying to get all of the windows working on my 53 98 Olds. I started with a rebuilt pump, new rigid lines and new rubber lines and got the passenger windows to go up and down with the cylinders that were in the car when I got it. Every now and than though when I try to lower one of those windows all four seem to be energized. I suspect that may be in the switch which I took apart and cleaned. I have a diagram of the system that seems a bit vague but I'm looking for some possible pics of the actual hard wiring. There has to be some type of signal distribution to seperate/isolate the energized switch. Everything is rebuilt on the car but interior. When and if I can get the windows working or not it's gonna go down the road to a new owner too much time being taken away from other projects. Any input will be appreciated.
Is the circuit breaker under the dash near the cowl good, they usually get corroded. Is the pump working when you hit any switch.
The pump is working and had the right side windows working up and down but now the right door window moves when I push any of the four drivers door switches but the right rear doesn't go down now. I tried to follow the drivers door main switch wire harness but can't seem to find where they go. I think if I can find the other end of the harness I'll be able to at least get an idea on what the problem is. I was never able to get the left side to work but did see the drivers window move up slightly but not continue up. There has to be some type of control valve directing the fluid to each cylinder just can't find it.
You got an electrical issue . check your powers and grounds going into your master switch . You either got a lack of ground or power, shorted switch , bad wiring or connection.
Good points gonna start where I can see by disconnecting the wires to the main switch and touch wires seperately. Still want to find the other end of that wire harness but one thing at a time. My guess on bleading the system would be to crack the fitting at the cylinder and energize that cylinder since I see no bleaders anywhere. Gonna check on Monday. I'll post my findings and thanks again for the input.
On vintage convertible tops, I use a hose and bottle or funnel to keep extra fluid above the fill port basically overfull and cycle the system it will foam and settle over and over again and then start to work. It takes a long while. I assume a window system will have a lot of area to trap air and crazy it only takes a bit to make a system not work. I have only worked on a couple of windows and seats, so I have no rock solid fix. Good luck brother it will be fun.
If I remember correctly, there are solenoids at each cylinder and from the diagrams for the wiring, energizing the solenoid will drain the cylinder and allow spring tension to lower the window. But it looks like raising the windows will run the pump and raise them all? I don't see a control for each window. I also found this : http://www.1949cadillac.com/the-infamous-hydro-lectric-system-part-i/ http://www.1949cadillac.com/the-infamous-hydrolectric-system-part-ii/ https://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=153692.0
Had a couple of early 50s Lincolns with hydraulic power windows. With everything is working correctly, when you activate the window down function, it opens the solenoid for that window and the powerful spring pulls the window down. When you activate the window up function, it does the same thing but runs the pump at the same time. With the solenoid open, the spring will begin to pull the window down before the pump catches up, so the window will first start to go down and then hesitate a second before it goes up. Worst case scenario. Windows are partially down and it starts to rain. The battery is not sufficiently charged. You activate the window up function only to see the window go the rest of the way down and it rains on the mohair. The window that doesn't move is because the solenoid has either failed or is not getting power. The windows that operate together is because of "cross talk" in the switch. One way around all this mess would be to replace the hydraulic regulators with electric ones from a slightly newer similar model.
Yes electrical issue for sure. Just removed all the wires on all of the switches and individually energized each window seperately and still have power going to other windows it seems. What I mean is if I energize the left rear window for example the right door window slowly moves. Again the right front door window still works up and down with its switch only but the right rear window was working but doesn't now. I can't figure that one out. I see actual pics on line of components for Cadillac and Buick but none for Oldsmobile. This is why I need to find the physical destination of the wires from to the switches.
On my 53 Cadillac ,I had similar problem with the Driver Door 4 way switch , there is a hard plastic shaft which all four switches pivot on , the plastic shaft in my switch had crumbled and created the same problem you described , I disassembled that switch and removed all pieces of the original shaft and used a swizzle stick ( Like the ones that hold an olive in a martini ) to replace it, you could use a long toothpick , but I think the plastic may last longer ? if you replace the fluid don't use brake fluid like the 1952 service manual directs you to use , Mine had brake fluid , a leaky cylinder will cause paint damage anywhere it reaches . GM realized that and upgraded the manuals to use Auto Transmission fluid instead . I had to flush the entire system with alchohol , then fill with tranny fluid . all works good now.
Sweet Caddy same color as my 98 but with a black roof. I've eliminated my switches as the source of my problem but thanks for the input.
I found a schematic diagram from a search on "hydro electric " windows if that helps. I don't have any pics to post right now.
Found a few more related links, if you find a dead link use the way back machine to see if it was ever archived. http://oldcarmanualproject.com/manuals/Olds/1951/ConvertTop/51 Olds Conv. Top.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20171031040013/https://www.antiqueolds.org/PDF/hydro-electric.pdf http://www.1949cadillac.com/the-infamous-hydro-lectric-system-part-i/ http://www.1949cadillac.com/the-infamous-hydrolectric-system-part-ii/
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