How do you get your car windows to roll up when the switch for automatic windows is broken?

Answer 1

There is no single answer, ther are several answers - depending on the vehicle.

If it is the single up/down botton for a particular window you can (on a lot of models) just pop the switch out of the door or consol and use a paper clip to connect the contacts together that make the window go up or down, since a car is 12VDC, you could get quite a shock if you are standing in a puddle of water when you do this, so make sure you are not grounded - so the direct current does not go through your body. If you are sitting in the seat, wearing shoes, and not touching any metal parts of the car, you will not be hurt in any way. If you cross the ground (negative) contact back to the positive, you will see a spark, and may blow a fuse, just be careful and watch which contacts you touch, change the fuse if you short it and touch the other two contacts, this will either raise or lower the window, touch the third back to the positive and the window should move in the opiste direction.

Otherwise, it depends on the make and manufacturer of the auto, as different companies use different systems. For instance on some (not all) Mercedes - the window switches are in a central consol. If you remove the consol (most just pry off if you find the right places to pry) you can replace the broken switch with one that works, as they are plastic and push electrical contactors together when the switch is pressed. In some models, where the driver has a separate set of controls you can scavange one control for another. Some manufactureres use motors and gears to raise the electric window that allow you to grab the window and raise it manuually. This is only usefull if the window is slightly raised, ff you open the door and put one hand on each side of the window and push together while forcing up (towards closure) you can (sometimes) raise the window. Some vehicle manufacturers use crossing "arms" to raise and lower the window that will not allow the window to move this way. Some models, like VW New Beetles (and most other VW models), when you put the key in the door and turn it one way the dorrs lock, turn it the opisite way and all of the windows go down, turn it again and they all raise - even if all of thee switches are "broken".