I understand dirt in the tracks making power windows slow. I understand dried up chunky grease making them slow. Same with worn brushes, dirty contacts, etc.
But I've never understood why power windows so often become slow when its raining.
I understand dirt in the tracks making power windows slow. I understand dried up chunky grease making them slow. Same with worn brushes, dirty contacts, etc.
But I've never understood why power windows so often become slow when its raining.
Rain is heavy.
High humidity may cause swelling on something or maybe increase resistance on switches(?)
My apologies, I thought the post was written tongue in cheek with the observation that when you really want those windows UP (because the rain is getting in) that the perception is that the windows are going up at a slower rate than normal. If they are actually slowing down I would guess there is an electrical short/drain caused by a bad connection.
I've never had a vehicle with power windows, which I consider just something else to break, but the manual windows on my '82 Chevy van work much better in the rain. I think the water runs down the tracks just enough to lubricate the felt. Weird, huh?
Yep. I've noticed that with manual windows too. Yet it seems to work in the exact opposite if they have power.
FT, just theorizing here. My DD's have manual windows. Lotus power windows are flakey on a good day.
Could it be:
When it's raining, you have the headlights on, windshield wipers on, perhaps the heater fan on. These things can put an increased load on the electrical system causing a voltage drop, especially at idle, which would make the electric motors move slower.
That makes sense.
The windows on my 96 Mazda are slow too, if I raise them both at the same time. Separately, they're fine.
Murphy is laughing at you, that is why
have you tried re-booting them?
Dr. Hess wrote: FT, just theorizing here. My DD's have manual windows. Lotus power windows are flakey on a good day. Could it be: When it's raining, you have the headlights on, windshield wipers on, perhaps the heater fan on. These things can put an increased load on the electrical system causing a voltage drop, especially at idle, which would make the electric motors move slower.
I do wish it was that simple. But no.
It's like either the motor gets weak (doubtful) of the window is getting a lot more friction in the track and or gasket when rained on.
It's not just one vehicle, it's most of them. Quick and smooth on a dry day, but slow and feeble when raining. My old Toyota was the most obnoxious, it would rip the window gasket out of the door frame when you lowered the window in the rain, and flat refuse to go up.
So many of the vehicles I've had or drive exhibit this, and I can't quite figure out exactly what it is. Some worse than others, but they all, well almost all, do this.
I think we're going to have to consider the common denominator here.
Just kidding. I only have one vehicle with a slow power window, and it's slow all the time.
Maybe the rubber in the window channel or seal on the top edge of the door sticks to the glass when wet and causes more friction on the glass making the window operate slower? Maybe your cars with manual windows had a different material there, like the felt like stuff instead of a rubber like squeegee seal.
If the same model car slows in the rain with power windows and is easier with manual winders then I would jump on the electrical system loading theory.
Going along this line, More likely when it rains the seals swell making a tighter fit and thus slowing down the travel speed due to friction. Or maybe the humidity is affecting the switch or motor. I don't know....never mind. 
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