Power windows unswitched

[Vsyevolod]

In my brand new '88 Westy, the most frustrating thing about the power windows is that I always forget to roll them up before turning off the engine. This implies that they are switched (connected to the ignition), and I'd like them to be unswitched (connected straight to the battery, not dependant upon the ignition being on).

Firstly, is there a problem with doing this? Like does it present a slow drain on the battery to hook them up this way? I know some newer cars give you about 60 seconds to roll up your windows after turning off the ignition, but then they cannot be rolled up or down after that.

Secondly, how do I find an unswitched fuse that I can tap into safely?

And thirdly, is it a good idea to get a one minute timer thingy instead of just leaving them unswitched?

Fourthly, this list rocks...

Stephen






.

[spitsnrovers]

I'm having the same thoughts! Have had since it started raining one night while camping in a hot location with the windows down, the keys in my pocket somewhere under the bed, and me sleeping in, well, very little

I just haven't gotten around to it. I had it done to my 1995 Subaru with no problems. It did not have a timer. One of the arguments put to me against this was security. It was said that the windows could be opened with a piece of wire slid down inside the glass. On a Subaru, that may have been possible, due to no window frame plus, liftup/push down type switches.

Look into the Bently manual for the HOT connectors on the back side of the fuse panel.

I'm thinking of running one of those HOT wires to a two way (SPDT)switch located somewhere within reach - say central lower dash. That way I could leave it in NORMAL when leaving the vehicle, but put it into HOT mode when stopped camping.

VW doesn't have the security concern Subaru had - steel window frames, plus the very akward location of the switches. PLUS PLUS, who will know if they are wired always HOT anyway?
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'88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500

[OilNBolts]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=319668&highlight=load+reduction
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Current fleet: Vanagons, two '88 GLs and an 89 Bluestar. Beetles, '63, '64, '72 convertible. Plus, four Subarus and three Prius. Too many cars.

[otiswesty]

The Vanagon has a 5 pin power window switch, the Jetta a 6 pin switch. The difference is that on a Vanagon, when the ignition is on the little indicator light in the switch is also on. If you hot wired your power window switch to be always on, there would be a current drain from the little light in the switch.

There are 2 solutions.

One is to use a Jetta switch that has a separate additional spade for switched power to the light. This can be done using the original wire and add a second hot wire to the 30 position spade.

Second option is described in the aforementioned thread, and that is to use the door open circuit as an additional power source so that the window will work with the door open. This would not allow you to put up the window while camping though if the door is closed.

Interestingly, the European spec Vanagons have a hot wired window switch. That is one of the things that has to be changed when the van is federalized to meet US DOT specification.
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1978 Sage Green P22 Westfalia
1989 T3 Syncro Single cab

Just a regular guy

[Alan Brase]

[otiswesty]

[quote="69doublecab"]