I am trying to figure out what is going on with my 85 300D. The windows work, even after the car is shut off and the doors have been opened and shut. Any ideas where I should look? I was thinking it might be a stuck relay, but my husband said no...
Thanks guys!
Beena

Don't listen to your husband. Not this time, at least. The window relay sticking "on" is the only reasonable cause for your problem that I can see. The "working" side of the relay is hot at all times; the actuation side is hot only in "run" and "start."

If this problem is one that just started, then it is indeed probably a stuck window relay. If the problem has existed as long as you have had the car, it might also be a wiring error made by a PO. There's also a chance that someone made the change because they wanted the windows to work with the key off.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I want my windows to work in the position in which the radio works, NOT
having to turn on the glow plugs to operate the windows.

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85 300TD FED-Daily
84 300SD-Wife's
86 XJS-Sunday
66 GMC-Work- Given to my stepson
83 BMW Airhead- Given to my stepson

my 81 does

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

It would be pretty easy to install a switchable jumper around the window relay, then you could operate the windows independent of the key position. In fact, I am not sure that permanantly jumpering the relay would hurt anything.

Or, you could parallel something like the standing lights with the actuation side of the relay. That way, you could operate the windows by turning the standing lights on.

My 81 the passenger front and drivers rear operate in the accessory position and the drivers front and passenger rear in the run position. I read on here before that was the way they are supposed to work.

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81 300SD daily driver/project
86 420SEL (sold)
85 380SE(in the graveyard)

Your window switches should still work, even with no key as long as the driver's door is open. If they work with no key and the driver's door is shut, then there is actually something wrong. I think it is a nice feature when I leave my windows down and it starts to rain and I do not want to look for my keys.

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1985 Euro 300TD Turbo

all the windows in my 79 (300SD) work with the key in the accessory position.

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'79 300SD
'82 Chevy Chevette diesel

So you have to pull over and move the key to the accessory position in order to operate half of your windows? For some reason, that just doesn't sound like Mercedes engineering.

SD's are different.

I guess I wasn't clear. Two of the windows will work in run, or accessory position the other two only in the run position. So when you are driving and running the car, all the windows will operate. When it is in the accessory position only the drivers rear and passenger front will operate.

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81 300SD daily driver/project
86 420SEL (sold)
85 380SE(in the graveyard)

Check your fuses. I will bet you have poor continuity on one of them. A problem with the ignition switch wiring would affect all windows; same with the relay.

The problem could be with her door contact switch if the windows are working with the door closed and no key. I think the door contact switch applies ground to energize one of the 2 window relays (the relays are cascaded, if that is the right term). The relay supplying 12 volts to the window switches is energized via the second relay which selects either the ignition sw or battery depending on whether the driver door is open.

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1985 300D Turbo
"Evolution is God's way of giving upgrades" Francis Collins

So I guess you are trying to tell me this is not normal? I thought it was normal but if not I will start messing with it and figure it out. Have been through all the fuses. My wiring harness is pretty unmolested so I don't think its from damage.

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81 300SD daily driver/project
86 420SEL (sold)
85 380SE(in the graveyard)