So it's raining and unfortunately the power window on the driver's side got stuck in the down position.

I've been having the problem of the window sticking, but it usually comes back up after a few tries. The problem has gotten worse and worse to the point of me not being able to get it up at all.

I've looked on the forums for similar problems but couldn't find much help.

I need to know what I should specifically do with detailed instructions. I don't know how to check power or anything, so explicit details are needed.

Thanks for the help.

With the assumption that the motor is functional, you can easily test the switch by swapping it with the RF switch. Pop them both out of the console, switch the plugs, and see if the problem goes away.

If so, replace the LF switch.

Ya, these are switches that I bought about a year ago and were much nicer than my older ones that would stick. I tried switching back to the old and it still didn't work, but I'll try switching with the new RH side as well.

What should I do if that doesn't work?

Mind you, the window goes down fine, but it is always hard and now impossible to get it to go back up.

That symptom leaves little possibility for anything else but the switch.

My only question is whether you "help" it to go back up when it's stubborn..............or does it suddenly and smoothly go up by itself for no apparent reason?

Ya, when it starts to go up it will go up all the one with one button press, but sometimes it might take 6 or 7 button presses to get it started. But yes, once started it goes up fine.

Replace the switch.

After sitting a few weeks, the drivers window-switch on my '82 240D started needing 3 - 4 tries to go up. When it did go up, the widow moved easily, without needing any 'help'. Finally it went down but wouldn't go up no matter what. So I removed the switch, released the driver's rocker button by gently prying the switch housing away from the button pivot-pins with a pocket screwdrive, then scraped the carbon & crud from all the contacts with same small screwdriver. Also flipped the moving contacts round so they would have fresh contact with the fixed ones. Be carefull to not loose any parts. A tiny bit of grease will hold the balls & springs in the rocker-button while you snap it back in place. Repaired switch has worked perfectly for a couple weeks now.
Or, my indie MB parts-supplier said a new switch is under $30.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

ya, I cleaned my old ones but they were still kind of sticky so I bought new ones. And now these are going... I'll try taking them apart to see what's up.

Is that a statement or a question? If a question, the answer is yes.

Last night I tried to roll my rear driver side power window down with the switch in the front. Went down slowly, and then wouldn't come back up (I only put it down a couple of inches). The switch does stick up front, and you have to manually rock it back. This happened one other time, but after hitting the switch a few times it went on up. I tried reaching to the back door and rolling up, but no luck. Could this still be the switch up front causing the problem, or do I likely have a bigger issue?

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Diesels:
1971 Mercedes 220D, auto (W115), 220k mi
1983 Mercedes 240D, auto (W123), 125k mi

Non-Diesels:
2013 Chevrolet Volt - 2300 mi, used 5 gals gas

Do you believe the switch magically repaired itself over the course of several months?

I once worked for a ferry company where the owner would put all the broken water pumps and alternators in a rear storage shed. A year or two later, when he needed one, he'd run back there and get it. We all considered this building the "recovery room". If you left the broken component in there long enough, it would magically fix itself.

It's rumoured that the 'rebuilt' alternators sold by a local recycler are refreshed using the same technology, albeit with a liberal application of fresh silver paint.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I wasn't clear I don't guess -- I was just wondering if the switch up front is bad, would it keep the rear switch from working too? I didn't know if the fact that it wouldn't go up with either switch meant it might be something else.

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Diesels:
1971 Mercedes 220D, auto (W115), 220k mi
1983 Mercedes 240D, auto (W123), 125k mi

Non-Diesels:
2013 Chevrolet Volt - 2300 mi, used 5 gals gas

If ones window gets stuck down, an indy named Bud Cloninger taught me two things to try. First see if it is the motor, and grab the glass and see if you can help the window up. If not, then the switch, which you then tap the desired direction repeatedly. Believe it or not, the latter really works! P.O. and I thought the issue was resolved but reared its ugly head. Since I have a sunroof I just leave it up and just open my door if I need to reach a parking slip and pay. Takes less time which I don't have. Speaking of which, late to study... Hope this helps!

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Current fleet:

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280TE - Waiting for heart surgery.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TDT - Rear ended 23 September 2016 and now looking for a new home.

1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD - Parted out.

1964 Volkswgen Beetle - Vater's since September 1968 and undergoing a restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Sunroof Squareback with F.I. - in need of full restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Squareback automatic with F.I. - Vacationing with her caretaker until he is in better health.

Thanks! I had tried manually helping it up and it wouldn't budge. I tried for the last 2 days trying the switch a bunch of times, and FINALLY late last night I was driving and hit it several more times and up it went! I will be replacing the switch sometime soon. Until then keeping it up!

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___________________________________

Diesels:
1971 Mercedes 220D, auto (W115), 220k mi
1983 Mercedes 240D, auto (W123), 125k mi

Non-Diesels:
2013 Chevrolet Volt - 2300 mi, used 5 gals gas