Have Calif. 300TD, bought new, no water damage or similar history. Windows (all of them) go totally dead, no clicks, or any indication of power. Then start working, may work for a month, go dead again, stay that way for a while then work again. Any ideas

Try checking the fuse and also try cleaning the toggle switches.

Maybe one wire on the main toggle switch box is loose and interrupts the continuity of the other switches.

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
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1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

Thanks for ideas, have checked fuses and main window relay. By toggle switches do you mean the window up-down switches? Sorry for lack of knowledge but where is the "main toggle switch box?" Does the ignition switch have any control over windows?

I Believe uncle 300d is referring to the window switches themselves. He used the term "main" to refer to the 4 switches located just aft of the gear lever. The secondary switches in this case would be the rear passenger switches. Pulling the 4 up front switches and cleaning the contacts may be something you've already done, if not, do it do it. Coffee doesn't do those switches any favors. Worst case, you've got to get out the old multi-meter and follow the 12 volts until you find the clog.

Ignition switch does turn off everything I would leave that one until I'd exhausted every other possibility though, It is much more likely that you've got a bad fuse or your window motors & switches need to be pulled and exercised.

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77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

Thayer

Thanks for the info. I will take your and uncle's advice and do some switch cleaning after I finish rebuilding the front suspension.

He means the switch panel with the two switches on the left of the console that control the driver's side windows and houses the button for lockout of the other windows.

Been a long time since I had a similar problem but I think if that switch malfunctions it can prevent all windows from working.

You could start by removing the console trim and checking that the connectors to the switch are firmly in place underneath. I am pretty sure that if you lose power to that switch, none of the windows will work.

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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

This should help with the window switch cleaning.

PeachPartsWiki: How to Refurbish Mercedes Switches


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I did not read all of the responses so I don't know if someone has mentioned this or not. The Power Window Relay shares a single Fuse with other components.
To the best of My Memory on mine it is the #12 Fuse.
Check the lid of Your Fuse Box to see if the Fuse Chart is still there.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

My money is on the power window relay. On a W123 it's behind the instrument cluster.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Where to find it:

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel