Friday, Mar 07, 2008 at 14:56
Hi Theo - I'm off to the bush in a hurry , so haven't re-checked this article I worte couple of years ago , Bye
Robin
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Power Windows via Accessory Switch Mod.
The power windows on GU's are a pain because they require the
ignition to be turned on to operate.
(Think this is same for GQ's ?)
I often stop the car only to find a window half way down.
I do not like to turn ignition back on because it powers up fuel pump & various other circuits including dumping some fuel from sub to main tank.
Got feedup enough other day to see if their was a better way.
I don't mind turning on accessories, as I often sit in car listening
to radio etc which requires accessories on anyway.
So this mod involves cutting 1 wire on the back of fuse panel and
moving it 1 inch so that it is operated by the accessory relay
instead of the ignition relay.
GETTING to back of fuse panel
Lots of cables plug into the back of the fuse panel but with a bit of work it can be edged forward just enough to get access to the wire concerned.
1/ Remove the cover panel that goes under the steering wheel - think 4 self tapper screws, this is the first panel I threw permanently out of my car so can't really remember how it comes off except that it was easy.
2/ Looking at fuse panel - it is held by 2 10mm screws at the top,
take them out.
It is also held at bottom LHS by a plastic tab, with small screwdriver lift tab an ease base of fuse panel forward an inch.
3/ The fuse panel will still not pull straight forward as it is held
at the top by 2 plastic hooks. If you push it to the right 10mm it
will unhook and come forward out of its mounts.
I can never remember these nasty little tricks that stop things
coming undone so I snipped the plastic mount tabs off my fuse panel.
4/ Now the bonnet release catch and the bracket that holds the white
diagnostics plug need to be unbolted and pushed to one side (3 bolts total).
The fuse panel and its cables can now be edged forward 100mm or so.
5/ Lean the top of the fuse panel forward. On the top RHS at the back is a
grey plug.
The wire we cut is the red/yellow stripe in this top RHS plug.
I cut mine with about 1cm of wire left in the plug just in case I
wanted to return the car to standard sometime.
(that'ed be a big job - Editor).
A few wires to the left of the red/yellow wire, and in the same plug,
you will see a fatter green/red stripe wire.
This green/red wire runs the Cig Lighter via fuse NO.13 (7.5amp)
Splice the cut red/yellow wire into the green/red one.
Solder them together , and cover with tape.
6/ Apart from putting the car back together this is all you have to
do. But switch on accessories and check windows work before re-
assembling.
SOME POINTS
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You could wire the red/yellow cut wire straight back to battery via
a series switch also, or you could use diodes etc off another line
for different operation modes.
But you cannot wire straight to the battery because the power window
circuit draws 1 or 2 amps constantly and this would eventually
flatten your battery.
The modifyied power window circuit now uses fuse 13 which drives cig.
lighter.
No change should be required here but some people change this fuse to
a heavy one, say 15 amps anyway because they use it for other things
as
well.
The Nissan fuse panel has spare fuses in it, and that strange little
white plastic gadget in the fuse panel next to the spare fuses is
used to slip over fuses and extract them.
The power for the windows does not flow thru the red/yellow wire,
this wire just powers up the system via a power window relay which is
located next to the ventilation fan on the opposite side of the car.
(Another way you could do this mod things is to cut red/yellow wire at this relay and loom over to cig. lighter etc)
The modification also allows door & window locks to operate off
accessory line.
At least 1 person I know has had a similar thing done by Nissan
dealer ($100?)so it can be done.
This change was done on my 4800 GU but I used circuits from my Gregorys 3lt diesel manual to work it out, so it should be applicable to all GU's.
Robin Miller
FollowupID:
556766