[*sean*]

This might not be the problem with your window, but the window switch on the driver's side can break in such a way that the least bit of downward force can start it moving downward (like it does normally) but when you release the switch, the switch does not pop back up enough to actually turn off. With the switch still on, the window motor stays on after the window reaches the bottom of the door. After it has been on long enough, the resettable thermal circuit breaker inside the motor trips. It will keep the motor shut off until it cools enough to connect again. The motor will come on because the switch on the dash is still closed, the motor will not move because the window is already down, get hot again, rinse and repeat.

If you push the switch up to close the window, nothing will happen if you happen to push it up while the thermal breaker is still closed. In that case you can hold it up and wait for the thermal breaker to reset, and the window should go back up.

Once you lift the window switch up, and release, it will tend to stay in the off position until you press it down again.

Those of us with this problem learn to lift the switch after rolling the window down, or stop the window before it rolls down all the way, in which case the switch will be off and the thermal breaker will not flip.

Sometimes the motors do burn out or the brushes wear out. Then it is a different problem.

 

[*sean*]

Thank you for the in depth explanation. According to what I understand, It might not be that because when my passenger rolled down the window, they only rolled it down part way, I tried to roll it up, but it wouldn't roll up. I then asked the passenger to roll it up, but it wouldn't. Then I kept switching it to up and down out of frustration and it ended up going all the way down. Do you think this will disqualify it from this particular condition, or do you still think that could be the problem? Another thing is that I have parked the car for a couple of days and tried to roll it up again to no avail.

Yes, apologies. It was late, and I misread your post and assumed it was the driver's window. Neither passenger window switch does this.

What I'd suggest is getting a hold of the Insight Service Manual. In the Body section is a section for Power Windows. The first page shows the location of all the components (motors, switches, fuse box), followed by a schematic showing all of the wiring.

Be sure to read the General Troubleshooting Information at the beginning of the Body section which includes information on how to more easily disconnect connectors. One hint is to first push the connectors together while pressing the release before pulling them apart. Others (I don't think any of the window connectors are this way) have to be unclipped where they are attached to the car before being unclipped from each other (I did not know that! which is why I own and pull out my paper Service Manual for questions like this! I own a paper copy because the PDF versions are virtually unbrowsable.) An early section in Body on Connectors and Harnesses will be helpful in locating harnesses if you suspect a wiring problem.

Following this are pages of tests for each of the motors and switches. Unlike the diagnostic code troubleshooting sections, detailed steps are not found here, so you have to use your noggin and do your own troubleshooting of the wire runs if the switches and motors check out fine.

The big caution is that access to the master switch requires taking out the instrument panel. Due to natural aging of plastics and potentially related to the amount of sun exposure it had, these have become very brittle, and enough force will break them. Unfortunately, force is required to cause some of the retention clips to release. You will want to read up here and ask how to do this correctly. The service manual provides a picture with the location and type of all of the clips and screws that hold the cluster in, but does not describe a technique to safely remove it. (If you have to do this, it would be a good time to refresh the switches for the trip buttons.)

 

[*sean*]

@Bull Dog thank you for setting me straight on this.
@Rocketfuel you are in San Diego! By all means, take Bull Dog's advice and make the trip to Jue Motors and let them fix this. Not that you won't be able to, but they can also check out your car and get you set up with some essentials, if you don't have them already, like new rear springs and Gaz shocks. These are a great upgrade, and @KLR3CYL there sells them. I have some in my car. He is also a source of hard-to-find Insight parts. You are fortunate to be so close.