Anyone know the amp draw when operating the 62 Starfire window motors.

 

There's 12 gauge wire running from the switch to the motor, 12 gauge wire is rated at 20 am so a 20 amp relay should handle the motor startup amperage

 

x2, I just replaced the 2 rear power window motors on my 63 Starfire. What amp fuse do you have in your fuse panel under the dash? Are you having issues maybe able to help.

 

Power window circuits are typically fused with 30 amp circuit breakers.
I would assume that if all four windows were operating at the same time and didn't pop the breaker,
that each motor wouldn't be drawing more than seven and a half amps each.l

 

Agree with Charlie here. At least in ‘66 they ran the window motor power through a relay in the driver kick panel which I believe provided 40 amps to the system.

Don’t know what your problem is, but if it’s window motor trouble, in a pinch you can swap the rear motor into the front windows and at least get the fronts working. This only works on one side - the motors are left and right specific.

Front windows typically see a lot more use than rears, so it’s more common for them to wear out. While you’re waiting for a rebuilt / NOS/ newer motor, the rear / front swap might help.

I’d recommend you clean the switch contacts, look for broken wires in the driver’s door, clean the motor contacts and grease up the motors while you’re in there. Under my username there’s a fair amount of information on servicing power windows. The GM design was good with an enormous amount of adjustability. Which (unfortunately) requires skills which are gradually getting forgotten.

I’m a rank amateur, but happy to share.

Cheers
Chris

 

No problems yet. I am about 80%complete with the wiring process on my 62 Starfire convertible. I am installing a Painless generic harness. I am using the most excellent install manual that Painless sends you with the harness and the 62 Olds wiring diagram. All switches have new wiring going to them.
The reason for my question was is that I'm in the process of designing a relay panel to operate all the hi amp draw items.
Thanks every one for chiming in.

 

Painless sells a relay panel for accessories as a product.

I bought 2 about 6 months ago and they’re working great. I wanted to reduce the amperage draw from modern accessories on 56 year old wires. It worked well.

If you’re wiring the car more or less custom, you might buy a Dymo Rhino 5000 or 6000 labeler. They’re a couple of hundred bucks, but an extremely useful too.

I got mine for labeling Ethernet wires, but the wire wrap setting works great on car wires, car vacuum lines, etc. so you know what you did the next time you get into it. When in doubt label both ends of a wire or vacuum line.

Just my 2 cents
Chris

 

Thanks for the tip, but I need the multi tube flaring tool from Eastman worse.
What I'm doing with the wiring is to add on to the diagram in the Painless install manual with the correct color wire I used and a note.