Windows work with ignition off

[Thom]

Here is what a German 944 S2/turbo manual and French 968 manual say about it.

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In both cases, the window will operate with the door open and no key in the ignition barrel.

[O875]

ROW handbook 944S2

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[Richey]

Well mystery solved.... Is there anything special about the power window relay or is it just a standard relay?

[soxnail]

Richey ,
When a relay has the transistor symbol in it, it means that there is some control logic built into it. So no its not just a general purpose relay.

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[Tom]

Well I learn something new everyday.

This was the original rationale for the US rule. Apparently small kids were leaning on switches in cars and getting hurt or even dying. The rule apparently helped, but not enough. It's been a very active and on-going area of regulation, particularly with the advent of one-touch roll up windows, obstruction detection with auto-reversal, etc. Switches now need to be designed to prevent accidental activation (e.g., recessed or pull-up style buttons) unless other safeguards are in place -- which explains why a lot of modern window switches are the way they are. And... although this was a mostly a US thing when the 944 was being made, it seems the Europe has since jumped in with it own similar regulations. All this just for window switches... Hard to comprehend the overall labyrinth of international rules and regulations that car makers have to follow to produce a car these days. No wonder cars cost so much.

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