Dave Kelsen wrote:
> I have two distinct door-related problems.
>
> Imprimus, my car no longer knows when my door is open; this means that
> the light doesn't come on, a key left in the ignition doesn't cause the
> reminder sound, and there may be other possible repercussions I don't
> know about. It's not the light, which works fine. Whatever the modern
> equivalent of the little plunger that used to be in the door and opened
> a circuit when not depressed has ceased to work.

take the switch off and clean up the contacts. apply dielectric grease
to prevent future corrosion. if bad, replace.

>
> What I seek is some idea about how/where to look for solutions. I have
> a Helm's, but didn't find anything in an admittedly cursory perusal.
>
>
> Secundus, the window in the same (driver's) door is becoming very
> hesitant to go up. It works, albeit slowly, if the car is running, but
> is resistant enough to stop altogether if the engine is not running. It
> is not (directly) a battery problem; none of the other three windows
> exhibit this behavior.

if the system is fouled up, the lower voltage of battery only may not
provide sufficient "oomph" to work it. need to take the mechanism out
and clean everything up. often however, something will be broken or
something like cable frayed. replacement is the easiest and most
reliable long term solution.