2008 Kia Spectra window control panel fix / clean

My 2008 Kia Spectra's window control for the driver's window stopped working well. The window would work, but only if I held the switch in the exact right spot. With a little bit of effort, I was able to completely restore the button and save myself $40 (eBay) to $240 (replacement part).
I believe similar panels are used in the 2005 - 2009 Spectra.
Video showing window control panel removal: • Window switch door loc...
The electronics cleaning spray I used is DeoxIT Gold G5 (about $20):
amzn.to/47HcEeZ (affiliate link)

[@mattphoolishis]

The top plastic piece actually doesn't have to be removed to get at these switches! Just remove the circuit board from the bottom once you get it out of the car. It'll save you from breaking some plastic clips.

[@jrronimo]

Great tip! Wish I would have known that when I was making the video! 😄

[@mattphoolishis]

@@jrronimo Yeah, I'm so averse to working with small plastic pieces I try to avoid it at all costs. Thanks so much for making this short video, my doors don't randomly lock themselves anymore!

[@jrronimo]

@@mattphoolishis That's definitely the smart thing to do, haha. You're very welcome! I'm so glad it was helpful. And it's such an easy fix that doesn't involve replacing the whole panel or anything. Hooray!

[@garyb9473]

That's true. HOWEVER, if you do remove the top piece, you'll have access to the underside of the buttons which will be full of dust and crud which is what made the switches stop working in the first place.

[@paulntraci99]

After trying this out today I'm one happy camper. Worked great to solve the sticky window operation. Only thing worth adding is that the window lock switch needs to be pulled out in order for the circuit board to come out of the housing. Thanks again for sharing.

[@jrronimo]

You're very welcome! I'm so glad to hear it helped!

[@69ztang]

If you have a spudger for fixing mobile phones you can use to open the tabs.

[@paulntraci99]

Thanks for sharing this. Will have to give that a try.

[@JaseCJay]

I'd like to swap the left rear button with the left front.. currently the front left button will fully function save for springing back to neutral position! Sometimes it will make the window roll down after I've rolled it up lol! I can see the broken plastic but can't figure out how to get the window buttons free! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for the vid.. got me to the point of having the circuit board separate! Merry Christmas!!!

[@jrronimo]

If it's where I'm thinking, you'll need to break out a soldering iron... but it's been a while since I made this, haha. Good luck and Merry Christmas!

[@Chiizmiiz]

My driver's side window button had a spring in it, but it's missing and the button won't stay in the middle position. What spring should I replace it with?

[@jrronimo]

Sadly I don't know... but I suspect that since its main purpose is to hold the switch in place any spring that fits decently would do the job. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Sorry I can't be more help!

[@tegosstelios7130]

Thank you very mutch my friend

[@jrronimo]

tegos stelios You're very welcome! I hope it helped.

[@tegosstelios7130]

J.R. Raith. yes my friend

[@Roberto1234cr]

could help me know in which of the two fuse boxes is the sunroof fuse, which is by the battery or the one by the driver's feet, thanks

[@jrronimo]

Mine doesn't have a sunroof, but according to the following link, it's in the one by the Driver's Feet: www.autogenius.info/kia-cerato-spectra-fuse-box-diagram/ -- good luck!

[@joselerma8995]

wow. thank you sir

[@jrronimo]

You're very welcome! I'm glad it helped!

[@lindaellenricke5265]

Very nice job. Answered my questions very nicely. Thank you.

[@jrronimo]

Dennis Frank Ricke You're very welcome! Glad I could help. :D

[@nicolaswallace9059]

I have a 2007 Kia Spectra. The drivers side window controls sorta kinda work... it works great for driver side, for passenger side it will roll down but you gotta push HARD. the passenger window control only rolls up. the back windows don't roll down from the drivers side but the back right one will sometimes roll up. other one doesn't. do you think this might be what's causing my issues?? or should I say whatever and go to the junk yard to grab a whole new set of switches?

[@jrronimo]

I don't know a whole lot about cars, but if the problem is electrical, then doing this spray fix is worth a shot. It could be that the switches are just worn out, though, at which point yeah, you'll want to try the junk yard. It could also just be electrical problems -- the wiring could have gone bad, or the motors could be shot... I really don't know, sorry. Good luck!

[@Inp3erp3tuity]

My daughters 08 Kia Spectra is doing the same exact thing. Did you happen to find out what the problem was? I would greatly appreciate a reply. Thanks in advance.

[@bartpaul1987]

I have a 2011 Kia Sportage. The passenger front window won't go down, but will go up from driver's door master switch. The passenger door window switch works fine. Any recommendations on fix?

[@jrronimo]

I'm not a big car guy, but it sounds similar to the problem I was having. I'd try the same thing -- pull out the driver master switch assembly, clean it out with some electronics cleaner, and see if it works again. If the contacts are just dirty, that should help. If the switch itself is broken somehow, then you'll likely need a new switch assembly. Given the relatively young age of your car, I'd guess it's just dirty contacts though. Good luck! Let me know how it goes either way!

[@Inp3erp3tuity]

My daughters 08 Spectra is having similar issues. What did you find was the problem? Thank you in advance.

[@stevensuarez7259]

What did you use to clean it ?

[@jrronimo]

It's an electronics cleaner called "Deoxit Gold". It's on Amazon for around $20 a can.

[@christopherjones1791]

Is that the only thing you can use to clean it

[@jrronimo]

@@christopherjones1791 Sorry I missed this comment earlier. I don't know if you can use something else to clean it, but anything labeled "contact cleaner" would be a good try.

[@luisalbertosaavedracabanil4453]

Please videos in español ( subtitulo) gracias

[@jrronimo]

No sé español, lo siento. :( (esto es traductor de Google)

[@69ztang]

@@jrronimo I think he was asking if you could add subtitles in spanish.

[@jrronimo]

@@69ztang I understood that, but in that I don't speak Spanish, I'd hate to put in really bad google-translated subtitles. I did find that if I enable the English auto-transcription, it will allow auto-translation to other languages... so I hope that helps! :D

[@jrronimo]

He habilitado la traducción automática. Probablemente sea malo, pero espero que ayude!