Window Lift ECU Repair

During the Christmas break, I decided to track down a few lingering electrical gremlins on my Land Rover Discovery 1 (300TDi). One of these frustrating issues was the rear electric windows, which had stopped working entirely.

I had already completed the usual preliminary checks (fuses, wiring, and switches)… all of which appeared to be in good order. With no obvious faults found, the search continued until I came across an excellent forum post on AULRO: Repair electric window faults in Discovery 1 (ECU).

The thread suggested that a common failure point is a cracked or broken solder joint inside the Window Lift ECU (Part Number: AMR1282). Given the symptoms, this seemed like a strong candidate.

Before starting any work, I disconnected the battery and removed the glovebox to gain access to the ECU, taking care to extract it.

Once the ECU was on the bench, the fault was immediately obvious… a broken solder joint that had clearly failed over time.

The repair itself was straightforward. A quick reflow with fresh solder was all that was required to restore the joint.

After reinstalling the ECU, reassembling the glovebox, and reconnecting the battery, I tested the windows… and they worked perfectly! The rear electric windows were fully operational once again… let that fresh air flow once more.

This repair is a good reminder that careful diagnosis and a bit of research can often save significant time and money, especially when compared to replacing an otherwise serviceable unit.

This article is based on my personal experience with my own vehicle. It is not intended as instructional or professional advice. Consult a qualified auto electrician or mechanic for any work you’re not confident handling.