I think the previous owners flooded the truck in mud. You can see water lines on the door panel. Since the GEM has history of getting moisture from the windshield leaking, I think its shorting cause it only did it when it was raining outside. Now that things have cleared, its not turning on the light but the motors still don't move. I think this weekend I'm going to pull a gem from the junkyard then resolder what's is corroded and rtv and dielectric grease the connections and see if that helps out.

 

Does anyone know if the front two window motors and regulators will fit.

 

Note that the '97-'98 are wacky orphans - the RELAY in the fuse panel determines the direction of the motor based on the switch. I've had to take the switch completely apart and spray with contact cleaner. Also, ANY resistance on the window regulator or tracks will stop the window from going down; therefore clean out any old grease and spray new White Lithium grease in the tracks. The Door Ajar switch in the door jamb can be removed and cleaned too - or as you mentioned, it could be picking up a short (from rust?) from water somewhere.

 

I have swapped relays and it still doesn't work right. And I have ran a wire directly to the window motors from the battery which is how I narrowed the window motors are bad.

 

I had this issue with my passenger door window not working. My main drivers side switch was bad as well as the motor. I have a 99 xlt. I got my switch online and repaired the motor myself.

Your issues with dash lights coming on sounds like a shorted wire somewhere. With water getting in there it very well could have corroded something inside the door panels.

 

I replaced the GEM earlier today, everything is still messed up. YAY. So I'm prolly going to swap back in my old GEM once I seal and dielectric grease everything. Back to square one.
In the morning I'm waking up a little early so I can hop back on the schematics and try to figure this out. I'm out of extra moneys for a while so that's fun.
Figured I'd throw out an update to this endless process.