both rear power windows inop from all switches

[metsfan3321]

1979 528i. the front power windows both work but the rears do not work from the front switches or the rear. I'm not getting power or ground to the motors with a test light when the switch is activated. next I took down the knee panel on driver side where the automatic cut off switch. I moved the four plugs around at the cut off switch and the front windows did not work. I put them back to the original postions and now the fonts work again. Can this automatic cut off go bad? I'm assuming the rear windows would be an open circuit if it did fail. when you press the cut off switches the both pop out like circuit breakers. I really cant see it being both rear power window motors being bad. I know that's possible but to me I think it could be something that the two share. or maybe the child switch on the driver master switch is faulty.... any help would be appreciated. thanks

[Mike W.]

I think you're looking in the right direction, check for voltage or continuity at the child switch on the master assembly.

[RonDwyer]

I'd like to introduce my favorite tool. It's a relatively heavy piece of wire with alligator clips on each end. This 12 foot long jumper is ideal for testing things like rear window motors at the door. Clip one end to the battery, and tickle the connectors to the motors in the door. A second jumper to a known ground is needed as well. With the rear motors verified to work you look for faults in between. Time to get out the test light and look for good wires.