Need assistance before making a purchase

[Jtels2593]

I still have not repaired the power window motor in my car. I have paperwork from the dealer whom I purchased the car from and both power window motors were replaced in October, 2009.

The driver side window will go down half way and then needs help from a little push to finish going down completely. When going up, the window will occasionally go up 1/4 inch - 1 inch on its own, the rest of the time you have to beat on the door panel and sometimes help pull it up. This process takes at least 20-40 seconds. There is a slight grinding noise coming from the window as it goes up, but not when it goes down.

Before I spend the money to replace the window motor and regulator, I first would like to find out if perhaps there is anything inside the door that could be causing this problem. The switch receives power which is a good thing. With the door panel off, I can see that the rivits have already been punched out and replaced with screws threaded into nuts. I sprayed the tracks and wheels with lithium and they appear to be functioning properly. That should make tackling this project a little easier.

What else should I be looking for and are these problems in which I'm experiencing related to window motor and/or regulator failing? Keep in mind that this problem has been occuring for at least 5 months and it has not gotten better or worse.

P.S. truekoa, I know how much you love your manual windows and will likely chime in again. I have copies of the tutorial and I'm still considering the swap.

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

Window motors are notoriously bad in these cars, even if they aren't that old. There isn't much in the door that would jam the window from going up or down, so my guess is that the window motor is bad.

[Jtels2593]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

Chances are the regulator is fine though, correct? The window does go up and down by assaulting the door panel. It is also alligned properly and fits nice and snug into the seals once it is all the way up.

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

Chances are the regulator is fine though, correct? The window does go up and down by assaulting the door panel. It is also alligned properly and fits nice and snug into the seals once it is all the way up.

Regulator and motor are all one piece to the part. I don't think they can be separated traditionally, nor can they be purchased one without the other.

[Jtels2593]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

Looking at Rockauto.com, they sell the motor and regulator separately..


This motor is $36.99, and..



This set-up is $82.99

There are several different set-ups and brands to choose from. I was under the impression that the motor is detachable from the regulator and I could swap the new motor onto the existing regulator. I'm confused.. lol

[Jtels2593]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

And this write-up provided to me from a previous thread shows only the motor being replaced..

http://www.shbox.com/page/windowmotor.html

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

You have me confused, Im talking about the voltage regulator for the motor, which is one part.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

ya it sells as two parts...dont follow the haines manual...you'll kick yourself later if you do...well, 2 days later...sounds like it is just the motor, swap the motors and grease up the regulator/track

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

The best thing to do probably would be to go to Autozone or similar and get a Dorman with a lifetime warranty. It more than likely won't last a lifetime, but at least it's free replacements from then on. I replaced both mine with Dorman and the driver's has lasted almost 4 years now, whereas the first motor I bought for that side lasted about 3 months.

[Jtels2593]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

The best thing to do probably would be to go to Autozone or similar and get a Dorman with a lifetime warranty. It more than likely won't last a lifetime, but at least it's free replacements from then on. I replaced both mine with Dorman and the driver's has lasted almost 4 years now, whereas the first motor I bought for that side lasted about 3 months.

.. and Dorman it shall be!! Thanks for all of your help everyone.

[truekoa]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

lol just do the swap already.

When I did the swap and examined the power regulator with the manual one there are pretty much identical with the exception of the window motor. The gears and overall build of the regulator is very sturdy. I can only see the regulator failing if there is something stuck between the "scissor" mechanism or one of the gear teeth being damaged somehow.

I saw a thread on LS1tech awhile back about reviving dead window motors. I will see if I can find it.

[cam98aro]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

DONT get cheap parts.. go to napa and get a good one, seriously, unless you dont mind replacing a piece of junk all of the time.

[Jtels2593]

Re: Need assistance before making a purchase

I read somewhere, maybe it was Auto Zone, that they offer a core on power window motors.. ??

lol just do the swap already.

When I did the swap and examined the power regulator with the manual one there are pretty much identical with the exception of the window motor. The gears and overall build of the regulator is very sturdy. I can only see the regulator failing if there is something stuck between the "scissor" mechanism or one of the gear teeth being damaged somehow.

I saw a thread on LS1tech awhile back about reviving dead window motors. I will see if I can find it.