Hi everyone how's it going, My driver side window has started to "hang up" every once in a while when I try to roll up the window it won't move when I press the button, but if I grab the top of the window and give it a little tug left to right while pressing the button it goes right up without any issue. It doesn't hang up every time, just some of the time. Has any one else had this issue? Is this the motor saying good bye, or an adjustment issue? As far as I know it is the original motor and regulator and the window still rolls up just as fast as the passenger side. Thanks in advance.

 

You should be able to search for this. It's a classic failure of the thermal resistor in the motor and the motor needs to be replaced.

The "help" you are giving the motor will be required more and more until it just stops working completely - so you'll want to move forward on the replacement.

You'll also want to read up on the shbox method for the replacement. There are endless benefits to this: it's faster, safer, and preserves the longevity of your door panel.

 

This doesnt sound like a motor issue, but a guide pin roller issue. There is a guide track that, well guides the window in its curved motion. What happens is people lean on the window from outside, like standing next to door with window partially up.

If what your describing is what Im thinking, the window is off track, and therefore binds up as it goes up. Which, technically could trigger the thermal resistor, but if you wiggle it side to side and it goes up fine from that point, WITHOUT you having to lift up to help it out, then is either the regulator or the guide track pin I mentioned.

You could see if its the guide pin just by taking door panel off. It is located toward the back of the door, I guess? Opening side, opposite of hinges. The guide track is right there, you could probably see it without operating the window, but could also hook switch back up and run the window and see what Im talking about. Im on PC at work, and I dont think I have the pictures saved. But I did start a thread not too long ago, I think it got moved to general maintenance section, about this very problem. Multiple fixes, but no new parts available.

You can get window regulator and motor combos for pretty cheap nowadays. If all original, gotta be careful drilling out the rivots, but its not that hard. Too much pressure and youll crack the door like nothing. I learned the hard way on my moms old camaro. Might as well replace it while your at it, because if its original, its on borrowed time. But the guide pin roller, youll have to rig up a solution. Some weld, some just use a series of bolt and washers. It doesnt have to be pretty, just work. As long as it holds it in that track, and goes up and down freely, its good. Adjustments made at the mounting point, as mentioned with the shbox methods.

I drilled and tapped mine with a 6/32 screw and loctite, and a washer. My roller and pin were fine, but it was half way pulled out and wobbled all over the place.

 

The OP says they tug side-to-side but imply that the window goes up normally. When the guide pin breaks, the glass doesn't move normally and does not seal correctly. (Typically, there's a gap at the front or back of the window.)


If you hold the glass at the upper rear corner and then tug up then down then forward then back, does it behave any differently than the passenger side? If not, then the mechanics of the glass should be fine.

 

Thanks for the reply sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner.If you pick straight up on the window. it would go up with no problem it's just easier while sitting in the car to pull it left to right or front to back I mean, but the window doesn't have a lot of play in it trying to move it front to back. looks like I'm going to have to cut into my sound deadening material and see what's going on inside the door. looks like I better start rounding up all the parts, a new window regulator and motor. thanks again I really appreciate it.

 

You probably don't need to replace the regulator, just the motor. Get a Dorman motor, they are an excellent replacement. Follow the instructions, takes maybe an hour or two, at most. It has been a couple of years since I did mine but it was pretty simple. Drill out the rivets holding the old motor, I think drill a couple new holes for the replacement screws, install. My symptoms were exactly like yours.

There are several write-ups about window motors on here, even a sticky at the top of the Firebird section.

 

Thank you for your reply, I took the door panel off today to have a look at it, and this is what I found

this is the front one still doing its job

I was wondering how my tent got scratched so bad, And this is why.


looks like something's missing lol!!!

 

I checked all the rollers on the regulator and everything's still nice and greasy. Wssix99 was right, It's looking like the motor is saying good bye to me. Thanks for the heads up

 

That part that is broken is a window guide. We used to have to get them from junk yards but I think I recall hearing that they are available in the aftermarket now. You definitely need to get a new one!

You don't want to change the regulator. Doing so unnecessarily causes one to remove rivets in a process that puts bad wear on the door panel. As I posted above, go to the shbox site. Use his instructions for motor replacement. (You'll want to check that out now, before you get into this further.)

When you get the new window guide, you'll need to adjust it. To do this, you will also need to follow the instructions on the shbox site. WARNING - If you do not follow the shbox instructions for adjustment on your new guide, you will have big problems. These things do not contact the glass in an intuitive way or function like we would expect.

 

Thanks for the shbox tip, I bookmarked the website. That site is a goldmine of info for our cars! I did a little adjusting on both windows today and got them good and tight! The passenger side just needed some lithuim grease in the regulator tracks. I found a website that sells the window guides, I don't know if they are a sponsor,, but I did a little "patch job" on my broken on just so I could put my door panel back on,,,,

I put 2 plastic wire supports over the ends with lots of clear silicon then zip tied them tight to the bracket while drying.


The next day I removed the zip ties, and sealed them up with some heat shrink. this is temporary, I'll swap it out for the new one when it arrives.