Yes, a window motor thread
Read deep into this one... The brass gears don't cure the grinding, the OEM motors are not very good, and the motors also come apart from the gearbox, which can't be cured. If you are having problems, your best bet may be to change the entire motor. (BTW - the new Cardone motors also have doors to service the gears in the future.)
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On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 185
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Read deep into this one... The brass gears don't cure the grinding, the OEM motors are not very good, and the motors also come apart from the gearbox, which can't be cured. If you are having problems, your best bet may be to change the entire motor. (BTW - the new Cardone motors also have doors to service the gears in the future.)
Also - the Cardone window motors off of Amazon - are they safe to buy, or is there a chance they could be counterfeit? I know Amazon has issues with counterfeit goods that are ripping off of OEM parts, but haven't heard of OEM replacement parts being counterfeited.
Just did the Autotrix fixes with new OEM motors using the SHBOXX method and it wasn't bad at all. took about an hour total per door. Motors are pretty cheap from the dealership, and I don't think i've ever had good luck with anything Dorman.
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
I have zero issues right now, but I figured might as well do some preventative upgrading. If that is the case with the headlights, I might as well do the motors and the gears all at once. Also - the Cardone window motors off of Amazon - are they safe to buy, or is there a chance they could be counterfeit? I know Amazon has issues with counterfeit goods that are ripping off of OEM parts, but haven't heard of OEM replacement parts being counterfeited.
I wouldn't replace the headlight gears preventatively. Those motors may go a long long time before going bad. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Also, we've had 7 or 8 4th gen Firebirds in our family, and I've never had to replace a passenger side motor, although doing 4 or 5 driver's side.
^ Good advice. The motor connectors also corrode and each time they are unhooked, the higher the chances of a related electrical problem. (So, another reason to not touch them until needed.)
I stick to buying parts from parts dealers. Amazon is not a retailer or dealer for everything. For many products, they are just a marketplace. (like eBay)
I stick to buying parts from parts dealers. Amazon is not a retailer or dealer for everything. For many products, they are just a marketplace. (like eBay)
I think the window motors are like $19 or $29 at autozone with a lifetime warranty
I can usually get 5 years out of the dorman motor
My passengers side is original with an autotrixx window kit
There was another vendor making motors on Amazon and eBay. They were advertised as faster and stronger but I only got 2 years of choppy window service. They were faster but the motor or the gear would slip on the regulator. Don't remember the brand but they were polished aluminum in appearance
Go to AutoZone and get the lifetime warranty
I can usually get 5 years out of the dorman motor
My passengers side is original with an autotrixx window kit
There was another vendor making motors on Amazon and eBay. They were advertised as faster and stronger but I only got 2 years of choppy window service. They were faster but the motor or the gear would slip on the regulator. Don't remember the brand but they were polished aluminum in appearance
Go to AutoZone and get the lifetime warranty
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2011
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I've heard about that with Amazon. You could use Rock Auto which will deliver the authentic goods.
I wouldn't replace the headlight gears preventatively. Those motors may go a long long time before going bad. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Also, we've had 7 or 8 4th gen Firebirds in our family, and I've never had to replace a passenger side motor, although doing 4 or 5 driver's side.
I wouldn't replace the headlight gears preventatively. Those motors may go a long long time before going bad. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Also, we've had 7 or 8 4th gen Firebirds in our family, and I've never had to replace a passenger side motor, although doing 4 or 5 driver's side.
^ Good advice. The motor connectors also corrode and each time they are unhooked, the higher the chances of a related electrical problem. (So, another reason to not touch them until needed.)
I stick to buying parts from parts dealers. Amazon is not a retailer or dealer for everything. For many products, they are just a marketplace. (like eBay)
I stick to buying parts from parts dealers. Amazon is not a retailer or dealer for everything. For many products, they are just a marketplace. (like eBay)
I'll stick to that advice. Thanks. For now, i'll just upgrade the lighting as I had planned. Almost done with the full LED exterior swap; barely completed an LED fog light bulb swap, but i'm not overly excited about it, and may seek out a 4 1/2 replacement LED pair of actual lights.
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On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2011
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I remember reading about that. I do have a digital flasher (only one), and my hazards do not currently work, because I need to change out the other. As far as the cruise control, I never use it. Ever. My daily driver is a 2014 Grand Cherokee with a tuned Hemi, and pre-COVID19, I was driving 43mi in one direction to work 5 days a week. Never used cruise control in that either. So for me, the feature is not a major concern.
I remember reading about that. I do have a digital flasher (only one), and my hazards do not currently work, because I need to change out the other. As far as the cruise control, I never use it. Ever. My daily driver is a 2014 Grand Cherokee with a tuned Hemi, and pre-COVID19, I was driving 43mi in one direction to work 5 days a week. Never used cruise control in that either. So for me, the feature is not a major concern.
I recall the cruise controls require a full electrical load on the brake lights to work. You should be able to add special resistors to those lamps to keep the function if you go LED. (There are some threads on the site with the specifics.) Thread Starter
On The Tree
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....which I will never do.
Had this car as the second owner for the last 15 years - it's not going anywhere. Unless of course, someone in the family, God forbid, needs a kidney, a heart transplant or some other catastrophe happens. I was in college when I started searching for my 86 WS6's replacement that I had since high school. Took 3 years, but i've had it since. Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2011
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Just beginning my 40's....still got some time in me before osteoporosis and arthritis starts taking things over For now, the pedals are light and the foot is heavy. I know it will change, but I'll fight that tooth and nail until I'm driving a Caddy. (with a supercharged LS in it, of course). Just beginning my 40's....still got some time in me before osteoporosis and arthritis starts taking things over For now, the pedals are light and the foot is heavy. I know it will change, but I'll fight that tooth and nail until I'm driving a Caddy. (with a supercharged LS in it, of course).
BTW - I got my first bouts with arthritis in my 30's.
It can come at any time! Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2011
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Not good to get arthritis....i've been fortunate thus far to have staved off any major illnesses or health issues that impact anything related to mobility or otherwise.
The electronic flashers will cure the former issue but not the later. I recall that loads need to be added to the brake lights in order for the cruise control to be happy.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
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From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 185
Likes: 22
LED's, installed in a stock car, generally will not flash and will cause the cruise control to malfunction.
The electronic flashers will cure the former issue but not the later. I recall that loads need to be added to the brake lights in order for the cruise control to be happy.
The electronic flashers will cure the former issue but not the later. I recall that loads need to be added to the brake lights in order for the cruise control to be happy.
No arthritis here, but I'm in my 60's and after a medium length freeway drive, the muscles in my right foot and ankle start to bind up. I drive Wichita/San Diego pretty much every year, and without CC, it ain't happenin'. If you're never going to sell the car, it might be worth keeping.