left power window motor
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2013
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left power window motor Hi,
Left power window is making a hell of a racket when window gets to the top . Also doesn't goes down very far and makes the same noise, Mechanic says "plastic gear". I would like to buy one and have it installed. Heard its not a job to do yourself. Previous mechanic made a mess with the rivets, as I recall. What's a good one to buy on rock auto or somewhere? How much should it cost to have it installed? Its a 2001 WS6 TA. Thanks,
fastertransam
Left power window is making a hell of a racket when window gets to the top . Also doesn't goes down very far and makes the same noise, Mechanic says "plastic gear". I would like to buy one and have it installed. Heard its not a job to do yourself. Previous mechanic made a mess with the rivets, as I recall. What's a good one to buy on rock auto or somewhere? How much should it cost to have it installed? Its a 2001 WS6 TA. Thanks,
fastertransam
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,647
Likes: 2,574
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
When someone, even a mechanic, who isn't familiar with this particular job on this particular car goes to change the window motor, they will often drill out the wrong rivets (ones for the regulator) and then not replace them with the correct factory rivets (which are required to prevent enlarging of the holes). When you do this job yourself, you can follow the method mentioned in this thread ( https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...or-thread.html ) and avoid those problems.
As outlined in the link above this can be done without touching the regulator rivets at all, but if you DO happen to remove them then you must replace them with correct pieces (otherwise you end up with all kinds of window alignment and operational issues in the future). So if yours are already "a mess", then you're going to need more than just a window motor replacement. There is a process for reinforcing the area of the inner door where the regulator mounts (to correct the problem with enlarged holes), but I don't have that link handy (this can be found via a search).
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2013
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Actually, it's the opposite - this is a job that you should do yourself, and here's why:
When someone, even a mechanic, who isn't familiar with this particular job on this particular car goes to change the window motor, they will often drill out the wrong rivets (ones for the regulator) and then not replace them with the correct factory rivets (which are required to prevent enlarging of the holes). When you do this job yourself, you can follow the method mentioned in this thread ( https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...or-thread.html ) and avoid those problems.
As outlined in the link above this can be done without touching the regulator rivets at all, but if you DO happen to remove them then you must replace them with correct pieces (otherwise you end up with all kinds of window alignment and operational issues in the future). So if yours are already "a mess", then you're going to need more than just a window motor replacement. There is a process for reinforcing the area of the inner door where the regulator mounts (to correct the problem with enlarged holes), but I don't have that link handy (this can be found via a search).
When someone, even a mechanic, who isn't familiar with this particular job on this particular car goes to change the window motor, they will often drill out the wrong rivets (ones for the regulator) and then not replace them with the correct factory rivets (which are required to prevent enlarging of the holes). When you do this job yourself, you can follow the method mentioned in this thread ( https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...or-thread.html ) and avoid those problems.
As outlined in the link above this can be done without touching the regulator rivets at all, but if you DO happen to remove them then you must replace them with correct pieces (otherwise you end up with all kinds of window alignment and operational issues in the future). So if yours are already "a mess", then you're going to need more than just a window motor replacement. There is a process for reinforcing the area of the inner door where the regulator mounts (to correct the problem with enlarged holes), but I don't have that link handy (this can be found via a search).
fastertransam
If you hear noise, it is because the last person to mess with the motor used loose bolts to secure the motor to the regulator. (Instead of proper rivets or locking nuts.) The motor is likely becoming disconnected from the regulator and stripping out METAL gears. You should stop using the window until you get this repaired. Noise=Irreparable Damage (in this case)
As noted above, you really need to invest the time to do the proper repair on this or have a buddy do it right. Not only will this problem go away, but all future replacements can be done quickly and with simple hand tools.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2013
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The "mechanic" you are talking to doesn't know anything about this car. There are no plastic gears in the door.
If you hear noise, it is because the last person to mess with the motor used loose bolts to secure the motor to the regulator. (Instead of proper rivets or locking nuts.) The motor is likely becoming disconnected from the regulator and stripping out METAL gears. You should stop using the window until you get this repaired. Noise=Irreparable Damage (in this case)
As noted above, you really need to invest the time to do the proper repair on this or have a buddy do it right. Not only will this problem go away, but all future replacements can be done quickly and with simple hand tools.
If you hear noise, it is because the last person to mess with the motor used loose bolts to secure the motor to the regulator. (Instead of proper rivets or locking nuts.) The motor is likely becoming disconnected from the regulator and stripping out METAL gears. You should stop using the window until you get this repaired. Noise=Irreparable Damage (in this case)
As noted above, you really need to invest the time to do the proper repair on this or have a buddy do it right. Not only will this problem go away, but all future replacements can be done quickly and with simple hand tools.
What I am asking is whether or not I need to buy a new motor, or a new regulator, or both, if there is any way of telling in advance without taking the door apart. If I knew then I could order the parts, and I could have the repair done in a day without having to wait to order parts [or use the mechanics parts at 150% markup]
I would like to buy the parts ahead of time, but if we don't know whether its motor, regulator, or both, then I'll just have to take the long way 'round.
Any idea?
Thanks,
fastertransam
There is no way to tell without taking everything apart.
Usually, for this problem, all that is needed is to look at it and then drive down to a hardware store and get better bolts and nylock nuts. If the gears are damaged and this has been going on for a long time, you may need a new motor or regulator.
Usually, for this problem, all that is needed is to look at it and then drive down to a hardware store and get better bolts and nylock nuts. If the gears are damaged and this has been going on for a long time, you may need a new motor or regulator.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
There is no way to tell without taking everything apart.
Usually, for this problem, all that is needed is to look at it and then drive down to a hardware store and get better bolts and nylock nuts. If the gears are damaged and this has been going on for a long time, you may need a new motor or regulator.
Usually, for this problem, all that is needed is to look at it and then drive down to a hardware store and get better bolts and nylock nuts. If the gears are damaged and this has been going on for a long time, you may need a new motor or regulator.
Thanks, man. My tour bus driver buddy advised me to not take the door apart myself because, according Sam ["according to Sam" was a running inside joke in the 80's when we were on the road], there is some sort of coiled up metal thing behind the panel that might whip around and stab me in the face. So I guess I better let the shop take it apart. I know there is definitely some sort of patch job in there from when the first guy screwed up the rivets, but he says he fixed it. In fairness, it has been working fine for some time, so who knows. I just know It makes a really horrific noise now.
Best,
fastertransam
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Verdad Gallardo The regulator has a counterbalance spring (the coiled up metal thing), li,ke just about every other window mechanism on the planet. If one takes out the regulator, that spring can unwind explosively.
The trick is to NOT take the regulator out. Keep the weight of the window on the regulator (and the spring) and everything stays normal. Use the shbox method to work with the motor without touching the regulator at all. http://shbox.com/page/windowmotor.html
^ Drill the extra four holes, take out the door speaker, and you can get everything done in a snap - safely.