Electric Car Window Broke

[ShroomDr]

And im probably healthier for it!

I use to eat fast food 1.5x a day...

Its been broke about ten days...

I guess im a snobby asshole who hates the people that have to open their door at the fastfood window...

I can easily afford to replace the mech... quoted @ $315 installed...

outrageous, but everyone needs functioning windows...

Ill get it fixed by spring, but for now, its an excellent deterrent, eating at home is much cheaper in the long run...

Ive replaced waterpumps and thermostats, this mech cant be too hard... anyone replaced the electric motor for a car window before? i figure the hardest thing is getting into the door...

FWIW i can still hear the mech trying to function when i press 'up' on the window... It could be the "down" trigger button, but i doubt it, as there as been a steady decline in 'upward' movement of the window (hesitation to completely close)...

thoughts... should you all break your driverside windows too?


-

 

[benzo]

That's crazy ! Do it your self. Google it... And buy an oem replacement, not a cheap eBay knock off. Take your time removing the door panels, don't wanna yank it out or it'll rattle when you put it back together. Good luck!

Oh and good job on no fast food, shit ain't good for ya

 

[dansbuds]

If you can replace a waterpump you can replace the window motor . its not that hard , have done it many times myself . benzo is right , buy a factory replacement the ebay motors are junk & a PIA to put in . grab a Hanes manual from the parts store , it should have a goo write up on how to do it . the only other piece of advice i can give is unhook the battery before dealing with any wiring
its not a bad job , you'll get it fixed .

 

[Snoopster]

It is your unconscious trying to tell you to stop eating fast food.

 

[crazybear]

some cars are harder than others the disconnecting the battery is the best advice, ask me how my 5/8 " wrench has a large chunk out of it!!!!!!!!

 

[gloryoskie]

I had a '89 Honda. 30+MPG, electric windows. The driver side never worked. drove it for 5 years, never really missed the lack of function. Welcome to the club!

That particular model window motor was designed not to be replaced. It means the entire door must be switched. Found out when I did the speaker install for the sound system upgrade.

The window rolled down, but had to manually pull it up into position. I removed the fuse to prevent unintentional roll down.

Only valet dudes bitched about it, no big deal.

 

[greenmatter]

spend a little bit on a good repair manual. you won't have to guess and the cash for the book will be saved in the first repair.

 

[Treetroit City]

Heard those electric cars are cool.

 

[Luv-U-Long-Time]

The electric window on my vintage car still works(original part)

It can be a PITA, need door handle tool and any other 'specialized' tools that may be involved, replace the regulator, or any other quirky fix that other owners may have been reporting while you're in there.

Definitely a DIY depending on your level of mechanical aptitude.

 

[schwilly]

Is that thing on its own fuse? Did you check it?

 

[Stoner4Life]

Heard those electric cars are cool.

I think he owns a car w/electric windows, not an electric car.......


some of those window motors are riveted in by a machine using thousands of #s of pressure, most likely you will not be able to replace that motor, that plus getting everything realigned exactly will be tough and will cost you more in the long run when you bring it to a window shop.


quick fix??? while operating the switch by hand use your closed fist and strike the inside door panel, are your hands too delicate? try using a rubber mallet. It just sounds stuck a bit bro.

ask your Ford? Chevy? Honda? mechanic to show/tell you what you're up against in regards to how that motor is riveted into the door. This isn't a simple 'pop rivet' btw, its an un-threaded steel bolt blank squeezed down w/tons of pressure. if/when you replace the motor you'll likely need to spot weld the bolts you'll use in place of the rivets you cannot replace.


hopefully I'm wrong and it's simply bolted in place but I've seen the inside of quite a few late model cars in the last 10 yrs or so & they all seem the same.

shop junkyards for replacement doors same yr & color, may be a much easier R&R.

 

[mrcreosote]

Replacing the motor is easy...*

The friggin door panel can be a Chinese puzzle without the inside skinny.
I think this is where they let the engineers run amok and get creative.

*S4L is right, rivets suck.

An operable drivers window is an important safety feature...
It allows you to give the finger to poor drivers to warn them to be careful.