Window Motor or Regulator?

[The Critic]

My friend's '97 Accord V6 has an inoperable LF window. When you press the switch to operate the power window, you hear the motor making a nice "purr" sound, but the window doesn't go down. I think it's the regulator since I still hear the motor running, but I don't know anything about power windows.

What do you guys think? How difficult of a job is this?

Thanks!

 

[beanoil]

I vote motor. I'm pretty sure you will find the reducing gears/transmission on the motor out. I had a similar situation on my Ford truck. Lots of noise, no window movement. Replaced the motor/gearbox, all is well. You wont know until you open it up.

 

[bdcardinal]

can you get them separate? might be a good idea if they are both relatively cheap to buy them both since you will have the door panel off.

 

[punisher]

Pull the trim panel and look before you buy. Fords are a special case as their window motor gearbox were prone to shred the plastic internals. Combine that with Ford window regulators and let's just say I spent a lot of time inside car doors.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: punisher
Pull the trim panel and look before you buy. Fords are a special case as their window motor gearbox were prone to shred the plastic internals. Combine that with Ford window regulators and let's just say I spent a lot of time inside car doors.



i spend a long time looking them up

 

[doitmyself]

Power window motor with regulator usually can be bought as an assembly and are very cheap on ebay, if you want to go with an import one. I've had good luck repairing Grand Ams with these.

Here is one example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Acc...sQ5fAccessories

Dealer ones will be MUCH more. It can be a challenge to get the interior door panel off. Usually there is a sheet of plastic under that. You unbolt the motor and regulator, snake it out, then install the new one and plug in the harness.

Very much a DIY job that will save hundreds of dollars.

Google this and there may even be specific instructions for your car with pictures. Here's the one for the Grand Am that will show you how easy it is:

http://www.a1electric.com/grandam.htm

Best Regards

 

[The Critic]

Thanks, doitmyself. I'll have to see if I can do this one myself. I'm not the most gentle person with delicate parts, so this might not be a job for me.

Cardone sells window motors with regulators for this application:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1167498,parttype,1516

Cost is about $80 shipped for a new one, so I think I'll go that route if I decide to do it myself.

 

[mechtech2]

You may find the regulator is riveted on. Just drill them out and use appropriate little nuts, lockwashers, and bolts.
Greae what you can while you are in there.
And seal up the plastic covering when you're done - Duct tape is good.

 

[Tosh]

Don't let the window drop into the door when you pull out the motor and the gears disengage.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Tosh
Don't let the window drop into the door when you pull out the motor and the gears disengage.


Duct tape should hold it up, right?

 

[Tosh]

Just don't slam the door with the motor out.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Tosh
Don't let the window drop into the door when you pull out the motor and the gears disengage.


Duct tape should hold it up, right?


ive seen duct tape. ive also seen some of our techs that have suction cups on either side of a bunjee cord that they hang around the door frame.

 

[mechtech2]

Are you questioning duct tape??

 

[widman]

My daughter's BMW had a similar problem. Dealer wanted something like $500. Google turned up a dealer in Calif who sold the complete assembly for less than $100 and a step by step procedure for changing it out.
Duct tape held the window up for a couple of weeks til my less-than-mechanical son-in-law could find time (1 hour) to replace it.

If he could do it, anyone who interested enough in cars to read this forum can do it (probably blindfolded).