Power window motor replacement ?

[Possumz]

How do you replace the power window motors? I have a 1991 4 door Explorer that needs 3 of them replaced. Any how to's with pics out there.
Deron

 

[Josh]

Its a PITA. I've done 3 of them. It took me about 2 hours each. You have to drill out the rivets holding the assembly to the door. BE CAREFUL! The front assemblies are spring loaded and will close like a bear trap on your fingers. Make sure you drill out the rivets holding the window first. Take the windows out first. The reason why the windows slammed down on me is because I tried to take the motor out with out taking the whole assembly out. I took out the assembly any way and rebuilt it. The gear drive has 3 crush bushings inside that fail. I cut a bolt to replace the one that was smashed. Hope this helps.

 

[Brock94]

It's not hard-- you remove the door trim, peel up the water shield, undo the three bolts that hold the motor on the regulator, disconnect the motor wires, install the new motor and reassemble the door. A Haynes manual (from autozone, etc) will give you pictures and instructions. For the rear doors you may have to drill a hole in the inside sheet-metal to access the third bolt for the motor-- there's a dimple in the door that marks where you need to drill.

Before you buy parts and do all that work though, make sure the problem is not electrical. The window switches are a weak point and worth testing. You can test the electrical by seeing if you get 12v reversed polarity for up and down at the motor connector's on each of the doors when you operate the switches.

 

[Brock94]

Josh is talking about replacing the window regulator assembly-- that's different from just replacing the motors. (and more difficult as he says.)

 

[Josh]

Yea, I repacked the gears and lubed the slides. I also went to Northern tool and baught all stainlees hardware. I did not know about the dimple in the door. I guess I did it the hard way.

 

[Possumz]

Thanks

Thanks for the info. I will do this one once it warms up. I have access to a wrecking yard and will remove them there first.
Deron

 

[Possumz]

Josh

Where you at in Virginia Beach. Thats where Im at.
Deron

 

[Josh]

I live out by the VA Beach court house. Go to you wrench it over by Oceana. I got the whole assembly for 15 bucks. You can probably get the motor for about 5. I go out there about once a week.

 

[Possumz]

josh

Actually thats where i work at (U-Wrench-It). Sometime this spring or summer it will be called Pick N Pull as they bought us out.
Deron

 

[Josh]

Thats cool. There is a Passat VR6 with a bad tranny that was parked out back that they were trying to sell whole. Can you let me know if that thing goes out in the yard for parts? I need an A/C compressor for my Jetta. Man I love that place.

 

[Possumz]

I will see what i can find out.
Deron

 

[Possumz]

Josh

Its still for sale and once the new sales license comes in from dmv it will probably be gone as they have had many offers. I will watch out for anything like that for you.
Deron

 

[Josh]

Thanks. I was told it had a bad tranny?? I need a VR6 for parts. Did you get your windows done?

 

[Possumz]

Havent done the windows yet. Waiting for warm weather. I will keep the look out for vr6 parts. Stop by sometime so i can check out your ride.
Deron

 

[Espresso]

Question on the window motors. Mine on the DS rear is acting up. The motor works fine. It looks like the cable broke off( actually it's bent @ 90degrees, instead of it supposed to being straight right?). I was told by a guy who works on these that the cable problem is common from what he sees.
The window will go down about 1" & stay there & I have to manually put it back up, but it will always fall down about an 1". I have a pair of vice grips holding it up now.
Was awondring if it would be ok to just replace the cable( if possible) or just get a whole ne wunit( not sur eif everything is sold seperately though).
I would like to know so when I go to the dealership, what to get.

 

[Josh]

Well unless you have money to burn I wouldnt go to the dealership. I got the whole assembly from the junyard for 15 bucks I think, motor and all. You will need to bring a drill to take out the rivets and some other tools. I had the same problem with mine and even used the vise grips. LOL. Just pull the whole thing and drop the motor. Although couldnt hurt to have a spare.

 

[Espresso]

I already have the motor & everything out, so I know about the drilling. I really dont want used junkyard stuff in it right now. This thing is currently giving me too many problems, for me to have to do it twice & I dont have time for it righ tnow. SO fixing it righ tis the only way. Like the sayin goes. "If you dont have time to fix right the firt time. Where will you find the time to do it again".
I found out the bottom cable is broke in the "cable mecanizm thing" or whatever it's called. The window, now goes down( its amazing what lubrication will do). But will not go back up without help.

But now I still have my coolant leak( this JUST happened as I was picking up my wife). I get it home & run over a nail, in my WEEK OLD tires. Just to find out....THE LEAK STOPPED!!!
It's running me to the edge of insanity. I cant get the CEL to give me the codes, i'm loosing fuel pressure( just confirmed this today) at random times.
BUT, I get extremely good mileage( I'm avg 18 in the city righ tnow with 3.27 gears).
So now that I just dumped $1k into it. I get to replace mulitpule things....ok i'm done rambling.

 

[Josh]

Well half of my truck is junkyard including the motor out of a 2000 explorer which I am very happy with. I have rebuilt 3 of 4 windows with junk yard parts a couple of months ago and no problems. But thats just me. I would be suprised if they even stock the regulator assembly. A lot of the parts for the older trucks are discontinued.

 

[Josh]

Well since you peeked my curiosity I called the local dealership. The regulator assembly is 80 bucks. Good luck.

 

[Espresso]

Josh, thanks for the price. That is a bit high.
I love junkyard parts dont get me wrong. I practically live there( Back when I was 10ish this is how I learned are the parts interchangability, ect..). It's just some things are just better to get new, depending on the new price/vs what a junkyard wants.
This looks like a PITA to do( I havent taken it completely apart to find out, but by looking it will take my arthritis ridden ass the better part of a day). So maybe getting something I know has a better chance of not breaking while I still have it, would be better than doing 2 to 3 times with used stuff. I'll call around tomorrow to see if the local yards have anything. I havent been to a yard in about a year so it's about time to go.