Window motor issue?

[$100horse]

My driver's side front window stopped working today. There were not tell-tale signs that there might be anything wrong with the motor: no excess whirring, no grinding noises, etc. I rolled it down, stopped, spent some time out of it (engine off), got back in and the window wouldn't go up.

A friend of mine, who's been building Mustangs for years, says it sounds like the motor, and, when they go bad, there's no notice, they just...go.

I realize they are both Fords, but, you guys are the Ex-Experts, so, I'm asking you. Is that what it sounds like to you guys? Any other ideas? Thanks.


P.S. All the other window switches/windows work fine. The only thing on the driver's door that doesn't work is the master lock switch, which hasn't worked since I bought it. Not sure if that leads to anything that might give someone any ideas or not.
Jes

 

[$100horse]

Okay, this may sound stupid, but, I just went out to try and get the window to go up again (I'm a glutton for punishment). It still didn't work. However, I did take notice (after reading some of the other posts on this type of thing) that none of the lights on the driver's side controls are lit up. Now the stupid part, I have rarely driven this at night, so, I haven't really noticed if it has been this way since I bought it a few weeks ago or not. Maybe this will give someone some ideas.

UPDATE: My girlfriend says the lights on the driver's side door control panel have not worked since we bought it, and, the only button that didn't work was the one that unlocks/locks all the doors at one time.

 

[$100horse]

Okay...driving in to work this morning, I hit the window button, by instinct, and low and behold, the window went up. Then, down. Then, up again and down again. When I got to work, I turned the X off and turned the key over, the window seems to be working, at least for now.

ANY ideas??
Thanks.

Jes

 

[CDW6212R]

I'd bet on the master switch, which you need anyway to fix the rear cut off switch. Those run about $20 used, and about $55 on Ford parts sites.

If you have any normal mileage, I would replace the most common part to go as well, the three plastic pucks/balls in the motor. It just takes some grease and the parts from the help section of a parts store. The actual motor hardly ever fails, the plastic parts are meant to.

 

[$100horse]

I'd bet on the master switch, which you need anyway to fix the rear cut off switch. Those run about $20 used, and about $55 on Ford parts sites.

If you have any normal mileage, I would replace the most common part to go as well, the three plastic pucks/balls in the motor. It just takes some grease and the parts from the help section of a parts store. The actual motor hardly ever fails, the plastic parts are meant to.

Well, since you, too, support the Fair Tax, I'll presume you know what you're talking about. LOL.
However, I don't have a clue as to what you're talking about. I have about 93,000 for milage. Do you mean the master switch in the door panel, that I use to open/close the window?
And, while I'm at it, it looked like, when I took the door panel off, that all the switches there are one mass unit. Is that correct, or, just an impression by looking at it without examining it in any detail?

Thanks.
Jes

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, the main switch on the LF door. Those switches all are one piece, and internally they have very fragile tiny copper tangs/contacts. They do eventually lose tension or bend, and then that switch doesn't work any longer. That master switch is the most used, so $60 for a new part isn't really bad.

 

[$100horse]

Yes, the main switch on the LF door. Those switches all are one piece, and internally they have very fragile tiny copper tangs/contacts. They do eventually lose tension or bend, and then that switch doesn't work any longer. That master switch is the most used, so $60 for a new part isn't really bad.

Okay, I found a dealer in Orlando that has the part. $65 and change. Not bad considering Auto Zone wants over $100??

However, the Ford dealer is telling me that the switch for the locks, and the switches for the windows are separate. When I take mine out, after removing the door panel, it comes out as one piece. The lock switch and window switches are all part of the same section. Am I missing something? Does it have to do with the 3 screws at the lock switch end of the cluster?

Thanks.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, the door lock switch is separate, at the front. They all go into the same part which you aren't buying. What you will get is the large rectangular switch box, and you have to pry it out, be careful doing that. Below shows the back of the switch panel, out of the part where they all snap into.

 

[laxmankk11]

exact same thing happened with my passenger window right after i bought it! a few days it wouldnt work then it did, now its been ok for awhile, knock on wood. i also noticed whenever this happened, the rear wiper wouldnt work, it sprayed just didnt work.

 

[$100horse]

Okay. I just disassembled a broken one, so that it looks like the pic you posted. HUGE help! Thanks. I think I have the idea now. I'm going to buy a master switch and a window motor (just in case) and return which ever one I don't need.
I'll let you know how it all turns out.

Thanks again!

Jes

 

[CDW6212R]

The motors themselves almost never go bad, I can't think of one on record. The gearing in the housing at the end of the motor has plastic parts inside. The design is such that the plastic parts go bad, which is very easy to fix. 99% of the time if power gets to the motor and it doesn't work, the three internal plastic pucks/balls are destroyed. Those can be had from any parts store for about $8.

With the age of these vehicles, it's likely you will need both the switches and pucks very soon anyway. So doing both would avoid the next failure. The motors are not hard to remove, hunt here for other How To threads showing pictures. You will need some grease for sure, and possibly the large round plastic gear if it is hurt also. That comes in another HELP kit for about $20 or so.

 

[$100horse]

Replaced the master switch, same issue. Replaced the window motor, and it works just fine.

The door lock button still doesn't work (it's a used master switch), and, the panel still doesn't light up. However, I can still get my window up.

Now to replace the lock portion of the master switch and see if that works.

Thanks for the pic CD! HUGE help!

Jes