C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Power window motors. Please help.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 24, 2007 | 09:37 PM
  #21  
bobs77vet's Avatar
bobs77vet
Race Director
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Default

if all else fails use new leads to trouble shoot the issues
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2007 | 09:40 PM
  #22  
speedreed8's Avatar
speedreed8
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 336
From: Texas
Default

this is not your year but similar , also states power windows require a large current for operation http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/tune.../index22.shtml

Last edited by speedreed8; Feb 24, 2007 at 09:42 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2007 | 09:47 PM
  #23  
jdp6000's Avatar
jdp6000
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Default

What is the problem? Up, down or both? If you have power and nothing works up or down its probably the connector. The old connedors don't seat well with the new motors. If your problem is up only...hows the regualtor spring? The spring assists in raising the window? Are they there? Most that break off end up at the bottom of the door.

Jim
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2007 | 09:52 PM
  #24  
sdonnelly's Avatar
sdonnelly
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: Ozark MO
Default

On the '76 diagram it shows pnk/blk from ign switch to the relay and blk/orn to the relay from the breaker. A red/wht from the relay to each switch. From each switch to the motors, brn and dk blu to the left and blu/wht and brn/wht to the right. As stated, very few parts to the system. And I should have been more clear in my statement, "if it's a part", then I would say the relay. Could very well be a connection. My car is a '76 and I dealt with this. So, it's not that I'm an electric guru at all, just been there, done that. I found my problem to be that the p.o had bypassed the relay and took power from the cig lighter. I replaced the relay and the breaker and all is well.
Good luck.
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2007 | 10:18 PM
  #25  
#77's Avatar
#77
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Erin NY
Default

Originally Posted by speedreed8
this is not your year but similar , also states power windows require a large current for operation http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/tune.../index22.shtml
Thanks. I saw this before but I could not remember where. I appreciate the help.
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2007 | 10:30 PM
  #26  
#77's Avatar
#77
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Erin NY
Default

Originally Posted by sdonnelly
On the '76 diagram it shows pnk/blk from ign switch to the relay and blk/orn to the relay from the breaker. A red/wht from the relay to each switch. From each switch to the motors, brn and dk blu to the left and blu/wht and brn/wht to the right. As stated, very few parts to the system. And I should have been more clear in my statement, "if it's a part", then I would say the relay. Could very well be a connection. My car is a '76 and I dealt with this. So, it's not that I'm an electric guru at all, just been there, done that. I found my problem to be that the p.o had bypassed the relay and took power from the cig lighter. I replaced the relay and the breaker and all is well.
Good luck.
Thanks. Very helpful info. I will troubleshoot as recommended in AM. I am concerned about P.O.'s wiring as well. Where is circuit breaker
on '76?
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2007 | 10:38 PM
  #27  
#77's Avatar
#77
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Erin NY
Default

Originally Posted by jdp6000
What is the problem? Up, down or both? If you have power and nothing works up or down its probably the connector. The old connedors don't seat well with the new motors. If your problem is up only...hows the regualtor spring? The spring assists in raising the window? Are they there? Most that break off end up at the bottom of the door.

Jim
Thanks, Jim. I checked (wiggled repeatedly and etc.) the connectors to no avail. Seem O.K. Power is there and consistent. Have had both regulators out and all mechanical parts (springs,etc.) intact. Both motors, same problem. Power there, ground good, no movement at all.
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2007 | 10:53 PM
  #28  
#77's Avatar
#77
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Erin NY
Default

...until you go all the way back to the horn relay which is the main junction where the power window circuit gets its power.


Just checked and horn does not work. I should look into this as though they may be related?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 24, 2007 | 11:06 PM
  #29  
marshalllaw's Avatar
marshalllaw
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Marshall Texas
Default I hope this helps....I'm in the same boat and fixed it...

I know you put new motors in...and your vette is probably in tons better shape than my rebuild I'm attempting. I put new window motors in and nothing. Tried everything you did until I was about to pull my hair out............(are most of the members bald by now....or does it get better?) Anyhow...my dad came over to shoot the bull and have a beer and he asked me, "Are the motors good?" I sarcastically replied and he wanted to put this youngin' in his place. Well......he did! We found out that the window guides and working parts inside were froze up a little. He took some WD40, then applied a direct current from one of the "hot" wires from one of the wiring harnesses and with a large screw driver give it a little give at the same time applying power. Anyhow......keep'em greased!
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2007 | 11:24 PM
  #30  
#77's Avatar
#77
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Erin NY
Default

Originally Posted by marshalllaw
I know you put new motors in...and your vette is probably in tons better shape than my rebuild I'm attempting. I put new window motors in and nothing. Tried everything you did until I was about to pull my hair out............(are most of the members bald by now....or does it get better?) Anyhow...my dad came over to shoot the bull and have a beer and he asked me, "Are the motors good?" I sarcastically replied and he wanted to put this youngin' in his place. Well......he did! We found out that the window guides and working parts inside were froze up a little. He took some WD40, then applied a direct current from one of the "hot" wires from one of the wiring harnesses and with a large screw driver give it a little give at the same time applying power. Anyhow......keep'em greased!
Thanks for the idea. I have had the regulators out several times and cleaned and lubed and tested all parts. Definately electric in nature. One regulator was a little "frozen" but has been repaired.

P.S.: You may want to fill out your profile. Some members will give you a hard time if you don't. In my case, I didn't even know there was such a thing. There was no "orientation guide" to tell me to. At the time I didn't even know there was such a thing.

Good luck with the rebuild. Stick with it.
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2007 | 02:24 AM
  #31  
sdonnelly's Avatar
sdonnelly
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: Ozark MO
Default

http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...7669FD6AC1B82A

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G

The breaker plugs into the fuse panel.
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2007 | 08:48 AM
  #32  
#77's Avatar
#77
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Erin NY
Default

Originally Posted by sdonnelly
Thanks. I'll be checking it all today.
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2007 | 09:13 AM
  #33  
gr8vet's Avatar
gr8vet
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 699
Likes: 0
From: Vettemod.com For the C3 People
St. Jude Donor '06
Default

Been there, done that.

1.) Sounds like your vette has seen a little moisture like mine. You MUST clean ALL contacts! All points of metal to metal. Where the plugs slide onto the window switch itself, any plugs in between, relay, all the way to motors. These motors shut down at high current, i.e. when the window reaches its limit. With any resistence the amps are going sky high before you even start to move. I found corrosion on evey connector on my car. Get a good contact cleaner and fine sand paper. Wrap sand paper around a screwdriver and work in and out of plugs too. I later found I had to swap one of my window switches, just could not get clean. If you do swap out switches, go ahead and get new plugs for switch too, trust me, been there too.

2.) Lube every moving part in window regulator. Start with wd40, finish with spay type lithium grease.

My windows now dang near fly out the top of the door when I hit the up button.

Hope this helps, I know I am kinda repeating alot of what has been stated, but have personally experienced the same issue.

tt

Reply
Old Feb 25, 2007 | 11:13 AM
  #34  
marshalllaw's Avatar
marshalllaw
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Marshall Texas
Default Thanks for the tip 77

I'll fill it out right away!!
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2007 | 08:56 PM
  #35  
#77's Avatar
#77
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Erin NY
Default

Originally Posted by gr8vet
Been there, done that.

1.) Sounds like your vette has seen a little moisture like mine. You MUST clean ALL contacts! All points of metal to metal. Where the plugs slide onto the window switch itself, any plugs in between, relay, all the way to motors. These motors shut down at high current, i.e. when the window reaches its limit. With any resistence the amps are going sky high before you even start to move. I found corrosion on evey connector on my car. Get a good contact cleaner and fine sand paper. Wrap sand paper around a screwdriver and work in and out of plugs too. I later found I had to swap one of my window switches, just could not get clean. If you do swap out switches, go ahead and get new plugs for switch too, trust me, been there too.

2.) Lube every moving part in window regulator. Start with wd40, finish with spay type lithium grease.

My windows now dang near fly out the top of the door when I hit the up button.

Hope this helps, I know I am kinda repeating alot of what has been stated, but have personally experienced the same issue.

tt

Thanks for the help. I think you and others were onto the problem. I am pretty sure I found it. I will post update seperately and hopefully successful final outcome.
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2007 | 09:14 PM
  #36  
#77's Avatar
#77
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Erin NY
Default

Originally Posted by marshalllaw
I'll fill it out right away!!
No Problem. I am new too. Some members call newcomers "Noobs" and scold us new guys for lapses in protocol, etc. (Not filling out the profile is a common one). Thing is, there is no guide to these things that I have seen on the forum. So how would new guys know? If these things are important, (and they seem to be to some) they should give "noobs" a brief "orientation" of some kind when they join. Reguardless, I kind of look at it as a type of "hazing" similar to a fraternity. And this is one "fraternity" well worth joining.

Good luck.
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2007 | 10:01 PM
  #37  
#77's Avatar
#77
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Erin NY
Default Progress Update

Tore it all apart. In the end I cut out the switches. Hot wire to switches (from relay) jumpered to window motor wires at switch (up and down) operated motors O.K. Seems like both switches bad at same time. Will replace and update.

Thanks all.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Power window motors. Please help.

Old Feb 26, 2007 | 08:44 AM
  #38  
jdp6000's Avatar
jdp6000
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Default

Fix your switches. I bought several new ones and none worked right.Carefully pry the metal tabs that hold the plastic in place. All there is is two contacts in there. Bend them back into the right position (usually the problem). clean them up and re assemble. Use a vise,screw driver and small hammer...bend the tabs in again to hold them together.

Jim

Jim
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2007 | 10:20 AM
  #39  
#77's Avatar
#77
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Erin NY
Default

Originally Posted by jdp6000
Fix your switches. I bought several new ones and none worked right.Carefully pry the metal tabs that hold the plastic in place. All there is is two contacts in there. Bend them back into the right position (usually the problem). clean them up and re assemble. Use a vise,screw driver and small hammer...bend the tabs in again to hold them together.

Jim

Jim
Thanks, Jim. I will try it tonight. I never considered that. At worst I guess I could ruin them. They don't work anyway, so I'd be out nothing. I'll let you know if it works.
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2007 | 10:46 AM
  #40  
jdp6000's Avatar
jdp6000
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Default

Just be carful with the prying. You don't want to break the tabs. I put mine in a vice...piece of wood on each side so the vise didn't scratch the crome off. I tapped a bit and used a pair of plyers to move the tab. You only need to move one tab and maybe loosen off the other. It should come apart fairly easy.

If I recall there are two metal tabs with a round contact on each in there. Moving the switch compresses the tab resulting in a connection with the round contact and the pin that the electical plug attaches to. My tabs had straightened from years of use and were not making 100% contact. I rebent those tabs. I put everything back together good and tight. Make sure the plastic backing is held in place by the tabs tight...so it doesn't slide back and forth. They work better then new. The ones today seem to be made very cheaply. I tried 4 and gave up on the new.

Once you have them out you can actually see the tabs move as you compress the switch...look though the small openings. I was able to see that the round contact was missing its strike point.

You may also feel a noticeable resistance or a click as you move the switch lever from one position to another. There should be NO resistance and no CLICK. Just a smooth back and forth motion.

Good luck. Let us know how you make out.

Jim
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:07 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE