strange power window behavior
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 142
Likes: 1
strange power window behavior
in my '80, the power windows have been acting weird pretty much since I bought it. The driver side usually goes up fine, but when I put it down it will almost fall a third of the way, or at least go down really fast, and then rolls down normal the rest of the way. The passenger side goes down fine but when roller it up it will roll up fine about 3/4 of the way, then it struggles and usually doesn't make it all the way up with out some help from pulling up on it. I have no clue whether the two problems are related, but they are both bugging me and I want to get it fixed. Does anyone have a clue what the issue may be?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Worn rollers and stickey tracks and maybe a little bit of worn teeth on the regulator. Its a big PITA to fix i all but its worth the effort. You should only take 1 door apart at a time, clean all the parts up, replace the worn parts and get it back together.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: BURLINGAME CA
I bet if you pull of the door panel the spring is broken. You will probably find it sitting in the bottom of the door. It slows the window when rolling it down and helps it roll back up. you will burn up your window motor If you keep using it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Yep, That probably most of it. It actually balances the weight of the window and is wound up when lowered, then it helps push the window up.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: BURLINGAME CA
I am going to be replacing my passenger side motor. I want to replace All worn parts. Is there a kit for rebuilding or Do I have to order parts individually? and what do I need, or would you recommend?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
you could also have a questionable switch. As they go bad, they develop reisitance across the contacts, reducing the amount of energy/voltage available to the motor, the harder the motor needs to work, the less energy it gets. Remove the switch and using a good solid wire, try bypassing the contacts externally, but you must use good pressure, try a #12 solid house wiring piece,and press it firmly into the contacts.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: RTP NC
in my '80, the power windows have been acting weird pretty much since I bought it. The driver side usually goes up fine, but when I put it down it will almost fall a third of the way, or at least go down really fast, and then rolls down normal the rest of the way. The passenger side goes down fine but when roller it up it will roll up fine about 3/4 of the way, then it struggles and usually doesn't make it all the way up with out some help from pulling up on it. I have no clue whether the two problems are related, but they are both bugging me and I want to get it fixed. Does anyone have a clue what the issue may be?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
The design of these window actuators are not the sturdiest. When I had my first '78 Corvette and is was 3 years old with fewer than 30K in miles it had this type of problem and of the 5, C3's that I have owned my 71 was the only one that did not have this problem.
All of the fixes above are good and work well. However, before you spend allot of money on parts you may want to clean things up very well with solvent to get all of the old lube and crud out then grease everything up and spray the spring with a good silicone spray. This worked on a couple of my cars including the '80 I have now.
All of the fixes above are good and work well. However, before you spend allot of money on parts you may want to clean things up very well with solvent to get all of the old lube and crud out then grease everything up and spray the spring with a good silicone spray. This worked on a couple of my cars including the '80 I have now.
