window motor AAARRGGGHH!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
window motor AAARRGGGHH!
OK, so how powerful is the window motor supposed to be anyway? My driver's window on my '81 has never really gone all the way up to seal, it stops about 1/4 inch short - unless I open the door, then it goes the rest of the way up. Then I close the door and it's fine. So for the last 2 days I have spent hours and hours and hours adjusting, lining up, moving/removing seals and weatherstripping, hoping to find where it's binding or misadjusted..... 
... Nothing.. Everything lines up perfect (I am now an expert on adjusting these friggin' windows), and there is no real binding along any of the weatherstripping or t-tops.
This leads me to the conclusion that my window motor is too weak to push the window completely closed (I can help it along if I push at the last 1/2 inch or so). I can make the window stop by holding it gently with my hand as well. The window goes up and down really fast too, and there's nothing binding inside the door - as a matter of fact I have had the motor apart and carefully regreased it, it seems to work well, but I'm wondering if it just lost it's oomph? Is that possible? Please let that be the case, as I have just spent 5 hours straight farting around with it and I am ready to chuck a hammer through the windshield lol
... Nothing.. Everything lines up perfect (I am now an expert on adjusting these friggin' windows), and there is no real binding along any of the weatherstripping or t-tops.This leads me to the conclusion that my window motor is too weak to push the window completely closed (I can help it along if I push at the last 1/2 inch or so). I can make the window stop by holding it gently with my hand as well. The window goes up and down really fast too, and there's nothing binding inside the door - as a matter of fact I have had the motor apart and carefully regreased it, it seems to work well, but I'm wondering if it just lost it's oomph? Is that possible? Please let that be the case, as I have just spent 5 hours straight farting around with it and I am ready to chuck a hammer through the windshield lol
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 14,345
Likes: 4
From: Hartselle AL
St. Jude Donor '09
If it is going up and down really fast, it sound like your regulator spring is not installed correctly.
FWIW, the driver's window on my '78 does the exact same thing at the top 1/4 inch.
FWIW, the driver's window on my '78 does the exact same thing at the top 1/4 inch.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 14,345
Likes: 4
From: Hartselle AL
St. Jude Donor '09
1. Make sure you have a bolt with some fender washers to secure the regulator before pulling it out.
2. Get the photo posted here of the inside of the door. You may already have that, if not I'll see if I can find the link. It is invaluable in keeping things in perspective.
3. After removing the motor from the regulator, I put the regulator in a vise (I use a wood working vise with wooden jaws) then you can get some leverage on the regulator arm(s) to load the spring.
Sorry if that is a bit vague, but when you get it in the vise, you will feel which way the press is being applied. Try to put the spring in with an additional 180* orientation to get the added pressure.
Have you pulled the regulator and spring out before? If so, (like I did) it could have been put in wrong. If not, it may be time to buy a new spring.
2. Get the photo posted here of the inside of the door. You may already have that, if not I'll see if I can find the link. It is invaluable in keeping things in perspective.
3. After removing the motor from the regulator, I put the regulator in a vise (I use a wood working vise with wooden jaws) then you can get some leverage on the regulator arm(s) to load the spring.
Sorry if that is a bit vague, but when you get it in the vise, you will feel which way the press is being applied. Try to put the spring in with an additional 180* orientation to get the added pressure.
Have you pulled the regulator and spring out before? If so, (like I did) it could have been put in wrong. If not, it may be time to buy a new spring.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I have noticed on my 81 and now my 80 model that the windows go up with more force if the engine is running. No B.S. No doubt the alternator is supplying feed to the window motor when the engine is running.When the engine is off, you are using stored energy (battery) and will not get the same "kick".
i remember greasing the tracks,fittings et. on the 81 ,the window still tracked slow as hell and would not seat at the top- UNTIL I cranked the engine up. The window slammed shut ! Just some more info to cloud your response!
i remember greasing the tracks,fittings et. on the 81 ,the window still tracked slow as hell and would not seat at the top- UNTIL I cranked the engine up. The window slammed shut ! Just some more info to cloud your response!
Last edited by mikejpss; May 28, 2010 at 08:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
LOL yeah I had the car running each time I made an adjustment so I'd have all the juice to get that bugger up. It looks like I'll have to get working on the spring then, as the PO had taken it apart and I had to put it together - possibly not having enough winding on it. So it's the spring that adds upward force to close the window then? CRAP because I just put in a new window and got it lined up perfectly 
and now have to take everything apart.
Bah.
I might wait on this one until the scrapes on my arms heal up before doing it all over again........
and now have to take everything apart.Bah.
I might wait on this one until the scrapes on my arms heal up before doing it all over again........
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 533
Likes: 18
From: Boca Raton Florida
I bought a rebuilt motor for my '72 driver side window and hooked it up for a test. It seemed to run pretty slow so I took the old one apart. Lots of carbon buildup on the brass commutator so I chucked the armature in my drill press and cleaned up the brass with a small, fine-tooth file and some 600 grit paper. Put it back together with fresh grease and it runs faster than the rebuilt one. I have a lot of stuff to do before the doors go back on so I'm not sure this will make the windows go up at a reasonable speed but I clearly remember them closing and opening very slowly.
If you are going to take the window mechanism apart, you might want to check the motor as well.
If you are going to take the window mechanism apart, you might want to check the motor as well.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
I had the motor apart when I put the car together (4 years ago) and cleaned the brushes and greased it etc. I remember the long bolts that held it together had to be tightened carefully, as too tight would bind the motor - I had it quite perfectly adjusted, at least I thought it worked quite well .
I'm really not looking forward to taking the whole thing apart again
as a matter of fact I would rather buy a new assembly than mess with the old one (Corvette yard nearby, decent prices).
.I'm really not looking forward to taking the whole thing apart again
as a matter of fact I would rather buy a new assembly than mess with the old one (Corvette yard nearby, decent prices).
