Power window question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Holmen Wisconsin
Power window question
I just replaced the window motor in the driver side of my 80. The switch fell apart right when I got finished. I tried a repo switch and the window still won't work. I also tried using the switch from the otherside and I plugged in the old motor and it didn't work either? What am I missing and what should I check next? The passenger side still works fine. Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
its common to find a break in the rubber between the body and dooredit - let me add this just in case. 2 wires (brown and blue)go through the door for the motor,both are made hot by the switch,one up and one down,the ground for the motor is the door frame.
Last edited by ...Roger...; Oct 3, 2011 at 06:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Holmen Wisconsin
I'm going to have to check it closer. I intermently get some juice. Here is what I have been working on for the last 4 years. Sadly though I think it will be up for sale once I get all the bugs worked out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Holmen Wisconsin
Well the test light shows power to the harness. If I plug in the old motor and ground it, it works. The new one does not. It has to be the new motor right? I was only able to get the window to roll up then the switch broke. now with a new switch nothing from the new motor. Now how can I replace the motor with the window all the way up?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Well the test light shows power to the harness. If I plug in the old motor and ground it, it works. The new one does not. It has to be the new motor right? I was only able to get the window to roll up then the switch broke. now with a new switch nothing from the new motor. Now how can I replace the motor with the window all the way up?
Clean up the contact points between where the motor attachs to the regulator or where the regulator attachs to the door frame. Or solve a bad ground issue to the door frame.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Holmen Wisconsin
I guess what I don't get is why the old motor worked but was just getting a little weak. Now the new one doesn't want to work for me. I'll check all the contacts, but the doors where all apart and I didn't really see any corrosion. So where exactly does the motor get grounded? Could it be that the new motor is completly painted and the old one was not?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
It could always been the ground. You have two wires from the switch. One up and one down. There is no ground is there? Dont guess. Turn the key to on. Push the switch to up or down and hold it. With the wire you ran from the negative from the battery touch the door then the regulator then the metal housing of the motor. See if it works. I don't know how your door grounds. I have a black wire.
Last edited by jdp6000; Oct 5, 2011 at 12:07 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: webster ny
I guess what I don't get is why the old motor worked but was just getting a little weak. Now the new one doesn't want to work for me. I'll check all the contacts, but the doors where all apart and I didn't really see any corrosion. So where exactly does the motor get grounded? Could it be that the new motor is completly painted and the old one was not?
Your symptoms are similar to what I experienced recently. The window would work intermittently, and it was caused by the window switch contacts.
In your case, its possible it is something other than the switch but has the same symptoms.
Take a look at how I made the repair with the link below.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...eshooting.html
Racer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 308
Likes: 4
From: Matthews North Carolina
i went through all the things you have mentioned, even bought a new pw motor- the culprit was a broken pw wire inside my door jam. you have to pop out the rubber seal to check. good luck...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Holmen Wisconsin
Okay, I pulled the new motor out and grounded it to the battery and it works. So just like jdp6000 thought, it was the ground. I put the old motor back in to get the window down halfway and it works just fine? I am cleaning eveything up in the door, but it all looks pretty good. Strange how the old one works in the car and the now one doesn't. Before I put it back together to see if it works I have a question about the gear for the motor. I have 2 gears. One seems pretty tight if I hold the outer edge and try to move the smaller gear back and forth. The other one moves about a quarter of a turn. Which gear is working properly?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
I don't know about the gears. As for the grounding, I believe the old motor casings are 100% metal, the new crap mixes alloys. They are poor conductors and therefore more sensitive. You may want to run a secondary ground wire from the metal on the door to one if the bolts that hold the window motor. What make motor did you get by the way. I paid $160 for a Delco from the dealer, it was much heavier.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Holmen Wisconsin
Just went out and checked them side by side. New one has a different case. They must just use the guts for the rebuild? I stuck a magnet on both and it stuck in all the same places.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
There is nothing wrong with the aftermarket stuff for the price. It will work. You have to admit though its interesting the old will work but the new will not. Just groundit right and get it working.
