C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Slow Power Windows

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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 12:27 PM
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Default Slow Power Windows

New Vette owner (first corvette at 63 years old) looking for advice:

The passenger side power window on my 1987 Coupe just barely crawls up or down. The driver side is faster but no speed demon either. This coming spring I am going to be going into the doors to replace the outer window seals. So I will have the panel off. I have never worked on anything like this before. What should I be looking for to lube/repair/replace? The vehicle has 119,000 miles on the clock. I just got it late this summer and it came this way.

Thank you in advance for your help.
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 12:39 PM
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One good source if you are going to work on your own car would be to buy a factory service manual from HELMS. Also this forum is great.
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 12:50 PM
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I have the FSM. But I don't even know what to look for. That is why I posted here. From what I have seen over the past few months here, this place and the people are GREAT!
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by HANK AZ.
One good source if you are going to work on your own car would be to buy a factory service manual from HELMS. Also this forum is great.


A Factory Service Manual (FSM)is a nice thing to have.
Try running each individual window up and down instead of both at the same time....one window motor could have a problem and drag down the speed of the other if operated at the same time. I've had the door panels off of mine a few times for various reasons: broken window glass (punk kids) and those advertisement flyers people stick in-between the outer window seal and the glass. My outer seals were kinda old/loose and the flyers would just fall down into the door......after a while the window motor started to bind and struggle.....took it apart and pulled out 5 or 6 of those adverstiment flyers from inside the door. You'll want to check the other hardware inside the door while your in there.....if you have front speaker/amp problems this would be a good time to pop those out when door is apart.

These cars are tons of fun!

Welcome to the Forum!

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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 01:19 PM
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Dirty or worn out brushes. Hint: Brushes on all GM cars are the same probably from 80 to 2008. I pulled brushes for my 84 from 94 Buick
Remove your brushes and go to junk yard. Remove and match.
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 02:17 PM
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I take it the brushes are in the motor? Is that a major task to take apart and replace or would a motor replacement actually be better/easier to accomplish (if I can use a motor from any GM, it might be better to just replace to avoid future problems).
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by dontruitt
I take it the brushes are in the motor? Is that a major task to take apart and replace or would a motor replacement actually be better/easier to accomplish (if I can use a motor from any GM, it might be better to just replace to avoid future problems).
I think CAR5CAR was saying the brushes are the same not the motor/housing itself. Sure you can replace the old motors with new ones...if money is not a primary concern.....most new motors only come with a 1 year guarantee if that. Make sure you use "star type" lock washers to keep the hardware from loosening up from vibration.

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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 04:25 PM
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Can the brushes be removed without removing the whole regulator assembly? (I am nervous about not being able to get the window lined back up correctly). The FSM only covers removing the whole assembly. Money is a concern as there are other things that the car needs to have done (exhaust system etc). I just don't want to mess it up.

Last edited by dontruitt; Nov 9, 2008 at 04:27 PM.
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by dontruitt
Can the brushes be removed without removing the whole regulator assembly? (I am nervous about not being able to get the window lined back up correctly). The FSM only covers removing the whole assembly. Money is a concern as there are other things that the car needs to have done (exhaust system etc). I just don't want to mess it up.
I've always just changed the motor assy....but that's me. The windows are pretty straight forward....just be careful removing all those plastic benzels around the door handles those things break/crack easily(do not over tighten)note: there is a screw in the top of the black benzel that is very hard to see.....get down low and look up to locate it. They don't make those benzels anymore and knock offs aren't half as nice as the OEM pieces. There is a big aluminum plate behind the door panel that will need to be removed to access the motor....if I remember right.
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 05:18 PM
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Take brushes from rear door motor.
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 07:31 PM
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Default Copngrats of the 1st Vette... at any age!

You will find a lot off dirt inside that door, including on the oft-breaking plastic ribbon gear and the long horizontal guide that it slides upon. There's also a round window guide/support that the glass-mount slides vertically upon. More dirt.

I am going through this and weighing if I will change to the newer design, which has faster operation. After cleaning all of the above, a silicon spray doesn't seem to speed the action too much.

The doors are a PITA to get inside, especially the aluminum plate mentioned. I found if I loosened the door catch, I did not need to pull all that lock linkage apart. I marked (circled) all faster positions with a marker; centered them upon reassembly.

If the front Bose speaker/amps don't sound awesome (relative term) now is a good time to pull and redo them.
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 08:32 PM
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Originally Posted by dontruitt
New Vette owner (first corvette at 63 years old) looking for advice:

The passenger side power window on my 1987 Coupe just barely crawls up or down. The driver side is faster but no speed demon either. This coming spring I am going to be going into the doors to replace the outer window seals. So I will have the panel off. I have never worked on anything like this before. What should I be looking for to lube/repair/replace? The vehicle has 119,000 miles on the clock. I just got it late this summer and it came this way.

Thank you in advance for your help.
I have the same problem in my 87 Coupe. When I had the door apart to replace the inner&outer seal and door panel and weatherstrip I cleaned up the inside of the door and greased the window parts. No luck on speeding up the window going up. When I have the money I'll replace the motors. Take your time when disassembling the door panel I broke several plastic parts, they get brittle and crack after 20 years.
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 10:09 PM
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Replacing brushes are easier than motor.
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 08:12 AM
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If the brushes are in the motor, I would have to take out the motor to replace them..right? If so how would that be easier? I'm sorry about pursuing this but I guess I just don't understand about the brushes. Does anyone have any repair site or pictures that show how brushes are changed on the 87 vette motor?

Whalepirot: I believe the 87 has the new design (no ribbon) from what I read. Thanks guys!
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