Power windows motor replacement
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Power windows motor replacement
Hi there.
The RH power window of my 1982 GSL is not working. I've removed the motor, opened it up, and found an oddity inside: a steel ball, such as the one commonly found in ball bearings.
I think it is used on one edge of the motor's shaft, magnets side, but somehow it was locking the engine up as I've found it somewhere else.
Anyway, I think I can make the power windows' motor run again, but I cannot be 100% sure.
So my question is: does anyone know of a replacement part for the power windows motor of a 1982 FB? OEM used on other cars, too, maybe?
The RH power window of my 1982 GSL is not working. I've removed the motor, opened it up, and found an oddity inside: a steel ball, such as the one commonly found in ball bearings.
I think it is used on one edge of the motor's shaft, magnets side, but somehow it was locking the engine up as I've found it somewhere else.
Anyway, I think I can make the power windows' motor run again, but I cannot be 100% sure.
So my question is: does anyone know of a replacement part for the power windows motor of a 1982 FB? OEM used on other cars, too, maybe?
#2
Senior Member
The bearing is supposed to be in there ... It's a pain in the butt to put it where it goes but it can be done.... I've have taken both of my motors and got the cleaned and lubed...
There are a couple of places you can get them ...not new.....I cant recall the name but there is a place that refurbish your own motors.....do a Google search and it will pop up...
There are a couple of places you can get them ...not new.....I cant recall the name but there is a place that refurbish your own motors.....do a Google search and it will pop up...
#4
Senior Member
Glad you figured it out!!
#5
Full Member
Thread Starter
Now that I'm sure that the motor is OK, and after having lubed, without removing the mechanism, all that I could reach, I still don't get my windows to go up and down like they should.
It is better, but not good yet: the most I can get is, say, 5" down, after which the motor stalls and I have to wait for one minute before it works again. I imagine there is an overcurrent protection tripping, that auto resets after a while, because it is absolutely repeatable.
The movement is not smooth either - it is clunky. The gear is OK.
I notice that, whereas the drivers window (perfectly working) has no play if I grab the windows with my hands, the passenger's (the malfunctioning one) can be shaken and moved about 1/4".
I imagine I need to remove (UGH!) and restore the whole leverage system, does anyone have any ideas about what it may be?
It is better, but not good yet: the most I can get is, say, 5" down, after which the motor stalls and I have to wait for one minute before it works again. I imagine there is an overcurrent protection tripping, that auto resets after a while, because it is absolutely repeatable.
The movement is not smooth either - it is clunky. The gear is OK.
I notice that, whereas the drivers window (perfectly working) has no play if I grab the windows with my hands, the passenger's (the malfunctioning one) can be shaken and moved about 1/4".
I imagine I need to remove (UGH!) and restore the whole leverage system, does anyone have any ideas about what it may be?
#6
Senior Member
I read that installing relays made the motors faster.... I have not done it but here in the forum there are threads about it.......
#7
Full Member
Thread Starter
Eventually, I will have to remove the power widow mechanism and fix it. The electric motor is good, but there's something wrong in all the leverage, and I hate it when something is not working well in my cars.
In the meanwhile I repaired both sides' electric mirror wiring, as one of the pins inside the four way connectors which are found inside the mirror's case was broken off, due to corrosion. It was the same issue on both sides, so it must be rather common.
So, if there's any tutorial or thread about removal of the power windows' leverage from an FB, a link would certainly be welcome. I've tried the search engine unsuccessfully.
In the meanwhile I repaired both sides' electric mirror wiring, as one of the pins inside the four way connectors which are found inside the mirror's case was broken off, due to corrosion. It was the same issue on both sides, so it must be rather common.
So, if there's any tutorial or thread about removal of the power windows' leverage from an FB, a link would certainly be welcome. I've tried the search engine unsuccessfully.
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#8
Obselete skills
iTrader: (1)
If you have a meter, I would check the voltage at the motor while you are lowering it.
I have seen 8 or 9 volts at the motor, while the battery shows 13.
The window switches have a poor connection when new, and get worse from there.
Some people add relays to get some more power to the window motors, some people have swapped over to manual windows.
Your motors might be OK.
I have seen 8 or 9 volts at the motor, while the battery shows 13.
The window switches have a poor connection when new, and get worse from there.
Some people add relays to get some more power to the window motors, some people have swapped over to manual windows.
Your motors might be OK.
#9
Full Member
Thread Starter
I will, but I'm afraid there's some mechanical issue.
When lowered, say, 2" (5cm), there's a lot of play in the glass if I hold and try to shake it.
When lowered, say, 2" (5cm), there's a lot of play in the glass if I hold and try to shake it.
#10
Full Member
Thread Starter
Eventually, I removed the whole lever mechanism and found it in good condition.
the motor continued locking up under load, so I opened it up and found that the internal nylon gear is split and cannot be repaired
Does anyone know where to find a new motor, or if a replacement part from another car will work?
the motor continued locking up under load, so I opened it up and found that the internal nylon gear is split and cannot be repaired
Does anyone know where to find a new motor, or if a replacement part from another car will work?
#11
Full Member
Thread Starter
I think I've fixed this: I've turned an aluminium ring, turned down the gear plastic part to fit the ring tightly, and assembled.
A couple of grub screws will be added to make 100% sure that it will not slip, and I'll test it soon!
A couple of grub screws will be added to make 100% sure that it will not slip, and I'll test it soon!
The following 2 users liked this post by MrILO:
Kizmit99 (09-02-21),
raven12aFB (08-26-21)
#12
Rotary Enthusiast
#14
Full Member
Thread Starter
FYI.
Aluminium ring is 8mm wide, ext diam 54mm, internal diam 51 (1.5mm thick).
To turn the broken gear down, it must be first kept together as if it was new, or it will break as soon as the lathe's cutting tool touches it.
I used a hose clamp, placed on the teeth side of the whole gear mechanism, to keep it together, and I tightened it - tight enough to keep it together: use caution as over tightening may damage the teeth.
The lot was grabbed on the chuck of a small Sherline tabletop lathe, by grabbing the INSIDE edge of the part (the metallic core) on the jaws (in other words: the jaws must move outwards to tighten the part on the chuck).
The lathe's tool must cut through the plastic part, but also, cut through the two 'metallic legs' - reduce diameter slowly to make sure the tool cuts through these legs without bending them.
Aluminium ring is 8mm wide, ext diam 54mm, internal diam 51 (1.5mm thick).
To turn the broken gear down, it must be first kept together as if it was new, or it will break as soon as the lathe's cutting tool touches it.
I used a hose clamp, placed on the teeth side of the whole gear mechanism, to keep it together, and I tightened it - tight enough to keep it together: use caution as over tightening may damage the teeth.
The lot was grabbed on the chuck of a small Sherline tabletop lathe, by grabbing the INSIDE edge of the part (the metallic core) on the jaws (in other words: the jaws must move outwards to tighten the part on the chuck).
The lathe's tool must cut through the plastic part, but also, cut through the two 'metallic legs' - reduce diameter slowly to make sure the tool cuts through these legs without bending them.
#15
Full Member
Thread Starter
Update: the repair seems to work very well, now I need to put the mechanism back into the door.
Seems easy, but I can't find where this plastic sleeve goes, I have no pictures of it, and there's no indication in the manuals either...
Any help please?
Seems easy, but I can't find where this plastic sleeve goes, I have no pictures of it, and there's no indication in the manuals either...
Any help please?
#16
Senior Member
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raven12aFB (09-09-21)
#18
Senior Member
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raven12aFB (09-11-21)
#20
Full Member
Hi - possibly stupid question, but searching didn't provide an answer...
Did you have to remove the window glass to remove just the motor (not the tracks of course)?
My driver side motor is very sluggish and I'm hoping a cleaning will perk it up.
Thanks.
Did you have to remove the window glass to remove just the motor (not the tracks of course)?
My driver side motor is very sluggish and I'm hoping a cleaning will perk it up.
Thanks.
#21
Senior Member
Also...if you are going to take the motor out be very careful with a little steel bearing that is inside....if you loose it you're S.O.L. the motor will not work without it .....
Also .....you might have to install relays on the power windows to make them faster.....
Last edited by raven12aFB; 09-11-21 at 09:13 AM.
#22
Full Member
Yeah - I already installed relays and while it perked the passenger side up, it really didn't have much of an effect on the driver side.
I also lubed the large gears without much effect.
So I'm thinking pulling the motor and giving it a refresh may be in order. The motor itself works, so I know it's not burned out, but perhaps it's just crudded up inside?
I also lubed the large gears without much effect.
So I'm thinking pulling the motor and giving it a refresh may be in order. The motor itself works, so I know it's not burned out, but perhaps it's just crudded up inside?
#23
Full Member
Thread Starter
I doubt: the motor is sealed. What are the symptoms?
As Raven12aFB said - if you disassemble the motor make sure to keep an eye on the small sphere. Oh, putting it back is a lot of fun , too!
I was able to remove the motor without taking the glass out, as I have a micro ratcheting wrench that I bought for 'unreachable cases'. However, having removed the glass and mechanism once, now that I've done it, I must say that it is rather easy and I would do it again rather than removing the motor alone.
After repairing the gear and cleaning and oiling the mechanism, I think it goes up and down really well now. It wasn't the main gear that needed cleaning and greasing, but all the other slides, pins, etc., to make them move smoothly.
Link to the movie showing how it works now:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/FysMnnTVTjdHfnSU6
As Raven12aFB said - if you disassemble the motor make sure to keep an eye on the small sphere. Oh, putting it back is a lot of fun , too!
I was able to remove the motor without taking the glass out, as I have a micro ratcheting wrench that I bought for 'unreachable cases'. However, having removed the glass and mechanism once, now that I've done it, I must say that it is rather easy and I would do it again rather than removing the motor alone.
After repairing the gear and cleaning and oiling the mechanism, I think it goes up and down really well now. It wasn't the main gear that needed cleaning and greasing, but all the other slides, pins, etc., to make them move smoothly.
Link to the movie showing how it works now:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/FysMnnTVTjdHfnSU6
The following users liked this post:
Toruki (09-13-21)
#24
Full Member
The symptoms are it's just really slow - imagine your movie running at about 1/5 speed... Passenger side isn't as good as yours either, probably about half that speed.
The passenger window works ok and pulls about 5 amps when raising the window. The driver side pulls between 10 and 15 amps when raising the window. Also, either side when they get to the end will jump to about 15 amps - so I read this as the stall current being 15 amps and the driver side having almost enough drag to stall the motor...
I'm not too worried about pulling the glass, just didn't want to do it if it wasn't needed.
The passenger window works ok and pulls about 5 amps when raising the window. The driver side pulls between 10 and 15 amps when raising the window. Also, either side when they get to the end will jump to about 15 amps - so I read this as the stall current being 15 amps and the driver side having almost enough drag to stall the motor...
I'm not too worried about pulling the glass, just didn't want to do it if it wasn't needed.
#25
Full Member
Thread Starter
If it's really slow but still pulls all this current, it may be that the motor itself is OK and it is just has to push something against a strong force - i.e. maybe friction.
Have you tried adjusting the position of the glass with the two adjustment screws? I noticed that they can increase friction quite significantly, if wrongly set.
Have you tried adjusting the position of the glass with the two adjustment screws? I noticed that they can increase friction quite significantly, if wrongly set.