power window woes

well, the front 2 window motors are shot on my electra. the back 2 work ok. i have pulled off the door skins and unplugged the motors to make sure that power is getting through the switches and through the relays to the motor...and i do have power.

i did a search and heard about people taking their motors apart and rebuilding them instead of buying all new ones...but here is my question (well, one anyways). those that i read about rebuilding motors only complained of sluggush movement or a sound from the motor...mine makes NO sound at all. like i said, i know i have power running to it because i used a test light and worked the switches..and it lit up. so even tho my motors are REALLY dead..is is possible for me to rebuild them? or is that just for "dying" motors?

also about this spring inside..the one that you have to keep from becoming unsprung....do you stick the screwdriver or bar through the holes before or after you remove the assembly?

lastly....a guide or writeup to rebuilding these motors would be great. i read a few that told me where to get new brushes and whatnot....but not explaining how to take everything apart.

thanks guys!

:3gears:

 

As with any electrical circuit, the window motors will require a voltage AND A GROUND. Grounds can be found by reversing the connections on the test light, connecting to voltage and seeking ground, illuminating the light. Grounds typically come from switches, depending on the application. If you have a wiring manual, it will be invaluable in troubleshooting. One other thing to consider is the possibility of a voltage drop. Basically put, the testlight will draw considerably less current than the motors, which can lead to mistakes in troubleshooting. Grounds should have a less than .5 volts between the motor and ground, and so should the voltage supply. Start with the wiring diagram, and I can walk you through the voltage drop testing. No sound at all sounds to me like a non-existant voltage supply or missing ground. Ray

 

thanks for the advice ray. you know, i did think about it being the ground after i got done posting. ill deff try that out. unfortunately im new to buicks and dont own a wiring diagram can you tell me where i could pick one up? are you talking about a chiltons or something? or is there like a factory buick wiring manual?

i guess testing the wires with a multimeter would be best...i was just trying to make sure that i was getting SOME kinda power. and you are right...NO sound at all really had me thinking it wasnt as much the motor as it was the ground or wiring. ill be sure to post my readings with the meter when i get back (or a sucess story if i fix it :beer )

thanks again!

 

If you've got access to 12v (spare battery) you can use wire leads to supply a clean 12 volts and see if you get any reaction. If a direct jump doesn't get a reaction you're motors are the problem. If they try to move the window then you can look at the wiring and make sure the windows are greased and moving freely.

 

thanks 73...im sure i can dig one up somewhere. i really hope it is a case of a bad ground...im not looking foward to ripping out the entire motor/track assembly.

larry, thanks very much for the link. i suppose if i would have searched around a bit i could have found it but thanks for not making me search :laugh: i am serious (as serious as i can be being a newbie) about restoring my buick...just gotta learn a little bit more.

ill be sure and keep you guys informed on whats goin on. also i need the answer about that coiled spring..the one everyone says to watch out for. do i jam up the spring INSIDE the door..or after removin the track assembly?

thanks guys!

 

I can't speak for a '64, but on my '73, you have two options.

1. Remove entire assembly, motor and regulator from the door. When doing this, you don't have to worry about the spring initially as the motor holds it all together.

2. Just remove the motor from the door. If I recall on my car there is a hole in the door skin where one can stick a small screwdriver. You may need the motor to be working, though, as the corresponding hole in the regulator gear might not be lined up with the door skin hole. If you can line them up, then just stick the screwdriver in and then carefully get a ratchet and your arm in the door and remove the motor bolts. JUST MAKE SURE YOU REALLY HAVE THE SCREWDRIVER IN CORRECTLY AND HOLD ON TO IT WHEN WIGGLING THE MOTOR OF THE REGULATOR GEAR.

 

ok, i got the car home (wohoo!) and tore back into the doors again. now i hear a soft clicking. well, i tried to take out the track assembly. i took out the 4 bolts...but now i cant get the assembly out! its still hung up on some things....and i cant see how to get it out. any tips guys? i think my grounds are ok....unfortunately. i used my test light and put each end on the 2 wires that go to the door on the switch...and when i rock the switch...it lights up...so im getting a ground.

but my main problem right now is just getting the assembly out. i cant see how to disconnect the tracks. and yes, my window is up. also the window guide that runs to the front of the window it preventing my motor from slipping by. do i need to REMOVE my widow? it sure would be nice if the face of the door would come off and i could get in there a lil easier :af:

oh well, tips and suggestions are much appreciated..because im stuck

 

I probably should have mentioned this before, with my car, the proper procedure for removing the entire assembly involves moving the window to a certain position, halfway or down, I forget which. That puts the assembly in a position so that it can be removed. Otherwise you will spend hours and cut your arm many, many, many times trying to rotate the thing every which way, only to get it almost out, but just not quite all the way. The only solution is remove the motor and either rebuild it or replace it.

 

yeah, iv pretty much come to the conclusion that just removing the motor would be the best thing. but i cant find the hole that im supposed to stick the screw driver in...and i take it when you do so, it locks that gear thingy? (like my tech terms?) and that wont move. i CANNOT get that pivot gear to move at all...so getting the holes lined up is gonna be a pain. the only way i can move my window up and down is by removing the 4 bolts that hold on the motor/regulator assembly...and doing it my hand. when i do this, the entire assembly pivots. guess it will work for cruise nights and shows untill i can figure out a way to keep the tension on that spring and get the motor out and rebuilt. thanks guys!

 

I think when my passenger window went out, I had to have my buddy hold the window as I held a part of the regulator and wedged out the motor. You gotta be VERY careful doing this, making sure you are holding the right part. Then we slowly let the spring retract while I had a stubby screwdriver against the one hole until the other hole came and the screwdriver went through. It was not easy.