Author Topic: Fixing power window on Regal (Read 451 times)

Chairboy · « **on:** August 26, 2006, 12:07:04 PM »

I've got a 1999 Buick Regal with power windows. Yesterday, my driver side window came loose and slid down into the door. The motor, when I press the switch, will go in one direction or another for a second to two before making somne grinding noises.

Should I get a replacement window motor? Or does this sound like something simple along the lines of "oh, the x cable came loose, just pop it open and blah blah"?

john9001 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2006, 12:15:49 PM »

first, you should open up the door panel and see what happened in there.

Sikboy · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2006, 12:20:27 PM »

I had the same thing happen on a 1999 Olds Alero. In my case one of the window supports failed (plastic pos) causing the full weight to be born by the other, which then gave out.

I have a chunk of Balsa wood zip-tied to the rails holding the window up lol. God I'm such a loser.

Quote

Ode to my Car

Performed by adam sandler

Here we go

Piece of **** car
I got a piece of **** car
That ****in pile of ****
Never gets me very far

My cars a big piece of ****
cause the shocks are ****ing shot
And my seatbelts ****ing broken
I got to tie it in a knot
(its a piece of ****)

I cant see through the windshield
cause its got a big ****ing crack
And the interior smells real bad
cause my friend puked in the back
(its a piece of ****)

(piece of **** car)
Piece of **** car
(hes got a piece of **** car)
It sucks royal dick
(that ****in pile of ****)
100% crap
(never gets him very far)
Oh **** you car

Its got no cd player, it only got the 8-track
Whoever designed my car can lick my sweaty nut sack
(they can bite his bellybutton too)
And I got no ****in brakes
Im always way out of control
Eleven times a day I hear hey, watch it *******
(you ****in piece of ****)

(piece of **** car)
I got piece of **** car
(he got a piece of **** car)
Diesel gas sucks my ass
(that ****in pile of ****)
That pile of metal ****
(never gets him very far)

Oh what the **** did I do
What the **** did I do
What the **** did I do
To get stuck with you
Youre too wide for drive-thru
And you smell like the shoe
But Im too broke to buy something new
Oh **** me

Well the engine likes to flood
The car always ****in stalls
And the seat cushions got a big rip
So a spring always pokes the balls
(ouch, ouch, ouch)
Plus the door locks are busted
I gotta use a ****ing coat hanger
(what a pain in his ass)
And if a girlie sees my car
Theres no chance Ill ever bang her
(he never ever gets da *****)
Hey shut up
(piece of **** car)
You piece of **** car

(you got a piece of **** car)
You piece of **** car
(piece of **** car)
Bald ****in tires
(you got a piece of **** car)
No rearview ****ing mirror
(piece of **** car)
Seven different colors
(you got a piece of **** car)
****ing rag for a gas cap
(piece of **** car)
Tailpipe makes the sparks fly everywhere
(you got a piece of **** car)
(piece of **** car)
(you got a piece of **** car)
(piece of **** car)
Oh the whole town thinks Im a loser
(you got a piece of **** car)
Cabby give me a push
(piece of **** car...)

-Sik

Chairboy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2006, 12:21:32 PM »

Opened it up, just can't quite see what's happening. It's mostly hidden behind a metal panel. Hmm, gotta see if I can remove that panel...

I can lift the window up, but of course it slides back down. I need a diagram to see how it's supposed to be connected, I think.

nirvana · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2006, 04:15:44 PM »

Pick up a service manual from one of your local auto parts stores, in my experience repairing power windows, the motor has been shot both times. You should have an access panel through which to at least get to the motor. If you do decide to take it off, be careful because they can snap your arm before you know what happened.

dmf · « **Reply #5 on:** August 26, 2006, 05:53:47 PM »

It sounds to me like the window actuator ( long plastic strip) is either lose or broken off at one end or another, and jaming after a couple of seconds of operation causeing the grinding noise.

No I'm not a mechanic, yes I'm a woman, but I've paid for this symtpom before in my pickup.

WhiteHawk · « **Reply #6 on:** August 26, 2006, 06:03:45 PM »

yea, dont get a motor. The motor is a little dc job. If it works for a cupple of seconds then makes a noise, its probably a mechanical jam. Not a car mechanic, but I think there is a gear on the motor that drives a toothed gear that is connected to the window supports. It sounds like the window is jamming and the tooth gears are grinding away. Or maybe the tooth gears are worn down to the point that they fail under the weight of the the window. Power window are great, until they fail. Then they suck.

dmf · « **Reply #7 on:** August 26, 2006, 06:11:41 PM »

Gm doesn't use the gears and levers anymore, trust me its a motor with a gear on the end of it moving a long tape looking thing connected to the window, the tape looking thing needs to be replaced, not hard to do, just expensive. I wish I could find a pic of it.

WhiteHawk · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2006, 06:19:35 PM »

Dont the tape thing have teeth on it?

Chairboy · « **Reply #9 on:** August 26, 2006, 07:37:39 PM »

Well, it doesn't have the scissor joint that I've seen in other cars. It has a track up the center, and the window is mounted firmly on it. It feels like there are two enclosed mechanical cables going from the motor to.... somewhere. By enclosed cables, I mean like brake cables for a bicycle. I'm wary about undoing the 3 bolts that hold the motor in because I'm fond of keeping my arm...

culero · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2006, 07:51:48 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
Well, it doesn't have the scissor joint that I've seen in other cars. It has a track up the center, and the window is mounted firmly on it. It feels like there are two enclosed mechanical cables going from the motor to.... somewhere. By enclosed cables, I mean like brake cables for a bicycle. I'm wary about undoing the 3 bolts that hold the motor in because I'm fond of keeping my arm...

No worries. Get a couple or three old-fashioned rubber door stops and jam 'em in between the door frame and the glass. That will hold it in place while you take things inside apart. Nothing in there is spring-loaded or anything nasty like that, you're OK so long as the glass doesn't fall down.

culero

nirvana · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2006, 08:53:36 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by culero
No worries. Get a couple or three old-fashioned rubber door stops and jam 'em in between the door frame and the glass. That will hold it in place while you take things inside apart. Nothing in there is spring-loaded or anything nasty like that, you're OK so long as the glass doesn't fall down.

culero

Then they lied to me when they said, "Pay attention, this thing will snap your arm in half". I know you're a master tech Culero so what you say holds more value then what I say.

At any rate Chairboy, be safe.

culero · « **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:07:49 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by nirvana
Then they lied to me when they said, "Pay attention, this thing will snap your arm in half". I know you're a master tech Culero so what you say holds more value then what I say.

At any rate Chairboy, be safe.

Some types of window lifts are spring loaded, just not this type.

culero

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:18:31 PM »

Duct tape and visqueen should do the trick.

doobs · « **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:53:10 PM »

umm the 99 regal window reg is cable driven, I believe, and the motor comes with the Regulator. not 100%sure wish I read this at work could tell ya for sure.

I am a Parts manager at a large GM dealer just outside NYC.

send me an email with the last eight digits of your vin # and I'll find out the cost for ya. I sell it 10 percent over cost which is employee rate.

usually the sash's break which is cheap or the cable gets loose then its time for new reg.

and if ya got the 3.8k motor in it the car will last along time.

I know for sure though I got it in stock