window lift motor

[Zaphod]

Last summer I replaced the motor to my drivers side window. It worked fine
for about 2 weeks then started acting up.

I could roll it down but about a quarter of the way down it would get stuck
and there would be a grinding noise. With a little nudge it would continue
to go down some more and then get stuck again with the same grinding noise.

On the way up it would stick in the same places making the same noise and
once it reached the top it would keep trying to go up as long as I held the
switch just grinding away.

That was about 10 months or so ago and finally about two weeks ago I got
around to pulling that motor back out of the door gathered my receipt and
took it back to Oriley auto parts and exchanged it.

Like I said that was two weeks ago and then today it started doing the exact
same thing and getting stuck in the exact same place.

That's two motors that each lasted two weeks before developing the exact
same problem. So my question is before I go and install a third motor is
there something that I should be looking for that is causing the motors to
go out after only two weeks.

I have been brain storming trying to come up with some ideas because I
really don't want to be replacing the motor every two weeks.

Could it be a warped regulator, something sticky on the window or in the
rubber seals the window slides up and down in causing extra drag, could the
tint on the window in anyway be causing this, the track in the door appears
to have plenty of grease but perhaps there is some part not obvious at first
glance that needs more grease or did I just have the misfortune of getting
two defective motors?

The other three motors have been working just fine for 9 years now. Does
anyone have any ideas as to why this ONE motor on the drivers door is being
so damn picky.

Mark.

 

[Ratbert]

The other three motors have been working just fine for 9 years now. Does
anyone have any ideas as to why this ONE motor on the drivers door is being
so damn picky.

I don't know, but I'd go to the Saturn dealership and buy one from them
instead. It's likely to be more reliable. If it is, then you won't
have to keep taking the door apart and replacing the thing.

 

[Matt hotmail]

It is not the motor but the little plastic piece in the arm/control lever.
You'll need to replace that. About $8 from saturn dealer. Put it in a vis
and it will pop on. The motors hardly ever go bad. Sorry you had to learn
the hard way.

 

[Zaphod]

It is not the motor but the little plastic piece in the arm/control lever.
You'll need to replace that. About $8 from saturn dealer. Put it in a vis
and it will pop on. The motors hardly ever go bad. Sorry you had to learn
the hard way.

I have not pulled the door apart to take a look at the current motor but
from the first two times I changed it out I do not recall seeing a little
plastic piece that was broken.

I have gone through my Chilton manual but in the section where they show an
exploded view of the regulator the parts are not really labeled.

Can you give me some more detail on where this plastic piece is and what I
should be looking for?

 

[Matt hotmail]

Take the door apart and pull off the window regulator which is attached to
the window by the metal base. You will have to go through the outside to
inside. On the base of the window is a flat piece of metal that supports
the window and is connected to the window regulator by a piece of plastic on
the inside (it slides back and forth). Make note of the direction of the
plastic piece because you are going to need a vis bench grip to snap it
together. Put it all together in the vis and slowly turn until (SNAP!), and
you are done. I put some oil on the inside of my window sliding area (don't
know the tech name) and it is great.
Good Luck