B4Camaro91

I need to replace both of my window motors. At Advance and AutoZone they are $45-$50 for a new with lifetime warranty. Ive seen them on Ebay for $25 a pair. I know you get what you pay for but has anyone heard anything about the Ebay motors? I really dont drive my Camaro alot so thats why Im thinking of Ebay. I know its a mother to change these.............

chevyowner02

iTrader: (3)

I think I'm going to give them a try.

camarogirl92

I ordered one off Ebay. I'll let ya know how it worked when I get it installed....

chevyowner02

iTrader: (3)

Called NAPA the ones for 45.99 are new motors the ones for 40.99 are remans. I would say the ones on eBay are remans.

Cadillac

Anyone have the quick and dirty on how to replace these motors? It's not hard, right?

I picked up a NEW motor from NAPA for 40 bucks.

Cadillac

Wrong. Not easy.

pentiuman

Dude (or dudette). I'm thrifty, have been an Ebayer for several years, and have replaced both of my power window motors. But, you already know they're hard to change. AND, most Ebay items aren't returnable, and the items that are returnable usually have a two week period to mail in and get back. So, the wise choice would be to buy the best one available, locally. Potential Savings: grief, scratched hands, several hours work, pride, mailing costs, several emails and/or phone calls. Cost: about $45 more.

Ebay is good for things that you can't find anywhere else, for parts that don't wear out, easy to install parts, and for parts that have a huge savings that outweighs the risks. None of these apply to power window motors.

kuulkatdadieo

iTrader: (1)

I would recomend for you to buy a Chilton manual. As it list everything step be step. I had to replace mine and it's far from easy. It took the better part of a day; and I had to weld the motor in, because I couldn't find any 1/4" rivets. Guess I'll be drilling those two welds out next time.

1bad86

lol, didnt know it was that hard to find some pop rivets..

Cadillac

That wouldn't have helped.

Follow the advice here: https://www.thirdgen.org/powerwindows

kuulkatdadieo

iTrader: (1)

If you can find 1/4 in. rivets then let me know where. I went to every hardware store and every auto parts store. Then, they didn't even have a big enough rivet gun to push a 1/4 in. rivet. Believe me welding it in was a last resort. You can't even get your arm in there to put a bolt in.

Hey Cadillac, that link goes to some fitness website. But, I did this last year so I don't need any help.

pentiuman

kuulkatdadieo is right in that 1/4 inch rivets are hard to find, and it's near impossible to get your arm in the door to put a bolt/nut on the 4 regulator/motor to door frame mounts. Found this out on my 1st power window motor replacement which took 2 people all day. (Other problem is trying to get the regulator/motor assembly out the small opening).

The solutions are simple. I used the biggest rivets that I could find, with washers that had a hole just slightly bigger than the rivet. On my 1st motor replacement, I found holding a washer w/ 1 hand, to get a rivet started, was a little easier than trying to hold a nut and turn a bolt perfectly straight.

On my 2nd motor replacement (other side), before I put the new motor in, (and after attaching it to the window regulator), I superglued the washers to the backside of the holes on the new power window motor mount, useing plastic gloves, so that we didn't have a repeat of a bad childhood experience. One placement of a washer with superglue was tight and required needle nose pliers. I also used a BIG powerful magnet on one, while the glue dried. To ease removal and installation of the motor / regulator unit from / in the door, I removed the nearly vertical bracket in the door frame that's closest to the hole you insert your hands. By the 2nd side installation, I had more experience and it took me "only" 4 hours. (It was easier, but I spent time priming and painting the door frame where the paint had been removed when I grinded out the old rivets. I also cleaned the old grease off of the rail that I removed, and sprayed it with white lithium grease from a spray can.)

86NiteRider

iTrader: (10)

Replacing window motors of which I have done to both doors are probably the hardest single item to replace on the entire car. Probably easier to replace the engine motor. So to use a cheap non lifetime window motor is probably not that smart of a thiing to do. In this instance spend a few dollars more and go first class. In the long run you will be happier.

MavViper

iTrader: (1)

It's better to spend the extra bucks now and not have to replace it then to spend a few less bucks and have to replace it later on I'm going to have to replace both of my window motors (passenger side doesn't work, driver is really slow) and I won't skimp out

spills

iTrader: (9)

so has anyone installed the eBay ones with sucess, as far as performance of the motor? My camaro is a side project, so if the motors fry out after a year then no biggy, I never roll them down anyways. Hell I might actually sit in the car 3 times a month! But I just ordered a set last night, bout $50 shipped for 2. Little too late to ask opinions at this point I guess, but I havent heard anything about if the motors are actually worth a damn,

1991ON20's

chevy is easy under the hood.....but we cant get a window motor in without hassle....lol

IROCQ

Tried those same motors from eBay on my dad's Buick. They only lasted for a year. Plus they were even slower than the old ones. I've installed a motor from a wrecked 88 T-bird Turbo coupe on my IROC. Fabricated the wiring harness and mounting rivets. The motor moves the window up 10 times faster plus they are not as noisy as the orignal GM. For some reason, Ford's power window motors are more quieter. The only thing though is the regulator was way too long so the travel made the window go off the track.. had to modify the mounts in order to have the window stop on it's proper parked position on the top. It was'nt easy though, it almost took me three whole days before I had it perfect. Now I need too look forthe passenger side. Maybe I'll steal the motor off the wife's Windstar! lol!

pondriver

iTrader: (2)

I did buy mine off EBAY. When I first purchased my car. Installed them with the 1/4" rivets and washers. Then decide to completely disassemble the doors for paint and body work. I just reinstalled both a few weeks ago and decided to use 7/16 x1/2" bolts and nuts with medium strength locktite. You can get to all the 4 bolts to put nuts on them. But, one of them the window has to be raised and the other it has to be lowered. It can be done.

Psycho_91Camaro

I have 2 Window motors for sale right now up on ebay, I'll let them both go for $70.00 right now if you want them

spills

iTrader: (9)

delco or aftermarket?

ntomsheck

iTrader: (1)

http://www.thecliplink.com/rivets.htm
I know you don't want to wait for them to arrive, but do it right the first time. I replaced a window motor once and used bolts with loctite. After a while, they loosened and the motor would vibrate right at the in town cruising speed (25mph)

1991ON20's

i tried to take a stab at it after reading this thread. I bought two window motors from autozone and my install so far is not getting very far. In fact my screws on the door trim all got STRIPPED. Can't even get those out. That made it very awkward. BUT im gonna step aside on this one and let the DEALER/top notch mechanic handle it.

spills

iTrader: (9)

I just got my ebay motors in, im gonna try to install them both this weekend since the car's interior is still gutted. Ill let yall know how they perform

camarorsssss

iTrader: (2)

I bought both my window motors off ebay, one i replaced 5 years ago and it still works as it did when i put it in and the other i replaced 2 years ago and it still works great. Honestly, i did not think it was all that difficult to replace the motors, it is a little tedious and time consuming. I didnt use rivets for the new motor, i just got a few bolts and nuts that were a good length and was able to get to all the locations by hand. It is a little hard to get the window were you need it and juggling everything, but it can be done.

Cadillac

Good call. That's what I did. My car is 100% now.

I just need to find the time and money to install this new axle and brakes.

83Formula

I bought ones off of ebay for my 83 firebird back in april of 05 and they still work great.

pentiuman

-On my 1st side replacement, on one of the 4 bolts, I used a bolt that was too long, and it interferred with the motor or window. Wasted 2 hours cause I had to take it back out. So, that's perhaps another reason to use rivets and washers, IMO.

- Regarding someone else's problem with stripping "screw" heads and giving up - next time, use the correct torx / star bit and they come right out.

youngbuck007

I bought two ebay motors for my fourth gen and installed one over a year ago and the other a couple months ago. They both still work okay but I can tell that they are rather weak. Lets face it, no matter what the window motors for these cars are junk.

The replacement rivets were included with my motors, but as was mentioned above they are so big that its hard to find a rivet gun to use them. It IS possible as mentioned above to replace with short, small carriage bolts and nuts by playing with the position of the window as you install them all. Really best to have an extra hand with you when you get to this point.

Just my

xChAoSx

This is for everyone who doesn't know how to install your new power window motor. This has to be the easiest way to do it yourself. I know this because i installed two new motors into my firebird and it wasnt even that bad. Sure you do get a bit scratched up but have some patience and you will have them in faster then you think. I must of had mine in about 2-3 hours work. The chiltons manual helped a bit too. I didn't waste my time and money with buying new rivets/rivet gun.


I replaced them with some nuts and bolts i bought at home depot

http://shbox.com/page/windowmotor18.html <<this picture show the size you will need for the job. Its a lot easier to do if you don't have all that rivet equipment.

230 firebird

I bought 2 window motors off ebay for my 87 firebird.They were from CAR PARTS WHOLESALE.They work great.I would not say they are hard to install,but it will take the better part of a day to do both from start to finish.To me,the hardest part is aligning the mechanism with the holes in your door.On reinstalling them,i went to my local hardware store and bought some bolts,washers and nuts to hold them in place.After i got the nuts tightend on the bolts,I used my dremel toll and cut off the extra lenght.John

84redta

iTrader: (34)

Possibly a bit extreme...but the regulators rarely go...is it possible to tack weld nuts to the regulator mounting spots and then just use accoring bolts for the install??? Possibly with a little lock-tite you think that would hold??

86blackiroc

iTrader: (12)

Not a bad idea at all. You could could even weld a couple bolts to it (from the backside obviously) and have mounting studs to help line it up and hold itself in place.

84redta

iTrader: (34)

I beleive when i was taking my 2000 Pathfinder apart thats what they did to the regulators to make them easier to remove and you don't need to drive around to 10 stores to find 1/4" rivits (which i just did yesterday). Not to mention you wouldn't have to play with pulling the window up or down becuase the nut is already there, just move it up or down to align and start screwing in. Can always be grinded off if it ever strips, and at $.20-$.30 a nut, it's not that hard (or expensive) of a process. Kills the need for special rivits and special gun all together.

TPI-RS

iTrader: (6)

For everyone that has done this. What did you use for the brand from autozone? i have heard of a few from calling them. seimens and cardone. also got prices on dorman from pep boys. anyone use these?