Hey guys, I have a 91 firebird with power windows. The drivers side window works great, but the passenger side is dead.. Will not move. Anyways, I verified it's not the switch that's the problem. I also checked to make sure I had power going to that switch, which I do. So I pulled off the door panel and disconnected the wires to the window motor. I don't have power on that end, so I'm thinking I have a bad wire somewhere inbetween the switch and the window motor itself. Can anyone give me some advice on this? Like where the best place to look for a short is? Or if it could possibly be anything else giving me this problem. Thanks.

 

If you're not getting power to the motor look at the wiring going between the body and the door. This is the most obvious place for wiring issues where it constantly flexes.

Have you verified that the motor works by jumping another 12v source to it? Checked continuity between the motor leads and the switch plug?

 

I haven't gotten a chance to check that yet.. I can't seem to get my door panel all the way off, which is making it hard to check things around the motor. Someone told me I won't be able to get the panel off because my window is rolled up.. They told me it had to be down to get the panel off.
I'm just trying to get this other window to work is quick as possible since it's heating up around where I live. Plus I still need to fix the A/C.

 

You won't be able to get the panel off with the window up unless you're extremely lucky or the top piece is already broken.

You must have been able to pull the panel back to access the motor connection in order to verify the power is not there, so you don't need to remove the panel. Just trace the wires back to the switch with a continuity tester. The wires are likely broken going through/into the door. If you find a break in there just fish new wires through and solder to the motor plug (with heat shrink).

 

Will do.. Hopefully I can find the break pretty easy.

 

Ok, I just went out there again, and I screwed up when checking for power at the window motor side.. I didn't turn the ignition on. Don't know how I made that stupid mistake. Anyways, with the ignition on, at the little connector that goes into the window motor, I get power to both wires. Depending on whether I push the switch up or down of course.
So now I guess it's looking like I'm gonna need a new window motor. But here's the question. Am I gonna be able to put a new window motor in without removing the door panel all the way? I can't get the upper part out of the track since the window is stuck all the way up.
Also, how big of a job is it putting a new window motor in?

 

Reconnect the motor and lightly tap on it with a hammer while you work the switch. You may be able to get it to go down. Once it's down and you get the panel off you'll have to drill out the four rivets that hold it and the regulator in place and remove the whole assembly (while propping up the window with something, piece of wood, whatever). It's easiest to get the assembly out if you remove the rear vertical window track first, you need to clean and lube it anyway.

With the assembly out you'll have to drill out the rivets holding the motor to the regulator, but first ensure you have the regulator braced so it won't move and uncoil the spring you'll see. A c-clamp will work if installed on the proper side of the spring. Remove the old motor and replace (or re-build the motor you take out-clean and replace brushes). Re-install the assembly with the new bolts/nuts provided with a replacement window motor. It helps if you stick the nuts on the back of the assembly in position prior with a dab of JB Weld. Just don't let any get in the threads. Bolt back up with a touch of thread locker, clean and lube the tracks and go.

Oh there's a tech article that covers this too on this site but he skips a few things that will make it easier.

 

Ok, I just picked the new window motor up. I got the Siemens with a lifetime warranty. Anyways, it didn't come with any instructions.. Theres a couple little pieces I'm not too sure what they go to. Also, does the whole assembly have to come out? Someone told me that you can drill the rivets out for the motor with it in the door and then do the swap. I guess to avoid going through all the alignment when it goes back in.

Oh, I tried tapping the motor with a hammer too, it's completely dead. I hooked the new motor up to the connector and the motor spins the gear perfectly with the switch.

 

It's best to pull it out. That gives you a chance to clean all of the tracks which become pretty gummed up over the years. It's really not that much extra work.

You probably won't need any of the extra pieces that came with the motor.

 

Ok, I just finished. So here's what happened.. I called the guy I bought the car from, and he said he had a shop pull the entire assembly out of both doors, cleaned the tracks and lubed everything up only about a year ago. Only problem is, he put in some remanufactured window motors which is why the passenger side went out so quickly. So I ran to the autoparts store and got another window motor and just replaced the motor in both doors so I can be done with it and hopefully not have to go back in there again anytime soon. Both windows work great now.
Thanks for all the advice.