Help, Intermittent driver's side window - 2001 Grand Prix GTP - 2 door

[zguy]

All,

My 2001 has decided to keep me busy lately with repairs. I have several issues that have popped up recently with one of them being the driver's side window. Occasionally it does not want to go up but will do so after sometime has passed. I usually see it when I attempt to put the window up after it has been down for sometime. I am not one to keep raising and lowering the window so it is not a matter of overheating the motor. (Not even sure if that is possible.) Of course this tends to happen when you need the window up the most.

Last night I decided to see if I could get it the happen on purpose. After I raised and lowered the window a few times it stopped going up. I popped out the window switch and checked to see if there was power to the window when the switch was in either the up or down position. There was power available in either case so that rules out the switch.

My question is as follows. Do I order a new window regulator with motor or do I order the motor itself? I know the motor is obviously cheaper by itself but maybe replacing the whole assembly is easier. Also, I never heard any noises from the window while going up or down which leads me to believe that the regulator itself is in good shape. In addition please highlight any possible challenges with doing this repair myself. I am pretty handy but have never replaced a regulator or window motor before.

Thanks for looking... Appreciate the help.

 

[Russosaur]

I would just go with a new regulator and motor, that's what I ever did when I replaced them the cables in them tend to wear and break or come out of place. Always bought them like this rather than just a motor:

 

[zguy]

I would just go with a new regulator and motor, that's what I ever did when I replaced them the cables in them tend to wear and break or come out of place. Always bought them like this rather than just a motor:

How tough of a job was it to do? Any special tools or advice?

 

[idrivejunk]

I wonder if theres a write-up for this here somewhere already?

It takes maybe a half hour once you have done it before. Avoiding door panel damage is the big issue. A Torx driver for the armrest screws may work better than a torx socket. Source replacement door panel clips beforehand or plan to make a clip run, some may not live. Pull the tweeter housing loose, start at the top. The whole door trim panel pulls straight off, no up or down. Unplug courtesy lamp and tweeter next. Leave the window switch in until the panel is loose, then carefully remove it and unplug. Set panel aside and re-plug the switch in. careful with the door liner and very careful with the foam deadener chunk. Now, key on and access the glass to reg bolts. Run window up and tape it there. Lower regulator, key off, unplug and remove.

The days of seperate window motors and regulators are as far gone as cattle rustling. Throw away and buy new is the trend, but its your motor thats bad. The sunroof motor on 97-03s with flip-up roof is serviceable seperately but the window regs for these cars are normally serviced as an assembly.

 

[Russosaur]

Haven't done it in a while, its fairly simple once you pull the door panel off. You may also have an "how the f*** does this come out" moment, unless im thinking of when I did my moms TA and the whole damn thing is riveted in.

Sent from my Galaxy Tab 3 8.0

 

[chrisdaboss]

If you're not in a hurry to install the part you can buy it on ebay. I'm pretty sure that is the same quality that shops use as far as windows regulator/motors. I got mine for $35 shipped. Motor and regulator.

 

[zguy]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate all the responses. I now know what needs to be done and have the confidence to do the repair too.