Window regulator motor

[Impala131]

Hey all, this is for the new (to me) 2004 Impala SS....

Driver's window has never worked, so I opened up the door panel and all that jazz.... regulator assembly is broken. The motor itself seems to work fine, it still seems to spin smoothly and properly.

For ordering new parts, should I order a kit that includes the motor, or just the other regulator hardware? Difference of about $70, from what I've seen. If the motors themselves are not known to fail, I'd just as soon keep using it. If, on the other hand, they do tend to burn out... I'll just replace the motor as well. Thoughts, guys?

 

[idrivejunk]

The common solution is to replace the regulator / motor assembly. Because doing the job twice is more labor than the whole thing is worth, and because aftermarket parts don't always fit each other nicely. And also because of age- if one component has reached the endo life, the other isn't far behind.

 

[BrandonHall10]

For $70 I rolled the dice and just got the regulator. We had 4 regulators die on 3 different cars in the past 6 months here. Just did regulators each time. Never had a fitment issue. Regal, Grand Prix and Deville. Using Dorman reg's.

JM2C

 

[Impala131]

Tie breaker?

 

[Going Too Phast]

I'll just throw in my two cents here since I went through this recently. I second BrandonHall10, get just the new regulator and not a new regulator/motor together. I replaced my failed stock driver's side window regulator/motor with a new unit not long ago. I figured I could get the regulator and motor for about the same price as just the regulator, so why not? Well, what I got (and I imagine all the rest are unless you want to pony up enough to buy a GM OEM part) is a cheap Chinese part. Not too shocking given the price I paid, however, the motor on it was noticeably smaller than the original. After I put it in and tested it by running the window up and down once, the motor was very hot. I didn't notice any binding issues, the motor is just undersized to barely get the job done and I wouldn't have much confidence in it lasting long.

In my limited experience, the regulators on these cars fail way before the motor does. I would absolutely try to keep the stock motor so you don't wind up with some cheap crap. I ended up replacing that Chinese junk with a used regulator and motor from Morad. Once the regulator fails on it, I plan on getting an aftermarket regulator and keeping that motor as long as it'll run.

I just had a similar experience when replacing the blower motor. IMO, try to keep the original stuff going as long as you can since most of the replacement parts are going to be inferior.

 

[FordMan77]

Another thing I'll bring up is what commonly causes the death of these regulators is the glass sticking in the felt window guides. It seems like the slightest little snag can send a regulator on permananent vacation. While you have the door apart to replace the regulator, spray the living daylights out of all the felt guides you can see/feel inside and outside the door with some good type of dry lube. I was able to make all 4 of my GP doors actually roll up/down with some respectable speed and now don't hear any slow spots on the way up like I used to.

 

[Impala131]

Another thing I'll bring up is what commonly causes the death of these regulators is the glass sticking in the felt window guides. It seems like the slightest little snag can send a regulator on permananent vacation. While you have the door apart to replace the regulator, spray the living daylights out of all the felt guides you can see/feel inside and outside the door with some good type of dry lube. I was able to make all 4 of my GP doors actually roll up/down with some respectable speed and now don't hear any slow spots on the way up like I used to.

Thank you, that is very helpful. I'll make sure I do that when I drop the window down to put the new regulator in.

 

[ebk231]

Amazon has AC delco regulators with motor for $70-100