Replacing the window motor?

[98_Camaro]

Hey gang! It's been a while, huh?
ANYWAYS, it looks like I've got Vi all nice and ready for summer, with the exception of two things:
-A broken speaker I've had since Day 1 an never really bothered to fix.
-The driver's side window motor is starting to take a big #2 on me.

While the speaker isn't so much a concern as a luxury, I feel the real problem with the window motor is that if I ever get pulled over by an officer, well, I don't think they'll feel too safe with my window only half down. "Sorry! My window motor kind of sucks! :(" might not get me out of a ticket either...
So I've decided to take on the mundane task of replacing it myself! My main concern is the level difficulty related to replacing the motor, which from what I've picked up around the board here, is a REAL PITA.
I guess I was just looking for feedback. I think it would be a neat little day project, but I could just as easily take it to a dealer and get it fixed in no time flat.
Thoughts from those of you who've had to deal with this?

[Bulldogwinters]

Originally Posted by 98_Camaro

Hey gang! It's been a while, huh?
ANYWAYS, it looks like I've got Vi all nice and ready for summer, with the exception of two things:
-A broken speaker I've had since Day 1 an never really bothered to fix.
-The driver's side window motor is starting to take a big #2 on me.

While the speaker isn't so much a concern as a luxury, I feel the real problem with the window motor is that if I ever get pulled over by an officer, well, I don't think they'll feel too safe with my window only half down. "Sorry! My window motor kind of sucks! :(" might not get me out of a ticket either...
So I've decided to take on the mundane task of replacing it myself! My main concern is the level difficulty related to replacing the motor, which from what I've picked up around the board here, is a REAL PITA.
I guess I was just looking for feedback. I think it would be a neat little day project, but I could just as easily take it to a dealer and get it fixed in no time flat.
Thoughts from those of you who've had to deal with this?

I have no input other than to say:

Where the hell have you been!?

I've seen some write ups on window motors. Does seem like a PITA, I saw stuff about rivets and I just closed the page immediately

Hope it goes smoothly, then when you're done you'll be lookin good driving with the window ALL the way down. good luck! :party0038: <-- LOL

[94REDVERT]

it isnt so bad, i did mine myself and it took me about 30-45min to complete. its can be a PITA but if you have the right instructions its no so bad. GOOD LUCK!

[Zabo]

If I stop by the body shop, I'll shoot some pics and give you some pointers on how to rivet it properly.

Rivets stick better than the screws provided. Nuff said. Also, 1" drill bits. And be prepared to drill out the hole bigger to fit a pop rivet gun. May look unsightly, but with the door panel on, doesn't matter.

[nancygrl]

When I had my 97 Z28 I had to replace the passenger window motor. I found a good write-up on the net and was no big deal. And while you have the door all torn apart you might as well fix/replace that door speaker, that is unless the speaker is elsewhere.

[RED CHEVY Z28]

I have changed both door window motors 4 gens are know fro them remider to disconnect ur battery so u don't have to bost it when ur done.

[ya boy willz]

http://shbox.com/page/windowmotor.html

That link contains a step by step process with pictures. No need to drill out the bigger rivets like some other guides tell you to either. I did it this way with my 4th gens driver side window and it was pretty easy.

Make sure you take your time removing the door panel, and remember that it slides UP, and you DON'T pull. You don't want to rip off all of the tabs. We picked up our Window Motor from our dealership and if iirc it was decently priced. I think it was only a few dollars more than the ones online, and once you add in shipping it evened out. Good luck on your venture!

[Revo1]

My driver window is officially D-E-D, dead as well :/

Had to leave it in Bakersfield with Eme's parents after the BBQ on Sat, as they have a garage.... :(

Sooooo

PS, how the hell have you been 98??

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by ya boy willz

http://shbox.com/page/windowmotor.html

That link contains a step by step process with pictures. No need to drill out the bigger rivets like some other guides tell you to either. I did it this way with my 4th gens driver side window and it was pretty easy.

Make sure you take your time removing the door panel, and remember that it slides UP, and you DON'T pull. You don't want to rip off all of the tabs. We picked up our Window Motor from our dealership and if iirc it was decently priced. I think it was only a few dollars more than the ones online, and once you add in shipping it evened out. Good luck on your venture!

This is the exact guide I used, and I had never seen the inside of a 4th gen door until I started following the steps. Worked like a charm. Though like I said earlier, I had to drill a few extra holes because I 'missed' the points where I could drill out the stock motor's rivets.

Either way the next time I do it (new door has fact. motor) I'm going to measure where I drilled off the old door and drill pilot holes for 'down the line'.

Because even if you use the best (Doorman, AC Delco)..

The reason these fail is the way GM wired the motors into the car's electrical system. Long story short, the passenger motor piggybacks off the drivers side rather than off the main bus. Less power, burns up the motor because it works harder. :/

[98_Camaro]

Originally Posted by Bulldogwinters

I have no input other than to say:

Where the hell have you been!?

I've seen some write ups on window motors. Does seem like a PITA, I saw stuff about rivets and I just closed the page immediately

Hope it goes smoothly, then when you're done you'll be lookin good driving with the window ALL the way down. good luck! :party0038: <-- LOL

Originally Posted by Revo1

My driver window is officially D-E-D, dead as well :/

Had to leave it in Bakersfield with Eme's parents after the BBQ on Sat, as they have a garage.... :(

Sooooo

PS, how the hell have you been 98??

Wow! I'm feeling the love!
I've been INCREDIBLY busy with all my end of the year stuff. It was seriously testing, finals, and senior project back to back to back. Glad to say that it's finally over and that I will graduate Thursday evening with honors!
As far as that goes, I think there's a slight possibility that I might have demoted myself back to lurker. I guess I'll have to work my way back up now that summer's here, gas is still $3.89 a gallon, and I'm flat broke.
I figure I'll go ahead and take care of some DIY projects on the Camaro, either to make it that much easier to live with when I attend school in the fall or help resale value if I decide I need something a little more fuel efficient and comfortable (). If I fix it up nicely, it should be good for about $3500 trade-in, easy.

Originally Posted by ya boy willz

http://shbox.com/page/windowmotor.html

That link contains a step by step process with pictures. No need to drill out the bigger rivets like some other guides tell you to either. I did it this way with my 4th gens driver side window and it was pretty easy.

Make sure you take your time removing the door panel, and remember that it slides UP, and you DON'T pull. You don't want to rip off all of the tabs. We picked up our Window Motor from our dealership and if iirc it was decently priced. I think it was only a few dollars more than the ones online, and once you add in shipping it evened out. Good luck on your venture!

Thanks for the link! I'll definitely make sure to check it out when I decide to brave the innards of my Camaro.

[ya boy willz]

Originally Posted by Zabo

This is the exact guide I used, and I had never seen the inside of a 4th gen door until I started following the steps. Worked like a charm. Though like I said earlier, I had to drill a few extra holes because I 'missed' the points where I could drill out the stock motor's rivets.

I had the same fear, that I would end up drilling someplace completely wrong and ruining something, but I ended up being just fine. Just gotta try to ballpark it really well.

Originally Posted by 98_Camaro

Thanks for the link! I'll definitely make sure to check it out when I decide to brave the innards of my Camaro.

No problem man . I have it bookmarked, waiting for when the passenger side goes out, so I can do that one also.

[Bulldogwinters]

Originally Posted by 98_Camaro

Wow! I'm feeling the love!
I've been INCREDIBLY busy with all my end of the year stuff. It was seriously testing, finals, and senior project back to back to back. Glad to say that it's finally over and that I will graduate Thursday evening with honors!
As far as that goes, I think there's a slight possibility that I might have demoted myself back to lurker. I guess I'll have to work my way back up now that summer's here, gas is still $3.89 a gallon, and I'm flat broke.
I figure I'll go ahead and take care of some DIY projects on the Camaro, either to make it that much easier to live with when I attend school in the fall or help resale value if I decide I need something a little more fuel efficient and comfortable (). If I fix it up nicely, it should be good for about $3500 trade-in, easy.



Thanks for the link! I'll definitely make sure to check it out when I decide to brave the innards of my Camaro.

Congrats, I didn't realize you were a senior! I still have one more year!
Gas here is around 3.79 (for premium of course)... And by more fuel efficient.. I hope you mean a new 5th gen V6??

[98_Camaro]

Originally Posted by Bulldogwinters

Congrats, I didn't realize you were a senior! I still have one more year!
Gas here is around 3.79 (for premium of course)... And by more fuel efficient.. I hope you mean a new 5th gen V6??

Yeah, I guess a lot of people didn't know that.
That $3.89 was for UNLEADED.
And no, it wouldn't be a 5th gen V6, much to my dream's soul-crushing end. I've been looking at the new Ford Focus considering my dad is a Ford employee (because Chevy's never break ) and can get a lovely discount on the car.
Plus, I think they're pretty snazzy.

[Revo1]

98, ya know I never noticed you're also a CA victim??? x10

Gas out here is murder... That's one thing I love about the '02: it doesn't get it's panties in a twist if I put in 87 from time to time