If one of your vehicle’s power windows stops working, it might be due to a faulty power window motor. If you’ve determined that the problem is with the motor, changing it is rather simple, but time consuming. When changing the motor, it is advised that you consult a repair handbook particular to your vehicle, as the procedures used to remove car doors differ from vehicle to vehicle.

Part 1: Disconnect the Window from the Engine

1. Remove the interior door panel.

Plastic interior fasteners hold most interior door panels in place. These fasteners may be removed by pushing on them until they pop out of their holes. Interior panels can also be kept in place using metal, plastic, or even bolts.

• If you can’t tell what type of fasteners are on your door panel, see the vehicle’s service manual.

• Loosen screws or bolts by turning them counterclockwise, then lift the panel rearward off the door.

2. Carefully remove the plastic door cover.

A thin, transparent layer of plastic is found beneath the door panel. This cover protects the vehicle’s interior from any water that may enter the door from above or below. Pull the door carefully away from the adhesive sections that hold it in place.

• Try not to break the cover because you will have to replace it after repairing the window motor. Replacement covers are available from your local car parts store.

3. Locate the window mounting bolts.

The window mounting bolts may be located in a variety of locations depending on the design of the door, but they should be quite obvious when looking through the door. Examine the bolts that connect the window to the mechanism that raises and lowers it.

To inspect the service ports on the door, you may need to use a flashlight.
The bolts will be placed in various positions depending on the curvature of the door.

4. Move the window if necessary to access the bolts.

To access the bolts, you may need to elevate or lower the window in some circumstances. If necessary, turn the key in the ignition of the car without starting the engine to move the window.

If possible, use the power window buttons to raise or lower the window.
If the motor fails, you can manually raise or lower the window.

5. Remove the bolts while a friend supports the window.

Remove the window mounting bolts with the proper sized socket or open ended wrench, but ask a friend to keep the window up as you do so to avoid it from coming down after it’s unplugged.

You might be able to keep the window in place while loosening the bolts manually, but this is risky.

Dropping the window carelessly may result in the glass shattering.

6. Raise the window up into the door frame.

As though you were rolling up the window regularly, have your friend lift it into the door frame. Request that they hold the window in place until you can fasten it.
Your companion can hold the window up by pressing one palm on either side of the glass.

7. Use masking tape to secure the window in place.

Pull off three or four pieces of masking tape, each approximately a foot long, while your companion holds the window open. Stick the strips to the window on each side above the door frame to keep it open while you work.

• After you’ve secured the window with tape, you may release go of your pal.

• Before your friend releases the tape, make sure it can support the weight of the window.

Part 2: Disconnecting the Motor and Regulator

1. Remove the window regulator bolts.

The window regulator spans the width of the door’s interior and travels back and forth to raise and lower the window. Remove the bolts that secure the regulator to the door with a socket or open ended wrench.

Set the bolts away somewhere secure, where you will be able to quickly identify which bolts were for the regulator.
For the time being, leave the regulator within the door’s interior.

2. Locate and remove the window motor mounting bolts.

The power window motor is considerably smaller than the regulator, but it should be nearby. In most cases, the bolts that secure the motor to the door are the same size as the bolts that secure the regulator to the door. Remove them and store them somewhere secure.

Even though the bolts have the same head size, they may not have the same length, therefore keep them separate from the regulator mounting bolts.

3. Disconnect the motor wiring harness connector.

A wire pigtail connector connects the power window controls to the motor and regulator. Pull the tabs apart to disconnect the motor, then press the tabs down to disconnect the pigtail.

Take care not to snap the tab that connects the electrical harness.
Separate the pigtail at the clip, not on the wires. Pulling on the wires may cause them to come out of the pigtail.

4. Remove the motor and regulator through the access port.

The power window motor and regulator are no longer attached to anything inside the door with the pigtail unplugged. Pull each of them out of the main access port.

Because the two are linked, pulling one will result in the removal of both.
If you are merely changing the motor, take care not to harm the regulator.

5. Connect the regulator to the new motor.

If you are merely changing the power window motor and not the regulator, you must detach the regulator and reconnect it to your new power window motor. Examine the two to ensure that the new motor matches the old one, then change the regulator.

Different cars will employ a variety of methods to fasten the regulator to the window motor.

If you are unclear how to disengage the regulator, see your vehicle’s service manual.

Part 3: Installing a New Power Window Motor

1. Replace the replacement motor and regulator in their original locations.

Replace the power window motor and regulator in the door’s main service port in the exact opposite order that you removed them when removing the door.

Orient each component so that the mounting bolt holes line up with the holes in the door’s interior.

2. Tighten the mounting bolts.

Return the mounting bolts that attach both the power window motor and the regulator while holding each component in place. Thread each bolt in by hand first, then tighten using a wrench.
If a bolt fails to thread properly, remove it and try again to avoid cross-threading.

The bolts don’t have to be very tight; just tight enough to keep them from shaking free when driving.

2. Tighten the mounting bolts.

Return the mounting bolts that attach both the power window motor and the regulator while holding each component in place. Thread each bolt in by hand first, then tighten using a wrench.
If a bolt fails to thread properly, remove it and try again to avoid cross-threading.

The bolts don’t have to be very tight; just tight enough to keep them from shaking free when driving.

4 Remove the masking tape and replace the window.

Request that your friend hold the window once again. Remove the masking tape that is keeping the window in place in the door frame after they are in place. Once the tape has been removed, your buddy may reinstall the window in the mounting bracket.

• Before removing the tape that holds the glass in place, make sure your friend has a firm grasp on it.

• When you’re finished, put an adhesive remover like Goo Gone on the window to remove any residue left by the tape.

5. Insert the window mounting bolts.

Hold the window in the proper position so that the holes line up with the holes for the window mounting bolts. After you’ve installed the window, thread the window mounting bolts in by hand before tightening them with the tool.

• Have a buddy hold the window in place while the mounting bolts are tightened.

• Have your companion gradually release go to confirm the bolts are securely holding the window in place.

6 Reinstall the plastic liner and interior panel.

After you’ve reinstalled the window, you may reconnect the plastic inside cover and then restore the internal panel over the door. Insert the door mountings or snaps to fasten it.

Reconnect the battery after the door has been reassembled.
Start the car and put the window up for examination.