Power Window Regulators

[More Power]

I have a love/hate relationship with power window regulators... I really love being able to move the windows up/down at the push of a button, but I've had to replace 3 power window regulators in my 2001 GMC Crew Cab, one of them (probably the least used one) twice... Recently, while spending a few days in Glacier National Park with my family, we discovered that the right rear window went down while on the "Going to the Sun" road, but wouldn't go back up... Luckily, I had a roll of duck tape with me that showed the thousands of tourists visiting the park that day that we were indeed a little bit hillbilly here in Montana...

I ordered a replacement right rear power window regulator from Amazon as soon as we arrived home. This one was delivered in just a few days, was a little more than $40, made in China, and it worked just fine when installed. In fact, the first replacement regulator I installed a decade ago for the front driver side was also made in China... Is anything not made in China?

Being the pack rat that I am, I saved parts from the old regulators. Those parts came in handy recently... I had just finished up the install of the RR regulator, cleaned up everything, and even lubricated the door hinges and other mechanical parts, as well as cleaned out the inside of the door to protect it from being subject to rust... This was a bang-up job! Even if I say so myself.

As soon as I got back into the driver's seat to move the truck back into its driveway slot, with fingers crossed I thought I'd run all four windows up/down one last time... What was I thinking??? This is when the left rear window went down about 6" then refused to budge in either direction... It had worked fine earlier that day... This was a Yosemite Sam moment... Luckily (if you can call this luck), this was the same regulator that I had replaced a few years earlier... I kept the motor from the outgoing factory original regulator because only the cable assembly had failed... Notice that I had labeled the motor in the photo... Just the motor needed to be replaced, and replacing it was easy. Getting the window functioning again was a simple matter... (since I'd had the RR door apart earlier and knew the drill).

Moral of this story... label and keep any of the good parts from any regulator you replace!

By the way, I've replaced 3 power window regulators in this GMC, the driver's side power window regulator in Sarah's 1994 6.5TD Blazer, and 3 power window regulators in a Crown Vic (my dad's car). Door panel removal has been the biggest challenge - not the mechanical aspect of regulator replacement. Panel removal/replacement is where you'll spend the most time - trying not to damage anything. Go slow and easy when working with the door panel. Read about regulator service here on TDP, Youtube it or ask questions here in this bulletin board if you need help. I've written about this topic. Maybe I'll put that illustrated step-by-step story back online - if anyone thinks it would help.

Jim