power windows?
 

OK g-body guys whats going on with the power windows? The things are real slow both up & down. I talked to Bob Downing & their Cutlass acts the same. He was thinking it may be in the gound? Any ideas?

Re: power windows?
 

How about performing a voltage drop between the battery positive and the window motor, and then a voltage drop between the battery negative and the window motor? Anything above .5V is too much. Then you'll want to narrow that test. I would perform a voltage drop across the switch, at the switch, for both negative and positive.

All the windows share a common power supply through the master switch and a common ground supply through the master switch.

A voltage drop is performed with a volt-meter hook-up power-to-power (before the load) with current flowing, and ground-to-ground (after the load) with current flowing.

Need detailed instruction or help? Let me know.
gary.weaver@csn.edu
College of Southern Nevada

Re: power windows?
 

Thanks...never even thought of doing that...2 years of collage Ind. maint. (some almost 20 years ago) & that never even crossed my mind. A multi meter is a wonderfull thing ;)

Re: power windows?
 

Ya...I knew you knew it.

Re: power windows?
 

Greg, I think those windows are the old belt drives. I just removed the last one from the Corvette. It worked fine, just slower than.... If it is a belt drive; I'm not sure what if anything you can do to speed them up.

Re: power windows?
 

The above mentioned test are good and necessary to verify all wiring is solid. However, in most cases of 1980's General Motors cars, the motor is at fault. Over time, the factory lube dries up causing excessive drag on bushings and gears. Then, because of the added resistance, the brush holders overheat and loose tension. Those motors are a cheap, weak design with a short service life.

If you what to invest the time, It is usually successful to service those motors. Once removed from the regulator, drill out rivets holding the motor halves together. Then separate the case, clean and re-lube, clean brush holder and contacts.

However, they can be bought reman. for about $40.00

Re: power windows?
 

I have the same problem with my 94 Firebird. The drivers side would go up and down slowly until it just quit working, window down of course. Replaced it with a rebuilt one from the local outo parts store, with a life time warranty, and it works fine now. the passenger side is slow also, waiting for it to give up. I have never seen a drive thru on the passenger side, so I try not to use it to much.

Re: power windows?
 

Bobby,

the reason those motors "stall out" is because they have an internal circuit breaker. That is why you can wait a few minutes and gradually get the window up.

Re: power windows?
 

I wish. I waited a couple of hours while I was cleaning the garage b/c of the water falling out of the sky, LOL. FEMA won't blue tarp a car.