QuestionQUESTION: I have a 99 Ford F150. Passenger side window would not go up or down so I replaced the motor and regulator. Window now goes up and down but it seems to have some vibration and does not go up and down smoothly like the driver's side. I'm afraid this might be putting resistance on the motor and burn it up. If I can remember...the window operated smoothly before the motor went out.
ANSWER: Hello Rob,
I see this problem occasionally after I have replaced a window regulator. I refer to the condition as "stutter". I don't think you need to worry about damaging the motor, but it is a little annoying and usually not too hard to fix.
Lubricating the gaskets (run channels) at the front and back edges of the glass might be enough to eliminate the problem. Roll the window down and spray silicone into the channels liberally so that it runs down into the channels below. Roll the window up and down a few times and then re-apply the silicone. If you don't already have spray silicone lubricant you can purchase a can at Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, etc. Just be sure not to use anything but silicone, however, cheap ($3.00) silicone spray is as good as expensive silicone spray for this purpose.
If the silicone lubricant doesn't do the job, you will have to pull the door panel in order to adjust the glass run channels inside the door. The channels are secured to the inside of the door with a bolt that screws into a bracket attached near the bottom of the channel. Loosen both bolts about half way, but be sure not to remove them completely. Now run the glass up and down a few times to see if the stutter is gone. With the glass in the down position tighten the bolts and check again to see if the stutter is still gone. If the stutter persists you will need to experiment by adjusting the channels in or out to see what effect it has on the problem.
Feel free to send a follow up question if you can't solve the problem.
Ben ... the power window guy
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QUESTION: Ben,
I have tried lubricating the channels with silicone and tried adjusting the channels in and out but the stutter is still there. Doesn't seem to get better or worse with anything I did. As far as I can tell..the stuttering seems to be coming from the motor/regulator area because the inside door panel is vibrating/stuttering in that area. Is there anything else that could be causing this?
ANSWER: Hello Rob,
If the door panel is vibrating I suspect the problem is a bit more serious than the "stutter" I referred to in my first reply.
Please tell me more about the replacement. Was the replacement regulator/motor new or old? Where did you get the part? - Did you rivet the regulator to the door or use bolts?
Please include anything else you can think of that will help me understand the situation.
Ben ... the power window guy
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QUESTION: Ben,
I replaced the motor and regulator that I bought from Discount Auto Parts. I drilled holes in the door panel to access the screws holding the motor. I never removed the rivets. Installation of new parts seemed fairly simple. I lined up gear on motor with the teeth on the part that is attached to the tracks and secured with the three screws. Stuttering is a good description of what it is doing. Could there be an issue with how the guides are sliding in the metal tracks that lower and raise the window?
AnswerHi Again Rob,
I am not sure I understand this situation.
First Question "......so I replaced the motor and regulator."
Latest Response "......I replaced the motor and regulator that I bought from Discount Auto"
Latest Response "......I never removed the rivets."
How could you have installed the new regulator if you didn't remove the rivets from the old one?
I am wondering if you bought a regulator/motor assembly but only installed the motor portion. If that is the case, it is possible that the motor from the regulator/motor assembly is not a perfect match for the original regulator.
Please clarify the situation and I'll do my best to help you find a solution.
Ben ... the power window guy
