Auto Glass: 2002 cavalier rear window, replacement regulators, window mechanisms

Question
Hello,
  My left rear window got stuck down today. I have taken the regulator and motor out, but cannot tell which one needs to be replaced.  Should the regulator spin if plugged in when not attached to motor? Also, I cannot find any replacement regulators for the rear door anywhere on the net.  Where would I obtain one if I even need one? The motor I find everywhere, but only regs for the front? Any help on this would be great. Thanks

Answer
Hello William,

In ten years of repairing window mechanisms I have never had to replace a rear window regulator on a Cavalier so I doubt that yours is bad.  The likelihood that your regulator is fine is further reinforced by the fact that you can't find a replacement.  The companies that produce after-market window mechanisms only make units with normal or higher than normal failure rates.

On the other hand, your question "should the regulator spin if plugged in" has me confused.  If a bad window motor is removed from the regulator and is plugged into a power source the motor will probably seem to run just fine.  However, once that bad motor is installed on the window regulator and installed in the vehicle, it will typically move slow, stall out under load, or not work at all.

I hope this information is helpful.  If you need more specific information, feel free to send a follow up question.

Ben ... the power window guy