QuestionQUESTION: I'm working on a 97 Ford Crown Vic and I've never seen one of these cable power window regulators. I need to replace the 3 plastic bushings in the motor but have no idea how to do that. It looks like this motor and regulator must come out as one unit ( I'm I right?),and that the regulator is pop riveted in. Can I do that without having something else in the door fall apart? How is the regulator attached to the glass and will that be another problem to deal with? And will removing the regulator from the motor be a problem as well? Anything I need to watch out for? As you can see I don't understand this system at all and it seems to be alot more complicated than the older style of Ford motor/regulator. Thank You for all your help!!
ANSWER: Hello Peter,
The Crown Vic window mechanism produced beginning in 1992 is one of the more difficult window regulators to service. I don't recommend that someone without the proper tools and a good deal of window regulator experience attempt to work on it. However, I will point out a few of the problems and let you make your own decision.
If your only problem is the three gear "bushings" in the head of the window motor, it is possible to remove the motor from the regulator without taking the regulator out of the door. You should be able to see three brass colored #30 torx head screws in a triangle pattern in the motor area. After removing these three screws the motor can be removed from the regulator spool. However, you must realize your are working in a physically and visually restricted area. Furthermore, you must be careful to remove the motor without pulling the spool of the regulator apart. Once you have the motor out, taking the cover off the motor gear head, cleaning up the broken "bushings", and installing the new ones is fairly simple for any one with a reasonable amount of mechanical ability. Re-installing the motor is not a lot easier than removing it. I make this repair regularly in about 45 minutes including removal and replacement of the door panel. I think you should plan on about twice that long. Be sure you attempt it when you are in your most patient frame of mind.
Removing the regulator requires drilling out the two rivets that hold the glass to the regulator lift plate and two other rivets that hold the bottom of the regulator to the door. It also requires removing the glass from the door. The complete job is a complicated process and much too lengthy to explain in this message. As I said before, I don't recommend you attempt it, but if you are determined to try it, send me back a follow-up question. I will give you some additional help.
Ben ... the power window guy
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Ben, Sounds like removing the regulator is a big problem fortunately I don't need to do that. I just need to replace those plastic bushings in the motor. I've already taken apart the door on a parts car and had no problem removing the motor (brass torx head screws) from the door. What I did notice was that the regulator cover prevents me from removing the screw which holds the cover plate (covering the plastic bushings and gear) this also seems to make removing the regulator spool impossible, or at least it looks that way. Are you saying that the regulator spool just slides off the motor without having to remove any screws? It doesn't look like that to me. The spool seems to want to come out of it's housing when I pull on it. And I don't want that spool coming apart in my hands. I've done this before on older Fords so I'm not totally blind on this just worried about this cable regulator,the room to work is tight,limited and frustrating. Looking forward to your answer,Thanks
AnswerHello Again Peter,
Yes, you can remove the motor from the regulator spool. And yes you are right about the spool wanting to come out when you try to remove the motor. So, use a putty knife or any other flat blade to pry between the motor and the center of the regulator spool. That should get the motor off the regulator without pulling the spool and cables out of the regulator housing.
Let me know how else I can help.
Ben .... the power window guy
