Chrysler Repair: power windows: 91 Acclaim/Spirit/LeBaron 4 dr., wooden dowel, vehicle names

Question
1991 Acclaim power window(FRONT PASSENGER)quit working and now slides down over time when I drive.  Dealer wants $527 to replace motor (which I can hear running)and regulator (which is??).

Is all this necessary to replace, is price reasonable for amount of work, and is there an alternative?  I've tried rubber wedges in the window guides but they get loose over rather short time.

Answer
Hi Steve,
If the motor works it probably is ok, but then either the gear/pinion (which is part of the motor assembly) that the motor itself drives or the lift mechanism (formally called the regulator) are not meshing together to convert the motor's action to movement of the window. You would need to open up the door (remove the inner panel) to examine the teeth of the gears as to whether or not you need the gear/pinion or the regulator or both. I have the manual that shows the power window mechanism and describes the changeout procedure. I suspect that the parts might be gleaned from another vehicle in a wrecking yard (years 91-94 or so) of what is called the A-body (vehicle names shown in the subject line). It would be good to check the price of the new gear/pinion and the regulator at the parts counter of a dealer to decide whether or not to go to a wrecking yard. The advantage of a pull-it-youself wrecking yard is that you can practice on their vehicle instead of yours to learn how to do it. I don't know how much of the dealer's cost estimate was based on labor vs parts, but you no doubt could do it yourself for much less.
Once you open the door you could apply an alternative solution: inserting a wooden dowel between the underside of the window glass lift plate and the bottom of the door which would effectively lock the window in the up position.
That would be the least costly way to go.
Let me know if you want the pages that show how to do the above. Just give me a postal mailing address and I'll xerox and send these; use the "thank and rate" tab where you will find a "comment" section where you can list your address.
Roland