Window motor availability/suggestions/etc?

Many people have reported success with disassembling the gear units and cleaning out the hardened sludge that used to be grease.

T Rutlands has just introduced replacement window units (motor and gears) for $750 per pair.

 

Perhaps also check alignment and tension. One of mine was mis-tensioned and the symptom was like a failing motor... It would slow and then stop half way down. Once tensioned correctly no problems. My other one needed the gearbox disassembling and regreasing before it would work. There was nothing wrong with the 38 year old motor in either door.

 

I'l bet that if you take your motors apart and see the condition of that grease-turned-to-epoxy you will wonder how they moved at all.

I've cleaned mine on a '79 308GTS. and they work just fine. Follow Birman's tutorial

 

The original motors are OK; but the problems that evolve are:

Grease in window gears turns solid;
Voltage to window motors drops due to corrosion in switches and connectors in wiring.

Combine lower than designed voltage, and much more resistance in the gears, and the windows get slow or stop.

Remedies to speed up windows involve addressing those issues - full voltage at the window motors; reduce resistance in gearbox.

OR replace window/gearbox with the more powerful T Rutlands units - but you still need adequate voltage to whichever motors are in the doors.

 

Also, check if the window itself slides easily up and down in the window channels. Do not drop it!! If not, you will need a lot of electrical power to move them. The window channels on mine were really bad, directed the window in wrong direction.

If the channels are ok, you can still use some dry lube in the window channels, just to make the work easier for the motors.

See post 13- in http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328-sponsored-yellow-compass-group/478987-gt4-window-motor-wire-channels-scrapers.html

/Peter

 

I bet the low voltage at the window motors issue is probably (nearly) the same with the BB as it is with the 3x8's. The concrete grease in the gear mechanism too.

Many one or more of the PROs here can "chime in" and set us straight.

 

Go to RODNEYDICKMAN.COM --- He has been supporting the FIERO community with hard to get parts and as a FERRARI owner he has addressed the slow window problem with a couple of products that may be of help to you. http://rodneydickman.com/catalog/images/Image092.jpg Ferrari Window accelerators
Rodney Dickman's Automotive Accessories Ferrari Dual Wire Electric Window Helpers

 

My '82 had very slow windows, had to help them up with my hand. Turned out to be two issues.
1- Window gear grease was rock hard.
2- Window channel molding was worn out.

My fix was clean the window gears and replace the molding. Windows fly up and down now.

 

Got a Rodney window accelerators, but it won't work on carb 308 doors for some reason. No clues on that issue.

 

Is there a thread on how to tackle the motor disassembly and cleaning process?

 

This is what you're up against.

The motor is in the upper front corner of the door (upper left on this passenger door). It's in a spot that is barely accessible. Take careful note of where the cables go and how they're routed and tensioned BEFORE you take anything apart. You will be re-stringing the cable by feel alone and if you don't get it right it won't work.

Expect to do this part of the job several times before you get it right.

Once you have the motor out and apart you'll see the problem. The grease has hardened and become very sticky. It is difficult to scrape off, no wonder the mechanisms won't function. Ultimately it can be softened and removed with solvent. Relubricate with a good synthetic grease. Getting the nasty smelly residue off your hands is another problem. If you do this right and get everything put back properly, your windows should work almost like a new car and you most likely will never look at it again.

Forget "window accelerators" unless you've fixed this problem first.
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Oh boy. This seems like a daunting task. I will give it a try over the winter. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

 

I assume, hardly anybody has that special tool to keep the wire on its place, while taking off the gear/motor assembly.

I once purchased a used complete assembly from TRutlands, which came together with that tool. It's more precious than gold.

I agree with the grease. On my car I found the same green sticky stuff. It was so stubborn, that even solvent was not enough. I had to use dentists tools,to scrape it out,of the gear. I was a bit cautious not to use a too aggressive solvent, since I feared it may affect the plastic parts. Even when there occurs no visible damage, some solvents may cause brittleness.
But since I did it, my motors are much faster, though the gear got a bit noisier.

Best Regards
Martin
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Is it easier just to replace the motors with new ones?

 

Since during the last decade I got the impression, that parts quality has gotten worse and worse and nowadays 'new' often means 'Never Ever Works', I would answer your question like this: It's not easier. Only less time consuming since you can skip the cleaning process. But it would be a pity, to replace a good original part with a new part of dubious quality and origin.
The part is not faulty. It just has to be cleaned and freshly lubricated.

I try to keep as much as possible,old,parts and rebuild, if possible, because I much prefer Made in Europe in nineteen-seventy-something over Made in India or China in 2015.



Best Regards
Martin

 

My driver's side was the concrete grease issue. I have a thread on it somewhere. I also replaced a couple pulley wheels while I was in there. The plastic gets brittle over the years & cracks.

The passenger side is turning out to be wiring.
Grease was replaced, switch was replaced, and its still slow.
Jumped directly to a battery & it zipped up & down.

 

It's funny we're talking about this now. just last week my friend 85 QV had both of his window motors replace with a brand new ones then just gave me both of his original motors, nothing wrong just slow. Now, i can experiment on these motors and see how i ca make it faster. First thing of course is cleaning it thoroughly and relube it with maybe light silicon grease.
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