Window Problems (Grrrr)

Parley with regards to your 1987 to 1991 Bonneville, Olds 88, Olds 98 86-90 or Buick Le Sabre, Le Sabre T-Type and Park Avenue 85-90 . Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.
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Alibi
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Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by Alibi »

This is on my '89 T Type. These windows suck... on EVERY H/C body car I've ever seen they've all had issues with the window motors slowing down or just having issues in general.

So... my drivers side has been acting funny for a while. It would go down about halfway and then the motor would keep spinning the window would stop going down and it would make a whir-thud whir-thud whir-thud noise. It would go down if I helped it past this point and then it would act normally on the rest of the way down. The same would happen on the way up but as long as I helped it past this point of getting stuck it would run fine.

Not anymore. Its stuck... I can't seem to move it in any direction now and its stuck about halfway open. I took the door panel apart to find a part that I've never seen before sitting in the door at the bottom:

Image
Image
Image
Image

I have no clue what this is. I was planning on replacing the window motor but I need to know what this is so that I can replace this as well. Any thoughts?
-Eric
"Energy and Persistence Conquer all Things" --Benjamin Franklin
-1989 Buick LeSabre T Type: 220k miles
-1987 Fiero GT: 224k miles
-2012 Honda Civic (boring, but its a good DD)
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Alibi
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by Alibi »

I went to a couple auto stores and they had no clue what this part is. Looks like I get to tear my window apart while I'm down in Tulsa this weekend...
-Eric
"Energy and Persistence Conquer all Things" --Benjamin Franklin
-1989 Buick LeSabre T Type: 220k miles
-1987 Fiero GT: 224k miles
-2012 Honda Civic (boring, but its a good DD)
crzydmnd72
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by crzydmnd72 »

Alibi wrote:I went to a couple auto stores and they had no clue what this part is. Looks like I get to tear my window apart while I'm down in Tulsa this weekend...
No clue what that part is. looks like a stop of some sort. Enjoy Tulsa though, if you were willing to come further we could dig into it together
Glenn
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jasper60103
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by jasper60103 »

Hey Alibi.

I have window problems as well on my 88 Olds Delta 88.
Both front windows are inoperative. They're stuck in closed position. I hear thats
a good thing. Fortunately the rears still work
and you can get some air circultaion.

Anyway, I plan to replace the window motors this weekend.
Any advice appreciated.
Wish me luck.

jasper
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by wjcollier07 »

I've heard the Siemens motors are much quieter and faster than the other replacements. I haven't tried them myself, just what I heard. Best of luck with those guys, I know how tedious those 87-91 windows can be.
John
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Alibi
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by Alibi »

I found out what the black thing is at least. Apparently it is a bump stop for when the window is completely rolled down. Makes sense, eh?

Anyway, My window is stuck halfway and it seems to be jammed in place. Plans are for this weekend to disassemble this... these door suck but I will report back with what I find and perhaps some pictures if I can :D

Siemans motors? Can I source those locally like through a NAPA or an O'Reilys? Or is that an internet thing?
-Eric
"Energy and Persistence Conquer all Things" --Benjamin Franklin
-1989 Buick LeSabre T Type: 220k miles
-1987 Fiero GT: 224k miles
-2012 Honda Civic (boring, but its a good DD)
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by jasper60103 »

Just wanted to follow up.
It turns out my window problem was due to cracked/broken regulators on both front windows. I'm glad I took it to a body shop. It wasn't that expensive and saved me at least a whole day of trouble! Seems this part is problematic on this vehicle. The body shop guy said he could tell the passenger side had been repaired before.
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by clm2112 »

Welp, I wish I had good news, but unfortunately power window faults occur in nearly every GM I've ever owned.

Wiring that is less than adequate for the window lift motors, switches that have cheap contacts, lift motors that break. The whole design just sucks and has for years.

The driver's side window on the '90 Bonneville is starting to slow down. When it fails, this is the direction I'm going:

Image

This is technology that you can count on to work.

Somewhere out there in GM land that has to be manual window regulators that will fit in place of the Bonneville's electric regulators. I just have to look at enough junkers to find them.
Bye Bye 1990 Bonneville LE... Now it belongs to my daughter
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by shortstuf212559 »

CLM, all you have to find is a basic 87-91 LE, power windows were a option on LE.... so it should be pretty straight forward. the only issue you may run into is the manual window models hae a differnt armrest section for where the window crank is...
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Alibi
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by Alibi »

I still haven't had the chance to fix my windows. I really wish I could swap to manual on my T, but there were very, very few manual window T Types so sourcing parts is near impossible.

I just need a full Saturday to rip my doors apart and fix them, but thats just not going to happen right now.
-Eric
"Energy and Persistence Conquer all Things" --Benjamin Franklin
-1989 Buick LeSabre T Type: 220k miles
-1987 Fiero GT: 224k miles
-2012 Honda Civic (boring, but its a good DD)
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by clm2112 »

shortstuf212559 wrote:CLM, all you have to find is a basic 87-91 LE, power windows were a option on LE.
I've raided a bunch of 87-91 models in local yards, have not run across a single one yet that had manual window regulators. It may have been an option, but it was probably ordered pretty heavily by the dealers to help sell the cars.

What I'm betting on is the common design GM used for the window regulators. What I need to do is take the interior door panel off one and get the dimensions of the Bonneville's window regulators. Then start checking likely cars that do show up with manual regulators to see if the dimensions match up. I'm thinking base model A bodies (Celebrity, 6000, Cutlass) cars would be a good place to start looking.
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by Jrs3800 »

Most Bonnevilles had Power windows...To see crank windows on one was few and far between.. I have seen a couple... Both were 87's, but from what I know they were produced through 91
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Re: Window Problems (Grrrr)

Post by shortstuf212559 »

we had a 89 LE with crank windows and power locks. only option on it.if theres no power windows theres no courtesy lamps in the doors nor power mirrors.
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