[magnet18]

Hi, I have a 1990 GT convertible, and recently I tried to roll up the rear passenger window, only to be greeted with a clicking noise that sounds like a slipping gear.
I got access to the motor by taking off the interior panel and seatbelt mount, and some choice language and a jammed screwdriver to get a bolt off, pulled the motor off and it doesn't look like any of the gears are stripped, but all I can see is a little circle.

Does anyone know what I need to do? It rains a lot here.
Thanks.

 

[b_rich24]

do you have the three plastic dowels that hold the window gear into the motor gear in place? If not, then they have dissentigrated. You can get a motor rebuild kit at your local parts store ($15.00?) or just use steel ball bearings in their place (that's what I use). Can't remember size of bearings but pull your other motor out and use the plastic dowels as a size reference (or bring your gears in to the hardware store as a point of reference - or both).

It is the most common reason for failure - plastic dowels crumbling into oblivion over time...

 

[magnet18]

Thanks, I can't even see those I guess I need to do some more disassembly to find them, where exactly are they located?

 

[b_rich24]

if you can't see them then they are dissentigrated into your grease. Normal. As a reference: you have 2 gears big one that is turned by motor screw and small one that sits inside big one that engages window guide to roll window up and down. You should have 3 plastic dowels that hold the small gear into the big one (that's why you have the v-shape groove in the big gear and the v-shape indentions in the smaller gear). The dowels (or, preferrable ball bearings) press next to the indentions securing it to the bigger gear. I recommend ball bearing because this will never happen again. The next time your motor goes bad - will either be the brush blocks (rare) or motor is corroded beyond repair (either way - get a new motor).

I've got a 93 GT vert and ALL window motors have ball bearings. I haven't replaced a motor in about 7 years now. I also put the bearings in a 94 Explorer I recently sold.

But, the window motor repair kits work and are substantially cheaper than a motor! Whatever is easiest for you!

Also, if you use bearings over kit - make sure you replace the grease (bearing grease - marine or regular). That goes w/out saying for the kit because it comes w/grease.

 

[magnet18]

Awesome, I found what was left of them, cleaned out the old grease and replaced them with 1/4-20 nuts which fit perfectly (with a little help from a hammer )
Works like a charm, thanks

 

[b_rich24]

Awesome. Thanks for the 1/4-20 nut reference. They are probably cheaper than BB's!

 

[magnet18]

Yea, I saw them somewhere else and had them sitting out.
I think anything you could jam in there tightly would work fine really, there's not much to it.