How do you install window motor in a 2000 firebird?

Answer 1

Hi

I just did mine today and it took longer than expected.

I used this photo guide from www.FirebirdNation.com, but...

http://www.firebirdnation.com/pdf/windowreplacement.pdf

http://www.firebirdnation.com/pdf/windowreplacement2.pdf

below is my experiences with it-sometimes they aren't clear so here goes:

Know that your hands will likely be scratched up and greasy, and this is not a run of the mill fix.

- The problem with these motors I believe, is that there is some sort of thermal fuse component that over time, causes the motor to become unresponsive. I heard on a forum that they only last about 5 years, but mine is a 94 and just gave out this year.

- I'm assuming that 2000 is just like 1994 in the sense that they are both 4th gen, and the door panels look the same as well.

- You will first need to purchase a replacement motor from somewhere.

- Start with the window completely up.

- Disconnect the car battery

- Take off your door panel, do not be overly forceful, this is easy.

(see www.firebirdnation.com/pdf/doorpanel.pdf if you need help)

- Tape/clamp your window so there is minimal vertical movement.

- Take off your midrange speaker for a lot of extra room to work.

- Take off plastic water seal (Will put back on again too)

- Unplug your motor assembly by reaching unto the speaker cavity hole. I had to feel it, there is a clip that once pushed, is easy to come out.

- You will need to punch out and then drill out the rivets holding in your window motor/regulator assembly in the door cavity. Do not make a bigger hole than necessary, there should be 4.

- Take the whole motor/regulator assembly out via the cavity near the back latch of the door. There are 3 wheels that need to come out one at a time. They are guided on two long tracks. You may also need to do some disassembly with a 10 mm socket to some parts to be able to slide the window motor/regulator assembly all the way out. I had to take off the vertical track guide near the latch of the door. Regardless, the assembly must come out of the door.

- Once out, you need to drill a safety hole in the large arc-gear and the center panel thingy, for the purpose of putting a decent sized bolt in there. This is to prevent the circular spring from taking your arm off once you take off the motor part. The motor's nine teeth prevent the arc-gear from moving.

- You will need to punch out and drill out the rivets holding the window motor in place. Do this after you have installed the safety bolt as discussed. Greasy, huh?

- Now take your new window motor and re-rivet it inplace of the old one. (I had to drill yet a bit out to get my rivets to fit. These are different sized rivets than what holds it in the door! Riveter-grip-guns are about 25-30 dollars, and a box of rivets are about 5 dollars. I suggest seeing the correct size you need before buying a box).

- Once the three rivets are in place, you may disassemble your safety bolt. The tension of the spring may have shifted your safety holes a bit from where you originally drilled them. If you don't realign them you won't be able to line up the rivet holes back to the door like they were originally, and it's a pain. What you can do is reconnect your battery and window switch, as well as the connector to your new window motor, and adjust it right there before you put it back in the door. This will test your new motor right before your eyes. Try the best you can to line up your safety holes as they were, with your window button. Once they are aligned as before you may carefully put the assembly back into place, which is going to be a minor pain. Now would be a great time to grease your window tracks by the way.

- Your window may have settled during your operation. A second person is helpful in holding up the window, as the tracks will shift with it. This is all crucial in lining up the rivet holes in the door, so that you can re-rivet them. It is not really feasible to use bolts here, because only one side is accessible.

- Once your rivets are in place, start the reconstruction process. Don't forget to connect your window motor electrically.

- Hope this helps, and good luck!