power window motor

[Yousuf Khan]

Well, I took the old 2000 OBW to the dealers to have them check my
driver-side power window problem. It slides down easily enough, but when
it comes time to go up, you have to hold the button down long and hard,
before it starts to go up. The dealer's solution is that the window
motor is shot, and they can generously replace it for me, for a $350
parts + labour extra. I was thinking of maybe just going to a junkyard
and get a used motor for it instead. What other Subies would be
compatible to mine? Would Impreza motors work on mine? What model years
would be compatible?

Also the fact that only the upward movement is affected, and not the
downward, wouldn't that indicate something that could be reparable on
the existing motor? Like a bad solder connection or something?

Yousuf Khan

 

[strchild]

What about the window switch contacts that send power to the motor? I've
cleaned them on older model subies to good effect. Yes, would go down, then
not back up very well. Was just poor contact in the switches. (-;

~Brian

 

[YKhan]

What about the window switch contacts that send power to the motor? I've
cleaned them on older model subies to good effect. Yes, would go down, then
not back up very well. Was just poor contact in the switches. (-;

What did you use to clean them up? Any special solvent?

Yousuf Khan

 

[johninKY]

The electric motor is not the problem because it works going down. The
problem is too much resistance in the switch. Replace/repair the switch.

 

[strchild]

Fingernail, tip of screwdriver, small piece of sandpaper, tiny file, wire
wheel on a Dremel, etc., whatever I had handy at the time. Never tried
solvent, so don't know how or which kind would do the trick, but you'll see
if you take your switch apart, where the clean, brassy-colored metal contact
areas have blackish, dirty-like coating. You want to get that back to clean
metal again, and your switch is back in business.

On my '93 Impreza the passenger door switch for the window I looked at is a
sealed unit, and knowing me, I would destroy it trying to get it open. So,
might be better, depending on the switch, to price out a replacement. Maybe
from a u-pull it yard if you can find a well-working switch. They plug into
a harness and are held in by a couple of screws, so it's not super hard to
take them out. Now if only my '93 had the auto window up feature as well,
but alas I was told too many folks let their kids get squished in them. )-;

Careful with the plastic moulding around the switches, as it has a tendency
to become brittle and may break when you start fiddling with the screws that
hold it in place from the back. Nothing more frustrating than to fix your
switches only to have them loose in the door panel or their plastic housing.
(-;

~Brian

 

[AS]

The problem will most probably be mechanical drag due to the glass
adjustments in the door or dirt inside the tracks in the doors.