Window motor?

[Atty]

My '99 Camry's window on the drivers side has recently started refusing to work. It'll either roll down an inch or two before dying completely or it won't go down at all, and getting it back up takes an act of god or someone pulling it while I hit the button.

I'm assuming that the motor that controls it is dying and needs replacing but I have no idea how to go about replacing it. Should I just take it to a shop and have them look at it? Buy it aftermarket and have them install it? Install it myself? Cost perhaps?

Need some help here guys, thanks!

 

[darom]

- Find a replacement part (autozone, ebay etc);
- Take the door panel off;
- Estimate the time + effort dismantling/accessing the window motor. If it is easy, do it yourself. If not, take the motor to your favorite mechanic and let him deal with it. At that point the door panel is off, which will cost less in labor.

The way I look at car repairs: at first it looks scary, but once you've done it, you can do it again and help others If you find others to help you, at least get them a six pack, hehe.

 

[Deviant Grasshopper]

Find a toyota/camry forum. I promise that out of all the people on the internet you are not the first with a bad camry window motor : )

 

[MiataNC]

Takes about 20 minutes to change and you will most likely need a motor/regulator.

Pic of Window Regulator

Tools required...
Pick/Small screw driver
Philips Screw driver
10mm box end wrench
Needle nose pliers
10mm socket with @6inch extension
Tape (to hold glass up while you swap parts

The trickiest part will be the small plastic clips that go to the rods on the inner door handle and lock. Be careful not to break the clips or bend the rods.

 

[Bignate603]

I have the exact same car with the exact same problem. It is NOT a 20 minute job. Inside the door is very cramped and the window is sandwiched between two metal panels with a few holes punched in it that you have to work through. It would be much easier with an operable window though because then you can make the regulator and window line up with the holes so you can access the bolts. Mine wasn't operable so I had to try and unbolt the regulator blind by sticking my hands up inside the door. Not fun.

To do it its best to have a friend to help hold the window glass up as you're working. You don't need to remove the stuff for the door handle (I tried and failed at figuring out how to get those out) but I don't remember what I did. I think I may have just pulled that through the door. When the door is all disconnected you can tug it around and get the handle and things to go through.

Get a Haynes manual because there a handful of screws you need to take out and you'll probably miss one. Other than that just take your time.

I was a poor college student who couldn't afford to replace the motor so I ended up taking it off the regulator, pushing the regulator up to have the glass fully up and then reattaching the motor to keep it in place. I pulled the wires to the motor out of the window switch and just haven't used it since.

 

[rudeguy]

I just did one of these on my Grand Prix. It wasn't fun but it wasn't too bad. I have worked inside many Camrys doors and don't think it would be any worse.

If you want to find out if its something you think you can do, check out the Chilton manual for your car. I like them way better than Haynes manuals (LOTS more pictures!).

 

[funboy6942]

Rubber hammer $10
Whacking the inside door panel a few times to get the motor to work again-FREE
This sometimes works and gets them to work again for a good while and the hammer tricks works a couple more times till the motor goes out completely.

Just be sure to hit the door and not the window, and try and have the window in the up position before you hit the door for you have to give it a good whack to "jolt" the motor inside to get it to work again.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Doesn't sound like the motor, sounds like the regulator. COULD be the motor, but that symptom is more indicative of the regulator.