My power window is stuck. How much will this cost me?

[tjdee]

Won't go up. But it sure will go down, as the first time I went gee, maybe I didn't hit the up switch--therefore opening the window further. :grr:

So when I see who's open Christmas eve to fix this, how much are they going to charge me? I know labor is always the great part of a thing like this, but am I looking at 100 bucks or like 30? Do they have to call out for a part?

I hate being a woman who doesn't know anything about cars. I'm sure they're going to charge me 30% more just for that.
:(

[NYC]

1. Now is the time to use the duct tape and plastic sheeting

that Tom Ridge told you to buy.

[tjdee]

2. Done already, Looks way high class.

Thanks Tom Ridge!

Plus it's raining hard now. Great.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. You won't like the answer

my husband is a mechanic, and fixing a power window is a pain in the patoot. It could be as simple as a blown fuse, a regulator, or a whole motor. Junkyard parts to fix will cost $50=$100. Labor depends upon the type of vehicle. If you go with new parts and take it to a dealership, you're looking at $400 or more. I'd use plastic sheeting and duct tape.

[tjdee]

5. Ugh....

You're right, I hate that answer. But thanks for answering it.

If it's a fuse or a regulator, it costs less, right?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. depends on the make of car

a fuse would be the cheapest route, but it is doubtful that that is the problem. What kind of car is it?

[tjdee]

18. DainBramaged has got it below...

So it's not a Chrysler, which is good, but still...not a Honda either.

[DainBramaged]

4. What car, what year, 2-dr or 4-dr?

We need some help here to help, know what I mean? ;)


EBAY:
http://motors.listings.ebay.com/Interior_Window-Motors-Parts_W0QQcatrefZC4QQfromZR40QQsacategoryZ33706QQsocmdZListingItemListQQsojsZ1QQsosortpropertyZ1


good idea of what a motor costs new and used.

[tjdee]

6. Oh, it's a 4 door minivan.

An older one though, late 90's.

It's the passenger side window up front.

Isn't there some trick, like bang on the door really hard and curse a lot? Because I did that. :(

[DainBramaged]

8. Make and exact year please

[tjdee]

9. PM'd it to you.

I'm a weirdo.

[DainBramaged]

12. $50 bucks for the motor on EBAY

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33706&item=7942427283&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

AND it's new for the PASSERGER door window too.

[tjdee]

16. Awesome, thank you!

I didn't realize ebay had that kind of stuff (duh, they have anything people want to auction). That makes me feel slightly better. I'm "watching" that auction until I can find out what the mechanic says I need. Good thing it doesn't end for a while.

About now I'm wishing I had a Honda, those motors were cheap!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. if its a Chrysler,

you'll probably need a regulator. Get it from the wrecking yard or dealer (my husband worked for a Dodge dealer for a couple of years and worked on this problem a lot).

[Eugene]

7. If the motor is bad, maybe $200 + labor

My car's power window needed a new motor and regulator.
The total would have been $500 at the dealer,
but was covered by extended warranty.

[tjdee]

21. Ah...warranty....

My car was used, and I didn't get a warranty...kicking myself for it most days.

[CornField]

10. Ours did that when it slipped out of its tracks

It was just a matter of removing the interior of the door and placing the window back in its tracks. (With the help of a page photocopied from the library so I'd know how it was supposed to go together.)

[tjdee]

14. Ooh, I like this solution! Free!

Except I'm very stupid with cars-- but maybe it's a simple enough job that it won't cost hundreds of dollars with motors and regulators and such.

How long did it take you to do that?

[DainBramaged]

15. Could be the door switch or relay

The switches hate getting wet. Relay under hood in the big fuse box on driver's side.

If the interior light dims when you hit the switch but window doesn't move, it is probably the regulator either stuck or needs grease. If it doesn't, it is most likely the motor. It is rare a passenger motor would go, most used window is driver's side.

[tjdee]

20. If it goes down, would it still be the motor?

Like someone below just said, would it be the motor if the window goes down when I push the switch?

[Orangepeel]

17. my window sticks sometimes...

I don't know anything about cars, but if your window goes down, then it probably isn't an electrical problem or a slipped track problem, is it?

If your window is up a little bit, try just putting a hand on either side and pulling upward. That's what I do. :shrug:

Good luck!

[tjdee]

19. Thank you...

Tried pulling up, no dice. I don't care if the window works, don't use it that much--so pulling up was the first thing I thought of.

You're right though, it goes down! What about that? Will see if anyone knows.

[DainBramaged]

24. Switch is bad.

Switch pops, out easy fix. Don't lose wires in the door. You could also reverse the wires so it goes up.

Try pushing DOWN on the switch before you push UP.

[ngant17]

22. fixing electric window

The hard part is removing door trim without ripping/tearing up the upholstery. Don't be rough on it. Mostly a few trim screws and plastic mounts are holding it to the door.

Electric motors tend to be long-lasting, look for a poor ground, bad switch, relay, wiring. That covers it electrically. If it is the motor, it's usually the brushes which could possible have worn out and stopped it from working.

Lack of lubrication on tracks could stop or hinder it mechanically. That's true for manual non-electric windows.

Labor costs are typically more than parts. Best to supply your own labor if you can find the time to do it.

[Lorien]

23. Got the same problem in my '94 Camry

only it's stuck in the up position (thank goodness)! The antenna is also stuck, and they told me it would cost $600 to fix it-screw that!

[DainBramaged]

25. I love Ebay, parts for the masses

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33639&item=7941600633&rd=1

[WMliberal]

26. depends... do you ever want to get laid again?

If your answer is no, then duct tape will work juuuust fine and only cost a few bucks.

[Delarage]

27. On my Taurus POS

it happened to a rear window used only by my dog. It pissed me off and I tried all kinds of stuff (I sprayed WD40 onto the tracks after taking the door panel off, which I had read about on the internet. No good.) so I took it to my mechanic who said the motor was shot (the car's 6 years old and that window hasn't had that much use). It cost 278.00 to replace (80 was for parts). It still makes me angry. Almost as much as when the dome light wouldn't go off.