Failed Electric Window XJ-S 1983

[red-one]

Hi,

I have a 1983 XJ-S HE. The drivers door window is stuck in the up position.

The passenger door window works fine.

I have read the Kirby Palm manual and it does not discuss this specific problem.

The mechanism (and therefore I assume the motor) is AC Delco written on the arm that operates the window.

I have been told that there is a problem with the nylon bush in the motor gearbox.

I have taken the motor and arm assembly out of the door (probably should have checked the switch and/or that power was getting to the motor first !, this I have not done yet) and removed the arm from the motor (take care it goes boing.ggg) when you unscrew the three bolts.

Could anyone tell me how I go about finding this nylon gear to check it as externally the gear is metal both the gear on the motor and the arm.

I assumed that I can also check the power going the to motor with the motor removed..... as it is now, by simply operating the switch in both directions and the polarity will just change. (according to the Kirby manual its not earthed, you simply reverse the polarity to reverse the window direction.

As I have removed the arm and had the spring shoot off I know approximately how it goes together but don't know if on assembly the angle the arm is at is critical to opening a closing the window? i.e. I don't know if there is an electrical cut out to remove power when the window is at the top of its travel? or if on hitting the top its simply your removing your finger from the switch. If its the latter then I guess its just getting the arm in the right position to fully close the window?

Testing the motor with the mechanism out of the car, any recommendations? here I assume its just a matter of applying power in either polarity and the motor will run (madly as no load) in one direction or the other? If it does not run then I guess its kaput. (testing with an in line fuse would be good to avoid melting the motor or serious battery damage due to a short circuit) . I have a spare battery to use to try this (testing the motor... not melting the wires !!! lol )

The windows guides look a little gungy and so should probably be replaced...... any suggestions on a supplier appreciated.

If anyone would like to write an article on electric window problems and disassembly I have digital photographs of most of the steps I have been through to remove the mechanism (accept of course the critical step where I removed the motor from the arm, when camera battery was flat..... as I was simply to impatient to wait If there is already an article in a past magazine then how I get a back copy would be appreciated.

Regards

Red-one

[oz5986]

You need to check if the power is there before you strip it all down. If you have a tester you just need to take the 2 wires at the motor and see if they power up. live on one for up and on the other for down. Then if you have power there you need to check the earth on the same 2 wires as when one wire is 12v+ the other should be 12v- and vise versa. Another quick way to test is if you have the int light on and press the elec window switch does the int light dim?

[poprivet]

Hello Red,
That's a lot of work, it might have been easier to swap the switches over first to see if that was the problem, it usually is, as the drivers window gets the most use.

If your motor has failed, you can use ones from a scrap Series 3 saloon, especially the rear ones, as they usually have had little use. Keep your existing regulator mechanism, just swap out the motor.

As you suspect, the switch simply switches polarity to the 12V motor to operate either up or down.