Broken Window Motor Help

Hey CJ, I had something similar happen to my drivers side mirror. Don't know if this will apply, but you never know.

Inside the motor there is a kind of ball and socket setup. I disassembled the unit and called EVERYWHERE to see if I could find just that pert. They all laughed and told me it was a new mirror nothing and that there was no way, no how that it could be repaired. Since mine are smooth and painted white to match my car this was an unacceptable conclusion.

Well, you know what a hammerhead I am, and NO ONE tells ME I can't fix something until I prove it to myself. I tore into it and discovered that the socket part of the rotating mechanism had broke,. After giving it a good deal of thought I came up with a way to fix it. I cut a piece from a rifle shell casing (brass 30.06) and shaped it into an oval then used some JB weld to attach it and reinforce the broken area.

Well, that mirror works better than the one on the other side and vibrates less on the road and has been that way for a couple of years now.

In essence I suppose I am saying to have a look, and be creative. You never know, you may be able to save a couple hundred bucks. You may even be able to find one at a wrecking yard that has cosmetic damage that they would let go for a birdsong and then gut it.

Let us know how it goes!

Kate

If they are anything like the power lock actuators then the PLASTIC pinion gear on the Taiwanese slot car motor that drives it has split in half and that horrendous noise you hear is the broken pieces rattling inside the casing. Most of the new motor junk on modern cars seems to be put together like a snap tite model of old. SVT Kate has the right idea IMO. Take it apart look for the busted thing and replace it ( aye the rub, is finding the replacement part!) StuK

CJ, What year Crown Vic ??

TIM -aka- MUSTTANGUY "at" AOL "dot" COM

The motor itself is still functioning. Whatever is inside the housing that the cables attach to is broken. As soon as I can figure out how the cable ends hook to the regulator, I'll yank the assembly out. I'm going to guess that I'll have to replace the whole thing, though.

CobraJet

Lemme guess; you are a big McGyver fan.

Yeah, my mirror vibrates a little too much for my liking, also. Damn Fords.

Well, you are talking about mirrors, but it's my *window* that's broken. If indeed I have to replace the whole motor assembly, then I'll just buy a new one. Certain things don't pay to go with used; electric motors is one of them.

You bet. Thanks.

CobraJet

Wow, those window regulators are expensive. I checked with one of the yards I deal with and they get $100 for a good used assembly. I should be able to knock some off that. Let me know if you can't locate one.

TIM -aka- MUSTTANGUY "at" AOL "dot" COM

Will do. I need parts for an '86 Cougar. Got any around? Primarily cherry taillight assemblies and a dash pad.

CobraJet

As I recall Ford uses a regulator that is made in Germany and used by several other companies in the auto industry here in the US, in Europe and Japan too. I went through five of them when I had a '91 Town Car

- with failures consistent with the use the individual windows got - driver's first, front passenger second, rear passenger side third, rear behind the driver fourth and once again drivers!

At the time the last two had to be replaced they were out of warranty and cost to have them done by the dealer was ~$115 each.