Hello there! Im new to this forum, even quite new to the USA. To boost up the ´American feeling´ for my 6 month stay, I bought the biggest car my budget would let me: a 1988 F150 XLT lariat.

It has a lot of smaller anoyances, but one thing needs to be fixed to get it inspected: The drivers side power window. I searched this forum, but could not really find anything about this.

It does not go up or down, does not make any sound. I pulled of the door panel to look, but it is kinda hard to see... The connectors of the switch in the door dont look broken/dirty. When I push the window button, I noticed the interior lightning became a little bit weak, so I suspect that the powerwindow motor is just broken.

This is actually my first car, so I dont have a lot of experience. But I think its really fun to start with some smaller fixes! I already have the haynes repair manual here (but there is not much about the windows...)

I want to know, Am I on the right track fixing the window? Anyone has some tips to reach the nasty inside of the door? Any other common powerwindow failures?

Thanks!

 

There are two possibles if you determine it's the motor...the gear drive is plastic and famously known to fail...the gear drive kit (basic# 234A24) may be all you need...but if the motor's bad the whole assy will be required.

These are available after market both new and rebuilt.

 

"WELCOME to AMERICA and F150online".
If you don't have any luck on this forum try FTE.COM for some answers. I'm new to this site too, and there seems to be a lack of older trucks on it.
My 92 F-150 had the same problem and it was the motor (no sound at all when you press the button) I would say it's your motor.
If not check to see if there is an upgrade to a better unit than you currently have. The above site will explain just what you have to do to change the motor for your year. Just be sure to click onto the correct forum listing. (the hardest part)
The nice thing about these sites are that there, ALL FORD.
Good Luck, Howard
P.S. Check out "NAPA Auto Parts", they have lifetime warrantys on alot of their parts.

 

Ok, howdy and welcome. You are at the best spot on the net for your truck right here.

Here's all ya gotta do. First take off the motor and see if it spins free. If not, and there is power at the connection after you clean the contacts, get a new motor for 45ish bucks at napa. If the motor spins, the torque pins inside the gear case have disinegrated and are 3 bucks to replace.

To remove the motor, first drill two half inch holes at the cleverly placed dimples I have circled.



You can also make a notch here if your a little lazy to be fuztin with angles



Take out the three bolts, and then push the motor away from you to let it be free. Be careful to have a hand on the window brace as it could come crashing down so let it down smooth.

Once the motors out and assuming it runs



You can take off the gear cover and see if it looks like this.

 

Pull out the pieces and get em cleaned up.

 

These are whats left of the three famous torque pins that assplode into bits.



Here are the three new ones you can get at any parts store



Hmmm, somehow my pic of how it all goes back together got deleted, i'll get it off my backup drive tonight, stay tuned...

Adrianspeeder

 

Hey thanks guys!! Tomorrow morning I will take the thing off. Pretty anoying that I have to drill holes to access the motor.

Since it does not click or anything, Im affraid the motor itself is broken, but we will see.

There is a NAPA store really close, so that is a good point. Do those stores have a large stock, or do I have to order?

Are there any other good (& reasonal priced) websites or shops to get parts? Would you recommend going to a junk yard?

 

Pass on the junkyard...suppose they test the used motor and it works...then you install it...and a week later it fails...

Buy the best...and cry only once.

Remember this...No return on electrical parts...make darn sure it's the motor, and not the switch.

 

I found a post on another forum, maybe it will be usefull to someone in the future:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/53...ghlight=window

 

That guy took 3 hours because he drilled out rivits and pulled the whole deal out. Only a 30 minute job driling the access holes.

Havin trouble findin that picture ya need, but I'll get it.

My napa had em in stock and I think it was 40ish after the core return.

Adrianspeeder

 

I did not have too much time today, but I got up early and could check out the drivers side (passengers side is also not working...)

After I checked if the motor had power (it had) I detached the motor. There were already holes drilled, so this problem appeared before. So it was really easy to take the motor off.

After opening the gear box, indeed the small plastic were smashed!

I tried ´petboys auto´ today, but the guy came up with some small plastic parts for wiper fluid or something, unbelievable.

So I will try NAPA or try to find them online...

Thanks very much everybody!!

 

did the motor spin when it wasn't bolted in?

Adrianspeeder

 

After I took the motor out, I put the plug back in to see if it was working at all. And it was nicely spinning! Also the window goes up and down pretty smooth, so I dont know why the little white things are exploded... Maybe they just become weak after a while?

 

Yup, you got it. Seems that trucks of this vintage are goin quick pin wise.

I cant find the damn picture i want to show ya, but picture filling the outer gear with grease, putting the three new pins half way in/angled out, then the inner gear pressing straight down lining the pins up and pushing them down. Fill the case with grease and bolt all back together.

Adrianspeeder

 

It's weekend, so time to work on the car again!
I got some grease from NAPA, they could get me the small nylon parts, but they had to order them unfortunately. But then there we have ebay, and I found a set of 2 there for half the money (not that it is that much, but anyway )
By the way NAPA IS a great shop, they helped me very professional.

It was very easy to put the gearbox together, although it was a little tricky to get the nylon things in together with the small inner gear with greasy fingers.

@Adrianspeeder: I made some pics of putting the stuff together, to complete your repair image collection!

I used a regular 9V battery to spin the motor, to test it and to be able to clean that small lineair gear.

So, re assemble the door tomorrow, and hope it will work! And then the next problem, this car has some...