Power Windows in 99+

[colosilverado]

Grrrrrrrrrr, these freakin' cheap, cable-driven power windows just chap my, you-know-what.

I have had both sides snap within the last 6 months.

I think these things are crap, and they do not like to be taken off road, because both of them have snapped within hours of getting back from off roading. Nothing serious either.....

 

Just a word of warning to those of you who have noticed the grinding noise coming from the power window area, or a sound that sounds kinda like there's gravel or something in there.....quit using that window as much as possible because it will more than likely go at some point. The one on the passenger side took quite awhile to go vs. the driver's side because I used it more sparingly. The driver's side sucked when it went because I use it alot more......

 

Just a word of warning, I hope none of you have to deal with it!

[RyanbabZ71]

Thanks man i had the grinding noise early fall and took it in and they fixed it.  No more noise

[KMT15]

oh great, I have a 99 Silverado and every time I hit a bump I hear a little rattle coming from that same area.  Its under warranty, should I take it in?

 

-KMT15

[Shaners]

oh great, I have a 99 Silverado and every time I hit a bump I hear a little rattle coming from that same area.  Its under warranty, should I take it in?

 

-KMT15

Mine would rattle when the window was down.  It ended up having a loose bolt in the regulator.

[colosilverado]

The noise I am speaking of is actually when rolling the windows up or down. I don't recall them making any other noises other than that, so any different type of noises may be what Shaners had. My first one died about a week after the stinkin' warranty was up....idn't dat the way it works some times?

[colosilverado]

Sorry for not being more specific about when the noise occurs, KMT15. Hopefully yours is just a loose bolt like Shaners. The door panels are easy to take off and there are several guys here who have some helpful hints for doing it......

[99silveradoz71]

I had a binding("honking" type sound is the best way I can put it) sound when it was going down on the driver's side.  I'd hear it about 1/2 way down.  The dealer has "lubed" it and solved this problem more than once.  Any idea what they lube and if it's something I could do at home should it happen again?

[Off Road Red]

The only noise my window makes a high pitched squeek when I roll it down, I think the weather stripping that's on the door panel is to tight.

[colosilverado]

I had a high pitched squeak when I would roll down the passenger side window and it first starts down. Like it almost pops, like breaking an air-tight seal or something.

 

I don't know what they lube in there. I took my motor thingie apart and there is a center "hub" thing in there with some grooves where the cable wraps around sevral times. That is coated with white lithium grease or some kinda white greasy stuff. My cable on one side snapped and the side that just broke is frayed or crushed. Is is crushed in the area of that little hub, so maybe the lube keeps it from binding up. I had thought about cutting out the bad section of cable and seeing if I could put a new end on it ( press on thing that acts as a stop to keep the cable from sling backward). I imagine that those things have to be a certain length or else the window won't open or close all the way.

For right now, the passenger side is just blocked up with a piece of wood stuck under a window bracket thing. I am hoping to find one at a junkyard instead of paying $200 for the part. This could get to be expensive if I keep going offroad....

 

It is so weird that both of mine died after a little off-roading. That's what I get, I guess! I should just keep it on the road, but it is so much fun bouncing around on mountain trails.  

[KMT15]

Im going to pull the door panel off soon.  I installed new speakers a while back so maybe I just left something loose?

 

-KMT15

[colosilverado]

Yeah, KMT15, it sounds like maybe that's what you have. Something loose. I hope so!

99Z, I don't think they probably lube what I was thinking they do. Maybe they just lube the weather stripping or something???

 

Here's some pics I have of the guts of the power window stuff in case it helps anyone. They aren't the greatest and since I have to get back outside and finish removing the moulding on my truck, they're not titled or in any particular order. They are in "my album".

 

Window pics etc.

[99silveradoz71]

I recall the dealer saying something about roadsalt, dirt, etc being on the glass when they lubed this once before.  Maybe it was the molding or such.

[Blazer24]

I got home from work one day and pulled my mirror in so I could get in the garage (#### those small garage doors) and as I was putting my window up I heard a strange noise and watched my window fall back inside the door.  When I took it to the dealership they replaced something (can't remember what, it's been 2+ years) on both driver and passenger sides, haven't had a problem since.

[RyanbabZ71]

they lubed something inside mine too.  It left a nice geasey substance on the window.  PITA to clean off.  It took over a month to get rid of it.