Date:         Thu, 20 May 2004 20:59:04 -0400
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Power Window Woes... Can someone help?
In-Reply-To:  <56C6DD5A-AA11-11D8-808E-0030657C6ABA@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Okay, I've taken this apart. The fun part is that there is no coverage
of this in the Bentley. Oh well.

The Power Windows consist of window regulator and a motor. In non-power
window vanagons the window regulator is up mid center of the door and
and is held in with two bolts. On the power window Vanagon's the window
regulator is low down in the door (near the footwell in fact) and is
attached to an electric motor.

In non-power windows, what controls the window going up and down, is
the hand crank (which is part of the regulator) , which in turn moves a
cable. In power windows the  motive power is the electric motor which
turns the regulator, which in turn moves the cable.

My problem was simple. The electric motor was stuck. But getting to it
was no fun. The motor is attached with 2 -10 mm bolts to the regulator.
The regulator is attached to the door frame by 1 -10 mm bolt and 2 -10
mm nuts. You have to detach the regulator from the door so that you can
move it up and gain access to the 10 mm bolts holding the motor on.

Once you have done that you should be able to free up the motor. In my
case once I put a wrench on the spindle and broke the stiction point,
the motor was able to turn freely. Now I just have to put it back
together again.

For Larry A's benefit, the way the circuit works is that there are TWO
+12 circuits. Throw the switch in one direction and +12 is sent to the
motor on one side (and it turns in that direction). Throw the switch in
the other direction and +12 is sent to the motor on the other side (and
it turns the other way.)

Electric motors are cool that way.

The stiction (sticking of the spindle) was probably caused by the waxy
rust proofing stuff sprayed in to the door.


On May 19, 2004, at 11:54 PM, Kim Brennan wrote:

> It's a pretty simple electrical circuit, if there is power at
> the switch (on the appropriate side) then there almost certainly should
> be power to the motor. Which leaves a possible dead motor as the
> culprit.