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Cadillac Repair/81 Window Motor
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Question
I don't have a Chilton manual for my 1981 Cadillac Sedan DeVille and I have to replace my front, driver side window motor. I have taken off the panel, but the motor is "riveted" in place from the inside of the door. The only way I can see getting at it is to drill out the "rivets" but then how do I then secure the new motor. I'm looking to get a motor from an auto dismantler so I won't have instructions. Any idea how it's supposed to be switched out without drilling anything out?
Hi,
Don't get a junk yard motor. New motors are cheap and most carry a life time warranty. Make sure you are getting power to the motor. I am in a rush at the moment, but yes you need to drill the rivets out and replace with short bolts and lock washers, with the bolts facing towards the trim. The 1/4" rivet gun and aluminum rivets you don't have will need to be replaced by bolts.
You need someone to hold the glass with a hand on each side as you remove the arms from the regulator and the rollers from the glass frame. Then you have to wiggle the whole mess out. Have a block of wood at the bottom of the inside of the door for the window to rest on when your partner lets the window down. Reverse the process for install.
New motors are t the parts store or can be found on Ebay for around $40.
If you put a used motor in, get good at replacement, because that is why used parts come from junk yards, who have changed their name for more appeal-Auto dismantlers.
Junk is junk! These motors were a problem in the first place.
Good luck!
http://www.autotheftexpert.com
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Rob Painter
Expertise
Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?
Experience
Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.
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