78 Avanti II Driver's side power window motor

[davette59]

The window on the driver's side of my 78 Avanti goes up/or down about half way and stops. I wait for about a minute and it will go another few inches and stops. It seems as though some sort of overload is overheating and works again after cooling down. If someone pushes the button and I pull up on the window with a little assist, it will go up or down all the way. Does this sound like a bad motor? If so, where can I get one and are they hard to replace?

[Skip Lackie]

Before I bothered to replace the motor, I guess I'd take the door panel off and try to determine if the window was binding somehow. Also, since the motor is bolted to the fiberglass door, it's possible that the fiberglass has cracked and the motor is actually moving down when it's pushing the window up. Finally, the Avantis use the same motor as 2-seat Ford Thunderbirds and some other Fords. This issue has been discussed many times before, and a search might turn up the Ford part number. I remember posting it several years ago.

[thunderations]

Sounds like you have a problem that is making the motor overheat, causing the breaker to turn off, or a weak breaker. Check for binding and lubricate any moving parts. Breakers are cheap, so getting a new one is a good idea while you're at it.

[davette59]

When getting the car painted, the windows were removed and re-installed by an auto glass co and I'm sure they lubricated everything well. The suggestion about the breaker sounds possible, where is it located?

[davette59]

Did a search and didn't see anything about the ford part. The fiberglass should be fine, I had a glass company remove and re-install the Windows for painting and re-chroming. I'm feel sure they lubricated the tracks well also.

[sweetolbob]

Did a search and didn't see anything about the ford part. The fiberglass should be fine, I had a glass company remove and re-install the Windows for painting and re-chroming. I'm feel sure they lubricated the tracks well also.

Bob Johnstone's site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

[Gunslinger]

The paint shop may have lubed everything but they could easily have pinched or slightly bent one of the channels. That could well cause the window to bind, thus overheating the breaker.

[TWChamp]

I'd bet you have a weak breaker. I have a 91 Olds that does the same thing. I lubed the channels, and that helped a little, but my breaker is definitely weak. I can only get a half inch at a time, or a couple inches if I help lift the window.

If the window lift spring is broken or weak that can also cause an extra load for the motor.

[karterfred88]

Did a search and didn't see anything about the ford part. The fiberglass should be fine, I had a glass company remove and re-install the Windows for painting and re-chroming. I'm feel sure they lubricated the tracks well also.

Doubt it. Most glass companies install and remove-unless instructed to do more-they don't. Too bad when they were out, you didn't get a chance to clean out the window gear box and re-lube it. These things are very finicky to start with, a simple movement to make them seal better can be enough to bind them. I'd remove the glass, regulator and clean and lube everything and replace any questionable rollers, before trying a quick fix of replacing the breaker. Could work, or you might end up burning out an expensive motor. Bob's site has a complete rebuild article. The Ford motor mentioned is "The motors in my 63 had the Ford number(C0LF-14553-B) and the Bosch number(M 05810 BA) printed on them. I was also told that Ford number(C1AB-14553-A) also would fit. I don't know what they were used on though. "