Can't get window to roll back up

[clemsontiger]

I rolled the drivers side window all the way down and now it only comes back up about an inch. It will roll back down and then back up an inch...over and over, but won't go up further. I've tugged on it, pushed on it, opend the door, slammed the door, etc...nothing. Any thoughts?

[Bill Davies]

Originally Posted by clemsontiger

I rolled the drivers side window all the way down and now it only comes back up about an inch. It will roll back down and then back up an inch...over and over, but won't go up further. I've tugged on it, pushed on it, opend the door, slammed the door, etc...nothing. Any thoughts?

What does it sound like when the window stops? Do you hear gears grinding or does it just stop or...?

[6880 Mike]

Gear teeth are gone on the regulator or the motor, or both.

[Bill Davies]

Originally Posted by 6880 Mike

Gear teeth are gone on the regulator or the motor, or both.

That's what it was when mine did that, but I was waiting for confirmation of a grinding noise.

[KacyC3]

if it makes noises like they suggest then probably gears like they mentioned, if no noise then probably motor went out. have someone work the switch while you pull up on the window and if it goes with no abnormal noises you should just need a new motor.

[clemsontiger]

Well, the update is, I went back out an hr later and the thing rolled-up fine. The noise was more like the regulator was catching on something, hitting something dead hard and stopping. No issues since. Could it be that the windows aren't getting used a lot in the winter and something in the motor is not liking that?

[Texdentist]

Originally Posted by clemsontiger

Well, the update is, I went back out an hr later and the thing rolled-up fine. The noise was more like the regulator was catching on something, hitting something dead hard and stopping. No issues since. Could it be that the windows aren't getting used a lot in the winter and something in the motor is not liking that?

Take the door panel off and look for a loose regulator mechanism. It's been many years since I took out a C3 window regulator, but it isn't all that hard. Worst case scenario, you remove the entire regulator and check the motor and gears. Ebay has many vendors with the various regulator parts.

[ctgene]

You can test the motor by making up 2 wires and run directly from your battery. Run the negative post wire to the motor body and the positive post wire to one of the terminals of the motor. On my '79 these motor wires are brown and blue, one is for up the other down(driver side).

I suspect your motor is good since you were able to get the glass back up, but if it happens again it will help you eliminate some causes.

I personally would suspect your switch.

[Bill Davies]

Originally Posted by clemsontiger

Well, the update is, I went back out an hr later and the thing rolled-up fine. The noise was more like the regulator was catching on something, hitting something dead hard and stopping. No issues since. Could it be that the windows aren't getting used a lot in the winter and something in the motor is not liking that?

I'm still betting on a stripped regulator gear or something is loose in there. The motor sounds like it is working fine until it gets bound up/stopped by the jacked up regulator.