Livid!!! Three window motors now out of four only 70,000 miles. Totally unacceptable

**MyCar2000GT** · 02-22-2012

[COLOR=#ff0000] Last night my drivers side front window regulator motor went out just like 2 others in my car. Now, I have 3 of the four windows not functioning due to defective GM OEM parts. I have filed complaints for all on AUTOBEEF and I know others have the same problem because I see other cars same year same model driving around with tape at the top of their window as a way to try ad seal it from the outside elements. I cannot believe that their has not been a recall. I replaced one of the motors and regulators myself. It worked for 1 month and went out again. I do not have $1200 to sink into getting the window motors and regulators replaced. Can someone please offer any advice on best way to handle this not only from a consumer standpoint where GM should have to recall these but also advice on where to get these parts from a reputable dealer for a reasonable price. I am not employed at this this and I am going to school. I cannot believe for the low miles that I have put on this car, that it keeps falling apart. I purchased the car in 2003 with 48,000. It only has 70,000. I do not feel like it should keep falling apart this soon. Many other things like interior accessory panels, dash board warping, cd player stopped working a few years back, I cannot get the freaking spark plugs out, the transmission seems to have a slight miss. The leak on the floorboard from a crappy job that gm did sealing the area around the blower motor. It just keeps on getting better. PLEASE ADVISE./COLOR]

**GTPSHAWTY** · 02-22-2012

1200 foor window regs?? jy and diy less than a fraction of that spent

**BillBoost37** · 02-22-2012

Not reading...Just thought I'd mention that Intrigue98 has a car he's scrapping with all 4 good. I think 3 are new.

**FordMan77** · 02-22-2012

Let's start at the beginning. You have a 2000 GT, so it's 12 years old now regardless of the mileage on it. You have non-working window regs. that we have all had to deal with. It's a known issue. Lube the felt guides in the window frame and you won't be eating up regulators again. They stick to the glass after drying out and then screw up the regulator. Check out rockauto.com for prices on regulator/motor combos. Usually the stock motor is fine, its just the reg. breaks and jams it up. I have put 2 drivers side regs. on my 00 GT and I am still using the factory motor.

GM is NOT going to issue a recall for this as it affects about every other model of GM out there (Monte, Bonneville, Imp, etc). Good luck with that.

The interior is plastic. Heat/sun warps plastic. Happens on all cars not just GM. If that's the case then I need to b**ch at Ford for the dash in my 84 Vic that has cracked all to hell.

Replace the CD player w/ a used unit for $50 and about 30 min. of your time and move on. Or go aftermarket.

Which spark plugs can you not remove? Let me guess, the back ones? Disconnect the front dogbone mounts and use a strap to pull the motor forward to get more room. Done.

Your transmission cannot "miss", only your engine can do this. If you feel it "slipping", then I would suggest a trans. fluid and filter change. If you cannot remove the spark plugs then I suspect that a tune up is needed here as well, so change the plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter and clean the MAF (with approved MAF cleaner spray) and see what you get. You can do all that for under $200 and have a great running car again. I got my 00 GT w/ 140K on it and it's still going strong at 265K with just normal wear items replaced. I see nothing on it compared to other cars/makes that stands out to cost me more to own/maintain. Cars are wear-items. They break. We fix and drive on. About the only way to not deal with it is to get a new car every 3 years and stay in debt just to have a factory warranty.

**MyCar2000GT** · 02-22-2012

I did lube the regular guides all four of them and that did NOT keep them from breaking. I do change my oil, filters, flush the radiator, and all of that stuff on a regular basis my self. I have everything documented because I wanted a record and also it would help me maintain regular intervals. What I said was that I could not get the spark plugs out because they are stuck down inside individual heat shields. Maybe you do not have this car and therefore may not know what I am talking about. I have inquired on here before and asked for any advise or help to remove those. I know what a engine miss feels like and I am not talking about the engine. I am talking about hesitation and a different type of not grabbing or something.

**matt5112** · 02-22-2012

well its a GT, meaning it has a 3800, which means many of us have changed our spark plugs many times.

Remove the wire, and the heat shield should come with it.

if not, just pull it off.

3/8ths drive 5/8ths spark plug socket and a 3" extension.

With that, it should all come together.

**FordMan77** · 02-22-2012

Yep, whenever I change the wires and plugs I just twist the boot and pull. If it won't come off (which the back ones are known for) then I just grip it and rip it, then remove the rest. No sense leaving spark plugs in just because you are trying to save the wire, which is probably shot anyways.

If the trans is slipping then I would still go with the pan drop/fluid/filter change and see what you get. I wouldn't flush it but that's just me. Too many burnt trans. from people flushing them.

I've done tune ups on both my 95 Bonneville and my 00GT both of which have the 3800, and have tuned up a few others. A bad set of wires/plugs could very well feel like a trans issue, along w/ a lot of things. I'd start there and see what you get. If you still have trans issues then throw a post up in the 4T65E section and we'll see what we can do to help.

I know it can be frustrating and seem like everything always breaks when you have no cash or time, but it's just little things and if you can prioritize it and knock it out a little at a time then it gets easier. So start w/ plugs/wires and go from there. Just keep some good tape on hand to keep that glass up

Don't feel left out, I'm going to have hernia surgery on the 28th that will keep me layed up for a good week before I can do much of anything and I still have my 95 Bonneville with its rear seat, gas tank, fuel pump and lines laying on my garage floor, some steel that I need to weld in for rust repair and my 00 GT just decided to tell me that my rear brake pads are shot on the way home today (grinding). So, I have to at least get rear pads on my 00 GT before this Tues. or my wife won't have a car to drive as I am taking hers when I try and get back to work on the 5th (the Vic has higher/better seats- not as low as the GT), and I am working 40+ all week to keep up with jobs before I go out on leave. Not being able to lift anything over 25lbs right now sucks when you are you're own mechanic. I don't freak out (much), I just prioritize things and go from there. Brakes on the GT and the Bonne can sit and wait (unfortunately). Get to it when I can, ya know?

**RareGMFan** · 02-22-2012

Some of your issues may be due to the car being a lemon, or possibly because of the climate where you live. I just hit 165k miles on my car, and by my own admission, I've neglected it a bit the last couple years. Yet, despite living in an apartment complex with no garage, there is no warping of the dash, nor have I really heard of that being an issue with these cars. I had 1 window regulator go bad so far, and that was on a door I replaced after an accident. I'm suspecting it's because the styrofoam insulation didn't sit properly in there since I didn't have replacement tree clips to put the door panel back on tightly. I could hear it rubbing something when I lowered that window all the way down. I replaced it with the one off my old door almost a year ago, and it's still working today. The rest have been fine so far, knock on wood.

BTW, if it's any consolation, even if you bought a BMW, you'd still be replacing your window motors/regulators by 70k miles.

**Ravenwald** · 02-23-2012

I've replaced my passenger side window regulator once already, and the guy before me did it once or twice himself. It's ****ty, but that seems to be the fate of GP's. I'm just thankful I only have 2 windows. :P

**dsmuts** · 02-23-2012

why is there no option for no problems with my windows?

**FordMan77** · 02-23-2012

Because you sir are a minority, lol... Heck, if all I have to complain about is a window reg. that dies every 2 years and takes 30 min to change then I'm just fine with that. At least it's not a Chrysler product

**dsmuts** · 02-23-2012

I've owned many gms and i haven't had an issue with any of the windows or spark plugs but i do take good care of my cars and they usually treat me pretty good.

**mystic231** · 03-18-2012

Defective poll. There is no option for "No problems at all; this is a fine automobile!!".
1998 with 278,000 miles: no window problems.
2002 GTP with 158,000 miles: no window problems.
2002 GT with 98,000 miles (buying this week): all the windows work fine.

**dsmuts** · 03-18-2012

I already said that lol

**matt5112** · 03-19-2012

My buddy had to replace his reg at 140 000 km.

But the car is 25 years old.

**MyCar2000GT** · 04-15-2012

Thanks everyone for replying to my comments. First of all I am not a sir. Second of all, the 79 Trans Am that I had that was 25 years old never had the window motors or regulators go out. That says something about the quality of the motors that GM used to install as standard on a vehicle. Since I last posted here the last and 4th window has done the same thing so I think I have every right to complain about this issue. Some of you have made comments about how old the vehicle is. Well all I can say is GM or Pontiac or whomever design and built the car fitted it with window motors and regulators to all last about the same length of time and as I have said before I have close to 70K miles. Say what you want but, I think this is CRAP.
So none of my windows go up all of the way and I have at least two of them fixed to where they will never come down and the other two I have to mess with all of the time. I do not have the money to sink into the car and I wished I would have sold it at around 65K miles because now I am stuck with the POS. Otherwise, I am not unhappy overall with my car but, I am extremely irritated about the window deal. If I was to purchase replacements for all four windows, it will cost be close to a grand. That is bs is all that I am saying.

Originally Posted by FordMan77

Let's start at the beginning. You have a 2000 GT, so it's 12 years old now regardless of the mileage on it. You have non-working window regs. that we have all had to deal with. It's a known issue. Lube the felt guides in the window frame and you won't be eating up regulators again. They stick to the glass after drying out and then screw up the regulator. Check out rockauto.com for prices on regulator/motor combos. Usually the stock motor is fine, its just the reg. breaks and jams it up. I have put 2 drivers side regs. on my 00 GT and I am still using the factory motor.

GM is NOT going to issue a recall for this as it affects about every other model of GM out there (Monte, Bonneville, Imp, etc). Good luck with that.

The interior is plastic. Heat/sun warps plastic. Happens on all cars not just GM. If that's the case then I need to b**ch at Ford for the dash in my 84 Vic that has cracked all to hell.

Replace the CD player w/ a used unit for $50 and about 30 min. of your time and move on. Or go aftermarket.

Which spark plugs can you not remove? Let me guess, the back ones? Disconnect the front dogbone mounts and use a strap to pull the motor forward to get more room. Done.

Your transmission cannot "miss", only your engine can do this. If you feel it "slipping", then I would suggest a trans. fluid and filter change. If you cannot remove the spark plugs then I suspect that a tune up is needed here as well, so change the plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter and clean the MAF (with approved MAF cleaner spray) and see what you get. You can do all that for under $200 and have a great running car again. I got my 00 GT w/ 140K on it and it's still going strong at 265K with just normal wear items replaced. I see nothing on it compared to other cars/makes that stands out to cost me more to own/maintain. Cars are wear-items. They break. We fix and drive on. About the only way to not deal with it is to get a new car every 3 years and stay in debt just to have a factory warranty.

**MyCar2000GT** · 04-15-2012

Well, you are about the only person that I have ever heard of that has not had a problem. If you do not like the poll then do not participate

**matt5112** · 04-15-2012

Yeah guy, the windows are slower than a broken W body reg.

Says wonders about GM quality.

You cannot exclude data because you choose to do so unless you wish to have your poll be completely useless.

Hell, its useless anyways, its on a forum.

What percentage of car owners use forums?