Window Motor Question

['_']

I have a 2000 Camry LE and have never replaced the window motors. The windows are starting to move up and down really slow, is it time for me to replace the motors or clean up the tracks? If I do decide to replace the motors at a Toyota dealership, what kind motor will they put in? I wanted to find out before I decide to pay 200+ to get them fixed.

[uibalnme]

Have you ever replaced the battery? The electrical accessories (windows, lights, stereo, and so on...) run off the battery, so if the battery is on it's way out it can't supply enough power to the accessories. Slow window motors could be symtom of a weak or dying battery. You can also try cleaning the battery posts and cable treminals if it's not the battery. Cleaning the posts and treminals is also the cheapest route in tracking down a power problem.

[RodMillenFan]

Originally Posted by corruptninja

I have a 2000 Camry LE and have never replaced the window motors. The windows are starting to move up and down really slow, is it time for me to replace the motors or clean up the tracks? If I do decide to replace the motors at a Toyota dealership, what kind motor will they put in? I wanted to find out before I decide to pay 200+ to get them fixed.

Originally Posted by uibalnme

Have you ever replaced the battery? The electrical accessories (windows, lights, stereo, and so on...) run off the battery, so if the battery is on it's way out it can't supply enough power to the accessories. Slow window motors could be symtom of a weak or dying battery. You can also try cleaning the battery posts and cable treminals if it's not the battery. Cleaning the posts and treminals is also the cheapest route in tracking down a power problem.

Once you're up and running, the alternator's taking over the job of spewing out the voltage, right? I suppose it could be an alternator problem-- voltage regulator maybe-- but I've seen those fail high not low.

Are all the windows slow? I would think that if you had trash on the tracks or worn out motor, it wouldn't necessarily be uniform among all windows. Maybe more on the window used most (that one sitting on your left).

If you change out the motor, you're generally doing the entire window regulator (i.e. the motor, track, cables, etc.). I would guess that the dealership would do the same thing... you'll just be paying more for Toyota parts and labor. I've replaced window regulators on both of our Camrys (Gen3) and it's not technically difficult... maybe just a bit time consuming and tedious. It should be noted that I wasn't seeing the windows move slowly-- the cable attachments just broke over years of wear and tear. And it should also be noted that there wasn't any build-up on the tracks of either vehicle. Something to consider...

If you decide to do it yourself... find ANY diagrams in the service manual for how the inside door panel is mounted, find it, study it, use it. At least on the Gen3 it IS a bugger to get the door handle off unless you know exactly how things are held together. Even then, it's a pain (specifically the inside door release... that caused me to do a lot of this -> )