Chevrolet Cavalier Window Motors

kdoggflog01

Hi i I bought a 2001 z24 in august and i'm already having some problems with it. First my passenger side window no longer works and its stuck at half way down position. I'd assume this is the motor for the power windows? For a while it would let you put it up a little or down a little at a time but now it doesn't work at all. Secondly whenever I got to stop rapidly I get a knocking noise and the car lurches forward on occasions. I also hear the same knocking noise when I make some of my turns. What could be causing this and how expensive will it be to fix?

Thanks.

finessechic

I bought a 2005 cavalier LS sedan back in november and the driver side power window just stopped working. i know that the car is a little over a year, but should the window do that?????? :confuse: could it be a manufacturer defect??????? a girl i work with has the same exact car and had the same exact thing happen......coincidence....i think not. this doesn't sound normal, not to mention the fact that there are no known recalls or defects for that year. scary. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!

signed,
a concerned cavalier owner :sick: :mad:

halsca

I wouldn't call it normal, just what failed the motor, or the cable used to raise and lower the window? I had the same thing happen with a Toyota Camery TWICE! In both cases it was the cable.

gonogo

I will tell you the truth, I have owned 4 Cavaliers, the last one 2000. It was a disappointment, made more cheaply than my 94 I traded.
I used to visit another forum, the problems were all listed, the cool part is, if you want to call it cool, is you knew what problems you were going to have before you had them. The good part you already know the fix and cost and instructions on the repair. The window motors were a #1 failure item. The parts put in the cavalier are to put it nicely low grade, you have to move up to get better parts. The fact that GM is going down the tube has something to do with it, but through there stupidity they are making it worse, would you buy another GM product.

finessechic

my cavalier is fully loaded.....has the best of everything...except no alloy wheels or sunroof which is fine by me....would a car that has pretty much everything on it still have a crappy motor.....my car has premium stereo sound, radio that tells station and song playing (and colts score when game is on radio), traction control, cruise control, premium interior, remote with trunk release both inside and on the remote, anti theft, power locks and windows, reading lights on right and left of dome light, sunglasses compartment above the middle console, the list goes on and on....it just seems weird that a fully loaded car could have a crappy window motor or cable or whatever it is. please help

gonogo

You said the magic word, Cavalier. My 1994 I went 120K and no window motor failure, but I rarely put the window down, wind noise.
Seems to me the real problems started with the new model starting 1995, complete redesign. The issues were with strut bearings, wheel bearings, blower motor resistor, head gasket leaks, not your EcoTech, window motors, CD stops working. The fix for that is pull the radio fuse for a few seconds, works on all GM radios, I found that out on the web.
Look at the bright side maybe they are making them better in 2005. From what I read the Cobalt is not much of a car either. Good Luck

woobegone

This sounds like the same problem I had last year with my '96 Pontiac Sunfire (same car, same parts). When the thermal regulator on the window motor begins to fail, the window will stop; wait a few minutes, it cools enough to go a little more, etc. But at that point, it's pretty much toast, so you need to get a new motor. I tried a remanufactured one from NAPA Auto Parts to save some $$ but it didn't last. Best to bite the bullet and get a GM-Delco reman. unit. I agree it shouldn't happen on so new a car as a 2005, but what can you do? Now, I'm concerned about my son's 2005 Cav he bought last Sept. -- hope he has better luck.

ozy

Just been to my dealer to have an oil pan leak checked after noticing the oil patch on the ground this morning. Had the opportunity to look at it, looks like there are some scratches underneath about 4 inches deep in 2 places. The technician said I might have hit a sharp object( I am very careful and I don't remember hearing/ feeling a bump). Also some noise coming from the front left wheel. The diagnostics say the wheel hub bearing needs replacing. the total quotation is CAN$1200 for both jobs. Is this realistic? After reading some posts here I feel I have started a similar route of money down the drain. It's a 2003 cav on a lease, with 57000km, warranty expired on 08/05/06. What's the best way forward. Please help

gonogo

Get an estimate from and independent shop, dealers are always notoriously high, lots of overhead.

zoramehta

On my 96 Cavalier I am having window issues. They are powered. About 10 yrs ago the driver side window went out and I had it fixed. Then about 2yrs ago it would lower half way and take forever to raise. Now it doesnt work at all. Just a yr ago my passenger side did the same thing. Now one of my back windows wont go down from the driver side switch. Now I have 3 windows that dont work!

Want to get this fixed. And will fix it with my dad, but would like some insite on what it may be before I go changing all the motors and that not be it. And will not get rid of the car so some logical help would be appreciated. Thanks

gonogo

95 and on were notorious for motors going out, not a bad job if you have done one. I would recommend you google motor replacement, lots of information out there.

georgecavalier

I also have a 2001 Z24 and from what I've heard the window motors aren't that reliable on the Cavaliers. It could be the motor but it could be a wiring issue. Either do it yourself or have a mechanic look at it.

gonogo

I think you are a little late, January post.

chancem1

can anybody give me any help with my sunroof , was working fine now it will not close , it will go back , but it is stuck open half way , hit the switch it closes half way and stops ?? motor stops also ??

kid12482

I am intalling the power windows into my 2002 cavalier, and i am looking for the parts that plug into the switchs and the part that plugs into the motors, that have the wires connected. I was woundering if anyone had the part numbers for those two parts

anniemac

Hi,
I'm don't know how to fix the power windows on my cav, I wish I did because this is the second cav that I've had window problems with, the first one cost me $600 and now the new car is doing the same thing, I'll never buy another Chevy, they are crap! Thanks for letting me rant, Ann

gonogo

Your right, you need to be a DIY to own a Cavalier.

jamn69

I have a '92 Z24 with stock aluminum alloy rims with a clear coat finish but they are tarnished. Does anyone know how to bring their shine back & maybe how to re-clear coat them ? Are there any items I should know good or bad about my 3.1 L/V6 with an auto trans ?

beatlefan

I purchased this car new and over the last 5 years, both windows failed. At first, they would get stuck and I could drive a bit and eventually, get window back up. But after awhile they finally, failed and had to be replaced by dealer under extended warranty.
Is anyone aware of any issue with voltage regulator, alternator or weak battery that may be cause these failures ?
Thanks

gonogo

Just low grade motors, every Cavalier since 1995 have had this problem.

beatlefan

Thanks, It appears to be the consensus. How much extra would the vehicle cost to use a slightly better product ? You don't have answer this, just talking out loud. My dealership indicated when I had the first one replaced 2 years ago that there were no known issues. lol

goodguy482

I have a 1993 Cavalier convertible with the left rear window sluggish. I tried to remove it to lubricate the mechanism but was unsuccessful. There is a bolt on the bottom of the window with the nut on the inside of the panel. I am afraid if I remove the nut to get the window out I will not be able to get the bolt back through the hole in the side panel. Can someone tell me if this bolt is fixed in the window mechanism so it will not fall out. Also to remove the backrest of the back seat I need a special tool that looks like a spline wrench... What is the size.
Thanks for the help

gonogo

Well when you pay all the retires health and pension payments, workers not working, there is not much left to make a good car. The ironic thing is, it is a entry level car, after all your car troubles they think you will buy the next class up, not.

mattattack1234

I have an 2003 cavalier 4dr ; I had vent visor shades on it and recently took them off because they were not sticking well and falling off. Now i have a problem. The vent visor after time pulled on the vertical black molding on the door and seems to leak in air when i drive i was wondering does anyone know how to make that molding tighter cause i dont see any screws or how its attached. Thanks

tm33398

I was wondering how to know, on my 2004 Cavalier, if my power window switch is bad. It is easy to replace but at least $55.00 to replace buying online or 87.00 from a local Chevy dealer. I am guessing it might be the switch by the way it acted when I disconnected the switch from the wiring and then the driver's side would not down. First it was just the passenger side and then when I removed the switch and reconnected it, driver's side would not go down. Maybe the circuit board is damaged from spilling liquid on the switch.

Mr_Shiftright

I presume you mean the master switch on the driver's door?

I guess the only way for you to diagnose this for CERTAIN would be to have a wiring diagram of the switch and a test light, and then you would test the switch one position at a time and see if current is going in and coming out at the appropriate points. You can bypass the switch by connecting the wires but without a wiring diagram I wouldn't want you doing that. If you touch two live leads together you'll blow a fuse.

Which reminds me, have you checked all the fuses? On some cars, not all the windows work off the same fuse.

tm33398

Checked the fuses and just checked for juice to the lead into the connector in the door and there is juice in there, so I would think its the window motor, although some have said it could be the regulator, but it appears I will have to go to a shop. Thnaks for the reply. The master switch is in between the seats on this model. :sick:

Mr_Shiftright

You could pop off the door panel and peel back the moisture barrier and test for voltage right at the motor. By "regulator" do you mean the power window relay?

dibson

Hi, i have a 96 RH drive Cavalier and was told by an auto electrician that the problem i was having with intermittent window raise and lower could be a faulty circuit breaker and that he wasnt sure if the actual motors had seperate circuit brakers or if there was one that controlled all the windows, the front passenger window does not operate at all, the drivers window is intermittent as is the RHR passenger window where as the LHR passenger window works fine, can any one shed any light on where i might find the circuit breaker as i would like to try and bypass it completely to see if it helps, if not aftermarket motors are supposed to be better than the original although costly. :confuse: <img src="

sweetpea_mars

I've seen a lot of comments on here about the power windows and at least one comment about the breaks lurching. I have a 2004 Cavalier that I bought in 2005 from Carmax. Thankfully, my car is still under the extended warranty. I have the same problem with the breaks - when I try to stop suddenly or if I hit a bump or pothole while breaking, the breaks make a grinding sort of noise and lurches forward. I've been told by one mechanic that this is due to the rotors, which are supposedly a known problem for the Cavalier, and that they're about $300 per wheel to replace and fix. Also, six months after I bought the car, the driver side window suddenly stopped working and was stuck half rolled down. Every once in a while I could get it to go up a little. Literally a fraction of an inch. It took about two weeks for it to eventually roll all the way back up. According to the Carmax mechanic that worked on it in 2005, the motor was burned out. The sun roof and passenger windows have been working with no problems, though. Just about six months ago the same window started having the same problem. I took my car in to get an oil change and I neglected to tell them NOT to roll down the driver side window. Now it's stuck half rolled down and won't go up. Freaking car!!! In addition, at least five of my coworkers have Cavaliers and they all have the same issues with the windows and the breaks.

scubadiverbob

My car has all four window motors now defective. Is this a manufacturer defect? They all failed about the same time and in the summer. Are they made in china? I've been told you can get kits to make the windows roll up and down using a handle instead of a motor; is that true?

Mr_Shiftright

the motors themselves or the regulators? Did anyone ascertain the exact reason for the failures?--that is, did they burn up, or did something break, or ??? Without knowing that, we couldn't speculate as to whether it's a defect, a coincidence, or something wrong in your car that frying motors.

shyguycase

From what I have been reading, the window motor issue is VERY common in the 2004 Cavalier. I am also in the same boat. All four windows on my Cavalier are stuck (Thankfully in the up position). I have been researching for recalls on these motors, but it doesn't appear that Chevy intends to do anything about these as I have found no such luck in that regard. With that in mind, I don't intend on buying another Chevy vehicle.

Mr_Shiftright

If they all stuck at the same time then you have a switch or relay or fuse problem, not a motor problem.

scubadiverbob

Nope, all the window motors are defective. Guess some of the parts may have been "made in China". Japanese motor still runs great, and passed California smog with flying colors; but, other things are failing. One problem is the anti-theft system. For some reason, the car thinks I'm stealing it and takes quite a bit of time to start. Sometimes four hours. Anyone know where the anti-theft relay is located? I'm thinking that may be the problem.

maryjanemeows

I just posted in the forum for A/C problems and mentioned my electric window problems. I didn't realize that so many other owners have had the same problem with the electric window motor. My 2000 Chevy Cavalier has 51,000 miles on it. This is the second time that I have had to replace the driver's side motor and the first time for the passenger's window.

It is very frustrating to think the parts could be better to start with. Just venting.

dibson

i have pulled one apart and believe it is a problem with the gearing, they have a nylon type gar and it is very fine methinks there lies the problem, the gearing is sticking, there does not appear to be any burning out of the motors at all, i will try and fix the problem my self and if i have any success will repost with the solution, by the way these can be bought as aftermeket parts that are supposed to be 100% more reliable which wouldnt be hard to believe as the original ones by all accounts are utter crap.

Mr_Shiftright

Thanks and good luck. Let us know how you come out with it!

solar93

Just bought a 2002 Cavalier 2 months ago thought it was just the switch, it's not . so did everyone with this problem replace the motors and regulators. don't want to play the game.
thanks