SL/R107: 1980 450SL Window Issue
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 474
Likes: 36
From: Central Ohio
2017 C43, 1966 230SL, 2006 Jeep Rubicon
1980 450SL Window Issue
Hi. I bought this car last fall with this problem pre-existing on BOTH windows.
When wanting to put the windows up OR down, they only move a short distance - maybe 3 inches. The motor groans and the glass stops. I pull up or push down on the glass, use the window switch again, and the glass moves another 3 inches. Repeat until window is all the way up/down.
I took the door panel off, cleaned the tracks as best I could, and sprayed Liquid Wrench lithium grease on them. This didn't make any difference. Then, when testing the cleaned & lubed tracks, I noticed that the small gear on the lift motor goes around once for each of these cycles. So, I though there may be something caught in the gear, or the gear may be damaged some how. After my best attempts at cleaning and inspecting, I can't see anything wrong with this small gear (pictured below).
What other diagnosis should I perform to determine if it is a physical problem (gear, tracks, or lift mechanism), or a problem with the motor?
Thanks!
When wanting to put the windows up OR down, they only move a short distance - maybe 3 inches. The motor groans and the glass stops. I pull up or push down on the glass, use the window switch again, and the glass moves another 3 inches. Repeat until window is all the way up/down.
I took the door panel off, cleaned the tracks as best I could, and sprayed Liquid Wrench lithium grease on them. This didn't make any difference. Then, when testing the cleaned & lubed tracks, I noticed that the small gear on the lift motor goes around once for each of these cycles. So, I though there may be something caught in the gear, or the gear may be damaged some how. After my best attempts at cleaning and inspecting, I can't see anything wrong with this small gear (pictured below).
What other diagnosis should I perform to determine if it is a physical problem (gear, tracks, or lift mechanism), or a problem with the motor?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 474
Likes: 36
From: Central Ohio
2017 C43, 1966 230SL, 2006 Jeep Rubicon
Thought I'd follow up on this old thread. It turned out to be the electric window motors. Well, not the motors themselves but the large white plastic gear inside the motor case. This gear has worm-style teeth that turn the shaft that turns the gear in the window lift (regulator?) mechanisim. This plastic gear had teeth sheared off creating a dead spot. When pulling up on the window glass, it moved the internal parts just enough to get them to grab again and allow the plastic wheel to move around one more time and find the dead spot again. This was the issue in each door. I got good used motor assemblies and replaced them.
