Hello,
I am new here . I have the typical 91 GXE Window problems. This is atleast the 3rd time for several of the windows, with most hardly ever being used. Here are the problems :
Front Passenger : rolls down, but not back up and since taking to be smogged, the @)(*&# guy rolled it down and so it was stuck for weeks, which contributed to a filthy car and a Mom with bronchitis.

Rear Passenger : seems to work slowly...very slowly...so expecting it to die out completely very soon.

Rear Driver : Drops and button doesn't roll up or down. I keep one of those large suction cups with the hook on it to keep it from dropping completely, but it still works its way down, especially in hotter weather, which here is CA has been all "winter". I had a cousin look at it, he's afraid to really remove anything because of the "wires" and how they wrap around the motor....which leads me to the question....I have hard talk about it being the motor and talk about it being regulators....can someone please tell me what the difference is? I just paid a guy (before my cousin) $68 to have it "stuck" about 3/4" of the way up. It said it took an hour to get the door panel off...I can probably do it in 10mins. Then they wanted $1000.00 a side to repair them. I am a woman, so I am learning to expect this from some car repair places. So, besides the guy telling me a dirty joke 5 mins after meeting me...I will not ever go back their for any work to be done, even if I broke down in their driveway !!
So...as stating ...I am a woman ... a woman without a lot of money for repairs... but a woman that can follow instructions when they are clear and can do some minor repairs and not afraid to try to learn what she doesn't know. So..Can these be fixed? I saw the instructions on a web site posted in one of these posts and it looks rather simple. At this point, I would atleast like to have the windows stuck UP and take care of one at a time. I was going to go to a pick a part, but from reading your posts, this would only be buying more of the same problem parts. When they were first repaired, I was told it was the arm breaking. Any ideas on that? or what that meant? since I see no note of an "arm" in any of your posts.
Also, is there something good to attach the plastic piece that snaps over the door lock? I have one that refuses to stay snapped on and I don't want to lose it.
Thanks for any encouragement at all
Lalla

 

It's your window regulators, common problem on the Max.

Craig Brace has regulator replacement instructions on his site: http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte671n/mymax.html and Courtesy Nissan here in the DFW Metroplex sells upgraded regulators (supposed to last longer) for around 60 bucks a pop.

Courtesy Nissan Parts Department (3rd Gen Max page)

 

Some quick lil notes...

window motor - the actual 'powerplant' of the window; electric part therefore most likely oodles of money

window regulator - this is a combination of plastic and cable; physically holds up/guides the window within the tracks

What goes wrong is little plastic clips that clamp around the main rail in the middle break on the regulator and thus the window falls down.

Fix = buy new ones

You CAN make the window stay up with a broken regulator (this is what I did a few yrs back) though if you dont have money to blow. An easy way would be to take off the door panel and put a screw into the metal frame so that it goes into the hollow body of the door right under the glass. This'll hold it up no problem. The screw is under the glass and prevents it from sliding down.

You'd wanna unplug the window harness when doing this though.

The clips on your door lock caps are probably broken off on the back. Just get a non-broken one

 

James has said it all. One more thing: anytime you have a problem with the car, get on the board and search before giving the car to anyone to fiddle with, as you have learned. Most times, there will be DIY instructions that you can follow.
welcome to the org.

 

Wow....you guys are the greatest!
I wasn't sure how I would be accepted, being a woman on a man's board , from my past experiences . I really think I can do this now, or atleast get them all to stay up and fix one at a time.
I will attempt it very soon and I'm sure you will be seeing more posts from me..hopefully not depserate for help posts!

Thanks again for the very kind welcome,
Lalla

 

I don't under stand why every one thinks you have to buy new regulators. I have fixed one on my car and one on a friends car. I have also posted several times. All you need to do is take off the door panel, take out the window (two screws in plastic at bottem of glass), take out the regulator. three bolts on motor and 4 bolts on window trac. those directions are clearer on craigs page.

once the regulator is out there is a metal bead on the cable on the inner part of the trac. Put the bracket that the window bolts to (the peice that slides) so the bead is right in the middle of it. you may need to run the regulator up or down to get it in the right place, just plug it back in and use the up/down buttons GO SLOW you don't want to tangle up the coils of wire, you may have to pull on it to prevent that.

Drill a hole in the window bracket and put a screw through the hole and put a nut on it. Put the wire with the bead between the screw and the nut and tighten it. the peice that slides shouldn't slide any more. replace the regulator and window as in craigs page. I found it to be tough some times to put the window track back in and get all the bolts in with determination it can be done.

As for the slow windows go get some silicon spray and spray it on all the window tracks and on the lower parts too if you already have the door panles off. sorry if it is to long hope it helps.