Trying to replace the window motor on the front left of the car. Motor died with the window completely down (tested and confirmed the motor is dead). I am unable to reach the two bolts that connect the window to the bracket - the window needs to be raised a couple of inches for the bolts to line up with the access holes. Im not able to raise the window up. Tried spraying some grease, wiggling it a million ways, having someone hold the button, nothing works. Every tutorial assumes that the window is already in the proper position or can freely move, i cant find any answers on how to proceed in my situation since the window wont move at all. I pulled the speaker so i can get both my hands under it, the entire car is flexing from me pulling up on it before the damn window will budge.

Anyone encounter this scenario and know how to get the window up enough? It seems that the dead motor is preventing me from moving the window, but i cant remove the motor without removing the regulator... which cant be done because i need to move the window to access the bolts that hold it on. Its a circular problem and im stuck right in the middle of it.

 

Oh, the screws holding the glass in are blocked? Well... HULK SMASH

 

If by “hulk smash” you mean “take my dremel and cut my own holes into the door for it being a stubborn little b*tch” then yes, that is what I ended up doing.



At least itll be covered by the door panel lol.

 

Usually you can unbolt the regulator and lift the entire assembly enough to get the bolts out.

Disclaimer: I've never had to pull a Maxima regulator but this is true with most other cars.

 

Unfortunately, not true for our cars. The brackets on the regulator rail are not able to clear the inside of the door. So let this be a cautionary tale for anyone who sees their window getting slower and slower - replace your motor before it dies completely in a position that requires you to cut into your door to fix it.

 

I Just cut the steel regulator cables on the lateral side of the track from the top then moved the glass where I needed it to be when I pulled the fronts at the yard a couple weeks ago. But tearing up your door with power tools works too I suppose.

 

Yeah Im not a fan of cutting into my door either, but cutting the regulator cables would mean I would have to buy another one to replace it, as well as wait for it to come. “Pick n pulls” dont exist where I am and I wasnt really keen with having to tape a plastic bag over my window to keep the rain out for the next week. Not to mention im jobless and hemorrhaging money due to my industry completely vanishing overnight from this virus crap, so every little bit I can save right now makes a difference lol.

 

So you're replacing the motor only? I see. That never crossed my mind. Just replace the whole fookin thing. I went with these and they're great:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-Power-F...rd!34652!US!-1

Only problem I still seem to have with my fronts is that the glass tilts fore and aft in the tracks about 3/8". Not sure why? When I roll them up, I can stop them a half inch from fully closed and rock them back straight with my hand flat against the glass while I roll them up to fully closed.

Also, if you're going motor only, be sure to match your plug type. I somehow ended up with two-lead harness plugs with my first order of regulators before I started taking apart the first door and realizing I had 6-lead plugs. The ebay seller wouldn't let me ship them back and just sent out the correct set.

 

i did my front right less than a month ago and my front left back in 2014, it can be done without cutting up the door....

 

Care to share how that went? I watched every youtube video and read every tutorial i could find, spent a couple of hours of messing with it and trying every combination of things. The bottom line for me was that I could not get the glass high up enough in the door so that I could reach the two bolts that attach it to the regulator, no matter what I did. Dont really have any plans to be doing this again lol, just curious to see your method.