bad window motor?
 

My 2000 Alero drivers side front window has stopped working, it hasn't dropped and it will work up and down sometimes but mostly not.

Does this sound like a motor going out ?

How do I trouble shoot this problem to know whats wrong.
thanks.

See if it's just the window clips. That's a very common problem on our cars. If not I would say start with the relay and switch. Then motor.

take the door panel off man and see if the plug is properly connected

Next time it doesnt work, open and slam the door closed while holding the switch. If it suddenly works, the motor/regulator is getting stuck, and probly on its way out.

ah i hate to disagree with people but I’m not really sure that’s the best way to test/troubleshoot window motor/regulator

^^^That's a good way to break the sashes, if they're not already broken.

When the window doesn't move, do you hear the motor running? If so, the motor is fine and you have broken sashes or worn-out/broken regulator. If you don't hear it running, as PapaRad said, it's most likely the relay or the switch. If those are good, look to the motor.

thats the way i was told to check it and thats what i did at least a dozen times when the window wouldnt go up. when i finally replaced the motor, nothing was broken, and nothing was out of place. how is it any different than closing the door any other time? i didnt mean slam the shit out of it, just a bit harder than normal, with your finger on the switch.

If it's all the way up or all the way down, it probably won't hurt anything, but if it's part-way down, the glass isn't supported as firmly and can shake hard enough to break the sashes if the door is shut too hard. I'd be willing to bet most of the broken sashes on our cars happen on hot summer days, when windows are left cracked and then the doors get closed too hard.

I don't hear the motor running when I try the window.

I did the shut the door trick while holding the switch and it worked like magic.
So now what do I need to do, take the door panel off and lube things or just wait for the motor to go out completely.

That makes sense. I was assuming the window would b all the way down when he tried this.

It is all the way up, didn't think to say that before.

Something may be loose, bad switch or motor going out, I wouldn't think it be the relay or regulator sence that did the trick.

When it won't move, do you hear the relay click? If not, your problem is with the switch or the relay. If it does click, your switch is working, but it could still be the relay or the motor. Either way, the relay is a possibility, so to find out, switch out the relay with another (non-critical) relay of the same color in the fuse panel. If the problem resurfaces, it's not the relay. Pull the door panel and check the connector to whichever item the "click" test points to...if the connection is good, replace the component. I hope this isn't too confusing.

Nothing like a good old trouble shooting rutein!

I do hear a click on the switch panel when it's not working.
After the slam shut test it lasted awhile but stopped working again and it worked again on the next slam test.

The click sounds like it's coming from right under the switch panel of the door.

Id say your motor is going out...

The relay is in behind one of the endpanels at the ends of the dash...I can't remember which end, though. Shouldn't be anything clicking inside the door :huh:

BUT if the motor isn't working, it could be the switch that's not sending power to the motor.

Best way to check this is to pop off the door panel where the switch is, get a circut tester and test all the connections on the switch and see if they light up the tester.

Check the cheapest thing first ;)