# Problems with electric motor need help fixing
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-electric-motor-need-help-fixing/515132
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 26, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-electric-motor-need-help-fixing/515132 "2009-10-26T03:02:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@shinybrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shinybrain)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-electric-motor-need-help-fixing/515132/1 "2009-10-26T03:02:32Z")
Well the motor for my window in my car stopped working.
Once i took it off the gear it will run if its not powering anything. However once I put it back onto the window it will make the window go up and down a few times then it will stop working again until i take it off and run it when it is not powering the window.
Any idea why this is the case? The motor is getting the correct voltage. I took it apart and cleaned the contacts but that did not seam to help.
The stack over the windings seems to show some wear, would it be ok to apply a lubricant to this to make the armature spin more easily?
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-electric-motor-need-help-fixing/515132/2 "2009-10-26T04:20:42Z")
The bearings are probably shot. You can sometimes revive bearings by forcing light oil into them, but that may only resolve the problem temporarily.
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### Author:  [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-electric-motor-need-help-fixing/515132/3 "2009-10-26T04:40:19Z")
You could try, but it probably won’t work (at least not for very long). The sad fact is that most power window motors are pretty flimsy and repairability is definitely not a priority. Unless this is for some sort of rare classic car, your best bet by far is probably just to get a new one.
I know, I know… as a recovering compulsive fixer-of-things-which-were-never-meant-to-be-fixed I understand the sentiment, but sometimes you just have to let these things go.
EDIT: Actually, did you try swapping in another motor? It could just be that there’s excessive friction on the regulator. As I said above, window motors are flimsy and it doesn’t take much to stop them.
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-electric-motor-need-help-fixing/515132/4 "2009-10-26T13:26:27Z")
the rest of the mechanism should be clean, lubricated and freely moving. problems in those areas could overcome a still usable but marginal motor.
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### Author:  [@shinybrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shinybrain)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-electric-motor-need-help-fixing/515132/5 "2009-10-27T03:27:58Z")
I cleaned and lubricated it all real well, it goes back and forth between working on not. Its very odd. Everything seems to move freely. I didn’t try it but would tightening the springs that hold down the magnets help perhaps?
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### Author:  [@shinybrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shinybrain)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-electric-motor-need-help-fixing/515132/6 "2009-10-27T03:40:53Z")
Forgot to add…
I don’t have another motor to run on the regulator however even with it disconnected the motor seems to struggle at times.