When I bought an '88 Westy last November, the passenger side power window
regulator/motor had just been replaced. I think the PO's mech. told him it was all one
piece and had to be replaced. Anyway, I think he put it together in a hurry, because
when I got it, the switch was hanging out of the hole. It worked, but I needed to
remove the door panel and secure the electrical cable, which was being snagged by the
window as it came down.
Both the driver's side and passenger side switches were very stiff, especially when
cold, so at $50 for a new pass. side one, I decided to try to open it up. I did and I
won't even guess how long it took me to get it back together again. At any rate, there
are two spring-loaded plungers inside and they are packed with grease, which became
stiffened with age, and don't retract quickly like they should, causing the window to
continue to move, even after you release the rocker. The tips of the two plungers
engage two contact strips in the bottom of the switch, and as you move the switch one
way or the other, they make/break contact to move the window up or down. I cleaned it
all up and re-greased it, and then came the hard part. The top part, with the
plungers, has to go STRAIGHT down into the other part, otherwise, it causes the
contact strips to tilt sideways and jam.
After MANY attempts, I got it together and it works.
Jerry

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brent Weide's Yahoo Account" <brent_weide@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 5:28 PM
Subject: Rebuilding Vanagon Electric Windows or How To Go Into Debt Quickly

> Anyone have any inside information on a good reasonable way to rebuild or replace
vanagon electric window motors and switches?  With vw replacement motors costing
roughly as much as a left arm and leg, I would rather go with an alternate design
which'll last longer if one exists.
> Both of the Multivan's I've purchased and reworked (a 90 and now a 91) have had
power windows which operated at a very slow speed as if the motors were wearing out.
Now I know that the vanagon is a patiencemobile but would very much like to get the
window rolled down before my trip is over once in a while!!!
>
> Anyone got any tips?
> Thanks,
> Brent
>
>
> Brent Weide
> Portland, Oregon
> http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/