Hello everyone, have owned my 350Z since 2003 and been a long time member, although not that active.

Question, has there been any progress with resolving the issue with the window motors? For almost 14 years it's been a chronic issue. Windows getting stuck because of failing motors has been an annoyance for years now. I'm buying new motors every 3 or 4 years and they never last. Any actual more substantial solutions come about with the motors? I'm sick of replacing them and want to look outside the box for a real solution.

 

Replacing a $26 part every 3-4 years doesn't seem so bad. What brand are you getting?

 

I'm replacing the motor. Taking the door apart and everything. It's a pain in the ***. We're talking $150+ for the motor and the labor. Both sides die out after 3 to 4 years. In the final months, the window slowly loses speed in going up and down...which I sigh and prepare for the inevitable motors death.

I'm an expert now at taking the door apart and replacing it, but there has to be an easier way. Using the search function I see it's still the same answer...the motor needs to be replaced.

 

Z33 parts like window motors are cheap and expendable parts. No other way to put it. Aftermarket suppliers have little incentive to offer a better product, as demand for car parts[ that haven't been built for over a decade is low.

 

3-4 years does seem to be short lived for power window motors. Mine have lasted much longer, in fact I'm still using the originals from my 06. All I did was rebuild them (cleaned, new DC brushes, re-greased) and they keep on chugging. I suspect the regulator and rubber guides are getting dirty/gummed up. When this happens, the motor has to work much harder to move the window up/down. If you have the time/knowledge, I highly recommend doing a deep cleaning on the window tracks/guides and regulator (I've replaced both my regulators btw). I also recommend replacing the brush style glass pads/guides inside the door. Read the FSM on how to properly adjust the window and regulator position, post installation. I've seen a lot of Zs with windows out of proper alignment, this causes excessive rubbing (more strain on the motor) and can also cause issues like wind noise bleeding through the B pillar window seal, water leaks, or ripped/torn rubber seals (A-pillar mirror seal). You would think hired labor would know how to do this, but most independent shops are not accustomed/familiar with the frameless window design of the Z.

Good Luck!
-Icer

 

As stated above the window motors were definitely under-engineered. I believe the real culprit is the overall size and softness of the brushes which leads to failure. The maintenance recommendation is solid but unless someone were to design a new motor housing allowing larger brushes the problem is permanent IMHO.

 

Yes, the window motors aren't very big and these cars have very large/heavy glass. The auto-cracking feature although a good thing, also causes more wear on the motor just from opening/closing the door. It's funny, I recently helped my buddy replace a window motor on the driver's side of his Z32TT. Even back then, Nissan was using JIDECO motors, the design is virtually the same, but overall component quality does seem to have suffered (That's just the trend these days, things aren't built to last anymore). In his case the motor was still good, instead it was a mechanical failure of the plastic gear teeth. The teeth on the spur gear that meshes with the worm gear (motor shaft) finally sheered off after nearly 30 years of use!
-Icer