Slow power windows

[btolman]

I have a 1983 spider with power windows. Most of the time the windows go up very slowly. Sometimes I have to
Push up on the glass to help the window close. I have been told by one source that the culprit is a small metal wheel or pulley that rusts or corrodes. Other sources seem to indicate that the problem lies with the motor itself.
I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter.
Thank you.
.

[vandor]

Makes sure all the pulleys inside the door turn freely. If that is OK then take apart the switch and clean the contacts. You can also just buy a new one, but the cleaning is free

[bradartigue]

I have a 1983 spider with power windows. Most of the time the windows go up very slowly. Sometimes I have to
Push up on the glass to help the window close. I have been told by one source that the culprit is a small metal wheel or pulley that rusts or corrodes. Other sources seem to indicate that the problem lies with the motor itself.
I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter.
Thank you.
.

They were not much better when new. Slow times, easier times...man wasn't in such a hurry back then.

As Csaba says, take it apart, clean everything, it may work better. The really sad part is the relay for the door most prone to use (driver's) is on the other side of the car, and you probably lose about a zillion amps in that half-corroded wire getting back to the door. Check the wire, if it is green at the ends then trim it back and find some good wire.

[majicwrench]

I fix slow windows all the time. Mostly they just need to be well lubricated. Grit etc can really slow em down.
Keith

[SpiderParts]

The Tech Day project for DCFiats in 2012 was upgrading power windows. We aimed it at X1/9 owners and the seven cars we fixed were so good that one of our members ran his headlights and wipers on the way home while he ran his windows up and down. After verifying basic window motor operation, we used a simple relay kit that greatly increased the window winder performance. As some of you note, replacing the window channel and making sure everything's aligned is important, but the relay kit beefs up the voltage to the motors and does not require that the door panels be removed/replaced.

BTW, in 2013, the project was headlight improvement, and with probably the largest gathering of Spiders, simultaneously under one roof, since the Roosevelt warehouse--the club installed similar relay kits directly into the headlight wiring harness--without cuts. Our next project in February is plug-n-play kits to nearly double the speed of the historically slow Fiat windshield wipers--both in 124's and in X1/9's.

[spidernut]

I have a word of warning before you dig into the project - Be very careful removing the pulleys and lubricating them. If the window regulator wires come loose from the motor, it is a royal pain in the butt to rewind them correctly. Trust me...I've had to do it. It is not fun.

Lubricating the pulleys might help but not by much. If the window channels are binding, adjusting them will help by not by much. Removing the motor and cleaning the brushes will help but not by much.

I found there are two specific problems with the power windows - insufficient voltage to the motors/or poor grounding to the motors, and a poor choice of motors when the cars were built.

I'm not sure what relay wiring SpiderParts referenced, but I cleaned all the corroded contacts and cleaned the grounds on mine. On warm days, they work just fine and am relatively happy. They're still a bit too slow with the motor off. On cold days, they are still very slow despite using a lubricant that isn't supposed to be affected by cold temps.

SpiderParts....if you have a wiring schematic for the relay please post it.

[ORFORD2004]

I add a ground to the existing one near the switch in my 83. I don't remember the color of that wire but I can check in a couple of weeks since I have to go there.

John