When a car window won’t roll up or down, it might be the result of a faulty window motor. Your car has a few parts that work together to move the window, and you’d have to check related parts such as the window regulator, switches and fuses to confirm that the issue lies in the motor.
How much does it cost to replace a window motor?
Sometimes, the window motor is integrated into the window regulator, and therefore you’d need to swap out both at the same time. This will certainly increase your cost. The cost of replacing a window motor, or a window motor and regulator, ranges from $200 to $900. Let’s take a look at the costs of replacing a window motor on a sample 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with original equipment parts from General Motors:
| Part | Price |
| Rear passenger | $68.34 |
| Front passenger | $62.41 |
| Rear driver side | $65.55 |
| Front driver side | $70.71 |
To change a Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s front door window motor, you can expect to pay for at least 1.8 hours at a mechanic, including diagnostic time.
Let’s look at the 2003 BMW 5-series, where prices for parts are higher than the Silverado 1500. A genuine BMW window motor costs $331.99 from FCP Euro, about five times the price of a genuine part for the Chevy. If you also have to change the window regulator, it will cost you $402.99 from FCP Euro. Expect about two hours of labor time to get this repair done, not including diagnostics.
How long does it take to replace a window motor?
It generally takes about 20 minutes to 2.2 hours to change a window motor. Across the United States, labor rates range from $110 to $175 per hour, meaning the labor cost for your repair can range from $44 for about 20 minutes at the lowest rate to $165 for 2.2 hours at the highest rate.
How do you tell if a window motor is bad?
You can tell if a window motor is going bad when you start hearing noise when operating the window or if your windows aren’t moving at the same speed as before. Erratic movements, a burning smell or a window that does not respond to the flick of a switch are also potential symptoms of a failing motor.
How can you replace a window motor?
Every car has its own intricacies. Some cars are easier to repair than others because they don’t require you to remove the window regulator to replace the motor. In general, these are the steps for replacing a window motor:
- Raise the window to the top of the doorframe and secure it with strong tape.
- Disconnect the car battery.
- Remove door panel.
- Remove vapor barrier.
- Remove the motor; you might need to remove other bolts that connect the glass to the doorframe and regulator.
- Install the motor.
- Connect the battery and test the window. If your window goes beyond where it’s supposed to stop, or stops short, then you’ll need to reprogram it.
- Reinstall the vapor barrier and door panel.
Xuyun Zeng is a writer and editor with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Phil Metzger is a personal finance editor and writer with more than 30 years of experience editing and writing content across a variety of industries. In writing and editing for Jerry, Phil’s mission is to help car owners better understand their vehicles and the costs associated with car ownership. Before joining Jerry, Phil worked as a writer and editor for newspapers, magazines, television radio and online news. His work has appeared in many major publications and websites over the years, including a series he edited that was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize.
