How to fix/replace window motor gear

[SJP0tato]

On my rear driver's window a few weeks ago, when fully rolled up rather than stopping it started making a loud/obnoxious grinding noise. Then during operation it'd make grinding/clicking noises too.
Here's a quick example:
http://www.mazdaspeedforum.org/forum/foru...1&d=1410222832

Based on the info from this thread: Another window isssue

I ordered a couple replacement gears from here: power windows repair parts - mazda 3,5,6,cx7,cx9,rx8 from 2003-2012 8.00 USD
They shipped super quick, like within 2 days or so.

That Link is dead, but it looks like Amazon carries them now: https://www.amazon.com/Mazda-Front-P.../dp/B00VYTDD3C

rear door:


First screw is behind the trim panel:


2nd & 3rd screws are behind this trim piece you have to pry off the handle:


After that it's a lot of pulling around the bottom/sides of the panel to disengage the trim clip things. If you're a pro you probably have a puller tool of some kind. For the remaining 99% of us, just remove them from the door once the panel is off & slide them back into the panel. Before you can fully remove the panel, you have to unhook this connector:


Here's the motor installed in the door:


I was a little worried about this part, as none of the write-ups I could find really mentioned how the motor attaches to the glass. Turns out it's just a gear that stays in the door, and the motor engages it. So there's nothing to worry about pulling the motor away:


Upclose pic of the motor (don't bother with this side, it looks like the seal will come off, but it won't):


This is the side of the housing you're going to remove:


It takes some finagling, but eventually the piece should pry loose:


With everything separated:


You can see why the grinding was happening:


The top piece slides right off:


And this rubber dampener piece comes right off too:


New vs old:


Check the drive gear & housing, mine had several of the teeth jammed up against the housing. I wouldn't doubt this contributed to things binding up:


After dropping the gear stuff back in, and snapping the case together it's straightforward how everything goes back onto the door. All in all going slow and taking pictures this took me about 45 minutes. Super easy job that anyone with a screwdriver and maybe a 10mm to help snug up the motor screws/bolts when you're done.

[TiGraySpeed6]

Nice write up, thanks!
We'll see more & more of this kind of thing as the speeds get older

[Hargarbl]

Yeah mine went too (I think) I have had the gear in my garage for a couple weeks, just haven't gotten around to replacing it.

[reidclark]

would replacing the gear fix my problem which is when you roll it up or down it will stop and you have to push it down a little then continue rolling it down and stop then push it again then it goes down. and same with up except you have to pull it up when it stops and makes a loud grinding noise? or is it the regulator? thanks. can't find anything on my specific problem and it sounds like yours is similar.

[Hargarbl]

It only takes about 10-15 minutes to pull the door apart and get to the motor and pull it open, you could always do that and inspect it to see if the teeth are broken.

[reidclark]

ok cool ill try that. thanks!

[blarose]

anyone ever have there window shift a little when you start rolling it up? It slides back into place when rolling it down but when going up the back top corner shifts forward about a half inch like one of the mounting points is loose.

[haines21]

Thanks for the write up. This was exactly my problem and you made it easy to replace.

[ms3-17]

Just wanna say thanks. Both my front and rear window on driver side had this exact same problem. Was quoted $130 to fix at local window shop and I fixed both for right under $20. Thanks again and awesome write up.

[Trinity]

Many thanks for this DIY. My wife took my 08 Speed 3 out yesterday and when she got back told me the window wasn't working (Front driver side). Did the credit card swipe on the weather stripping to see if it was just "stuck" and no workie. Will be checking the motor/gear teeth out tonight.

[mattbatt]

Thanks for all of the photo documentation. The link you provided to cheap power windows parts is dead. It looks like the whole site died. Does anyone else have an idea where I can find these gears? A new motor assembly is $100 which is about $50 more than i want to spend.

[Code Monkey]

Go VIP, post a WTB, profit?

[MS3Shadow]

Probs

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[mattbatt]

To answer my own question I found some listed on Ebay with this description "Mazda 3 5 6 CX-7 CX-9 RX8 Power Window Motor Gear Regulator"
To help out anyone else attempting this repair on the front doors. Do yourself a favor and pull off the the tweeter pod before removing the door panel it just pulls straight off. I didn't and I had to pull off the pod before I could put the door panel back on.
When trying to disassemble the motor assembly there are two small clips on the side that break off easily be careful of them. I also found that shoving a screwdriver between the two pieces was very difficult. I tapped the steel part of the gear with a small hammer and the two pieces came apart. Be careful that you don't hit the exposed plastic gear it will break.
For reassembly I had to remove the speaker from the door so that I could hold the window regulator in place to screw in the bolts.
This is obvious to some but if you are testing the window after fixing it, the window control switch on both sides of the car must be installed for the window to work.

[SJP0tato]

Yep, that link's dead. Looks like amazon carries 'em now though:
https://www.amazon.com/Mazda-Front-P.../dp/B00VYTDD3C

[mack bolan]

really made my day ... simple instructions and great pictures. Definitely a great help and saved me a lot of $$$ thank you

[MadMazda]

This is great.

How many of those new gears did you need? And was it only that larger gear or also the smaller gear that was required?