Replacing power window motor for Proton Persona

Common problem for Proton car power window failure

It is a common phenomena for local brand to face power window breakdown at least once in a lifetime.

At the end of October this year, my Proton Persona is going to celebrate its 10 yr old birthday.

Apart from the general scheduled maintenance like changing engine oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plug, gear oil, battery, radiator liquid and now its time to have some wear and tear.

The driver side power window of my car have malfunctioned since half year ago and I am very hesitate to get it repaired at outside workshop because I am worry they will draw a hole on my wallet just for some simple part replacement.

So what I work is on a temporary contigency plan which is to place a simple plastic pipe to support the glass from dropping down until I find a suitable time to troubleshoot it myself.

During this half year while the power window is broken I have been open up the door just to pass through toll and go in and out from secured car park.

Finally, last week I have it repaired and now the driver side power window of my humble Proton Persona is back to its normal operation.

First, as per basic step, all screws has to be removed and the inside door panel needs to be detached from the door base to gain access to the inside power window mechanism.

From the outside of the front door frame I could find 4 hexagon screw which is the main gearing rack mount tightly to the door base.

When I inspect the whole system, I manage to find the root cause which affecting the power window to stop working.

At the initial time when the power window started to breakdown, it is producing some really hard knocking sound and I thought the mounting for this power window had damaged.

After consider amount of time spent, I have myself relieved for not to change the entire power window rack mechanism.

The problem is actually came from the power motor unit which can be seen below.

The motor body mounting was broken by 2 points and the unit itself is only holding by the bottom side to the bracket inside the power window gearing system.

This electric motor is secured with 3 screws and the hole far away from the silver part of this motor was not used.

The black part of this motor unit is made of plastic and due to the vibration from the moving part could have slowly tear off the screw mounting of this fragile plastic portion.

Since this motor body part majority is made of plastic anyone could have question the re liabilities of all parts made by Proton supplier.

Without further wasting my time, I have went to some car spare part shop to buy a new unit to fix back into the power window.

This new electric motor is the same as the damaged unit and surprisingly the shop assistant mention to me that Persona power window motor unit is the same as the first model Proton Saga unit that cost only RM35.00 (excluding GST).

With the new motor has been acquired its time to find back the original screw joint from the motor unit to the power window bracket.

The first and second hole is at the top and furthest out from the bracket (see bigger smeared circle hole)

The third hole is at the bottom of the bracket (see bigger smeared circle hole)

After all of the verification then I proceed to fix the new power motor unit to the windows bracket and this job will only takes less than 15 minutes provided with the available right tools which is no more than a phillips screw driver and a 10mm hexagon wrench.

The silver part of this motor unit will be facing upward as in the picture below and the motor body will be secured with only 3 screw holes which are upper, left and lower side.

Another screw hole at the right side protrude out slanting is not used.

First, assemble back the original screw from the damaged power motor unit to the left hole.

Second, assemble back the original screw together with another original washer from the damaged power motor unit to the upper hole.

Third, repeat second step to the lower hole of the new motor unit.

Attach the new cable to the power supply connector and turn on the car electrical system to test if the new motor is functioning as normal.

Scroll up and down the motor bracket by playing the power window switch to fix it to the window rack gearing mechanism until the 4 screw holes re-align to the door frame.

Tight back the 4 hexagon screws firmly and from now we could end the repairing process.

Fix back the door panel and not to forget to attach back cables to the power window controller and power side mirror controller.

Attach back 1 screw to the hole at the inside door handle.

Attach back 2 screws to the door latch cover.

Attach back 1 screw to the hole near to the door hinge.

And lastly, attach back final screw to the hole at the edge of the door panel.

"So simple is it?"

Imagine when all this job was to be executed outside and how much will it cost including the motor unit when the mechanic will earn some extra out of it?

I could have safe few tenth of ringgit or maybe one hundred and further more gaining myself some knowledge and skills of repairing car.

Next article regarding my Persona brake pad and rotor disc replacement HERE and if you have anything to say please feel free to leave it down in the comment section below.