Electric Life Windows Stop ~Halfway

[kryptik]

Hello guys,

I've just finished installing Electric Life Power Windows for my '70 Camaro. I've also just installed new door and roof-rail weatherstripping and window felts (original GM).

The Power Windows are taking power basically right off the alternator/battery via a 10 gauge cable running from the front, with an ignition activated relay. I have run a 14 gauge dedicated ground wire from the driver's side motor ground (which was intended to ground to the door) back to a main ground near the battery (so the ground is copper all the way back to the battery). Furthermore I have cleaned and lubricated all of the tracks.

When I roll the windows up they get stuck about 2" from the top. I have tried adjusting them in every direction to no avail, sometimes it gets better but they never hit home. They roll up just fine with the doors open.

Could this be because the weather strip is new and needs to be broken in??

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Matt

[dhutton]

Not sure if this is the problem or not but your ground wire should be the same gauge as the power wire since in theory equal current flows in both wires assuming no current through the chassis.

Connect a voltmeter right at the 12v connection to the motor and measure the voltage to ground while the window is operating/stuck. There should not be much difference between this voltage and the battery voltage. Also measure the voltage between your ground wire at the motor and the ground right at the batter. There should not be any significant voltage across this ground wire.

[kryptik]

The 10 gauge wire was extreme overkill for little motors like that. I don't see them requiring anything more than a 16...14 should have been plenty...especially since electric life doesn't even require you to run a dedicated ground. But I will try to check for voltage drop like you say. Dunno how I'm gonna do it as my test leads aren't long enough, but I'll think up something.

[Twentyover]

I decided to not install Electric Life lifts after my brother's experience on his 1st gen. The doors need to be open for the rear windows to seat. This is after spending a week of long evenings adjusting them. Speaking from a position of just observing the lifts, the speed appears down from the factory lifts in my Ford (Guillotine window lifts.) If I was to hazard a guess, I'd say the motors don't have the horsepower required to assure the window lift seats the glass at the top of the track.

[kryptik]

After having the door and window shut on the new weatherstrip for a couple of days, I went back and operated the windows. This time with the alternator spinning and charging at a steady 14.4V. The windows go pretty much all the way up but there is still a slight gap at the top. I think this is just a matter of adjustment now. I guess I just gotta keep playing to get the adjustment just right.

Cheers,
Matt

[PhillipM]

Im not surprised with new weather strip. Some of our cars are hard to roll up that last half inch even with a hand crank! The problem is that if we adjust it to be easier then there is a lot more wind noise and rattles.