tonyatl

I inherited a 1996 es300 with 200k on it. I figure I will use it for short hops. The drivers window doesnt work and slides down by itself. What do you think has to be changed? the window motor? regulator? I figure if it cant stay up by itself, it's not the switch but I may change it anyway. It looks beat up. Can I use the left rear one and move it to the front? is it a big deal to install window motors and regulators on that car? I just picked the car up so I haven't removed the door panel yet.
Also the sunvisors dont stay all the way up can they be adjusted or do they have to replaced? Thanks

GEORGE_JET

Chances are that it is the regulator, but with 200k on it,it's a safe bet that the motor is worn also. It is not very hard to replace, professionals have a special tool to secure the glass at the upper limit, but you can get by with a couple rubber wedges jamming the window up. I have also seen people use duct tape (of course keep the tape off the paint with some paper or cardboard) put the tape across the top of the door.

I don't think that the front and rear are interchangeable

Choas

First off WELCOME TO CL!!!!! Now as far as your windows its not the switch it sounds like the regulator to me. If that is the case I'm not 100% but its a PITA to change because if its like most other cars it is rivited in. That means you have to drill them out and rivet them back in place. As far as your visors they have to be replaced used ones should work fine.

Bdub215

iTrader: (1)

yea what they said. the motor should be good. just change the oil, oil filter, trans fluid, and trans filter and your good to go for awhile. i too inherited my ES3.

GEORGE_JET

Yea the rivits do have to be drilled, normally not to much of a hassel. The problem is that unless you do this professionally you will not have a rivit gun large enough to install new rivits. What you can do is get correctly sized nuts and bolts from you local hardware store (I recommend the nyloc type). I would recommend replacing both the window motor and regulator, once you pull the regulaor out you will not be looking forward to doing it again when the motor goes bad.
As far as the switch goes, even if it fails in the near future it is not very hard to replace. So if it looks bad enough to bother you replace it.