2010s 2013 Escalade driver door window motor

[55Fleetwood]

I have a 2013 Cadillac Escalade ESV platinum and my driver window motor is bad. Appears that they are no longer available at auto parts stores or Cadillac. Is anyone familiar with the motor? Rep or replacement options ? 7 pin and only used for driver door. original part # 20971729

[Cadman-iac]

  Richard,

I'm not familiar with the newer vehicle regulators/motors, but I do know that on some of the 2000's and up that they had reduced the weight of the door internals by resorting to a cable drive system to raise and lower the windows.
My wife's 2001 Buick is just such a vehicle, and in order to get the motor, I have to buy the entire regulator assembly, (which I just today found out it needs another one).
Yours may be the same way. Have you checked to see if the regulator is available for it,and if so, does it include the motor?

I'm sure you probably already know this, but the Chevrolet Suburban and the GMC version are the same vehicle, only the grilles were changed to protect the guilty. And if you are dealing with the front door, then the trucks will also be the same.

Hope this helps.

Rick

[55Fleetwood]

thanks for the thoughts! Yes, I'm aware. It comes with the regulator and the window motor, but looking at all the major auto parts stores and Cadillac it now says no longer available. This motor is a seven pin connection. I guess I'm gonna have to go to a junkyard

[Cadman-iac]

 I wonder why they felt the need to make it so complicated. A 7 pin motor? Really?
 I looked them up on rockauto and they still show to have a right hand one in stock. That's apparently a 6 pin motor.
 Over-complicated and cheaply made seems to have been the order of the day. I just bought the 6th one for my wife's car. I believe that I'm going to install a freakin' zipper in the doors on that one. It's been a really good car overall, but it's still got its problems, which are simply due to GM trying to save money and cheaping out.
 At least I'm still able to get mine. I wish you the best of luck in your search for yours.
 What the hell did they do, incorporate the memory module into the motor? That's the only thing I can think of that would require a 7 pin connection.

 Good luck.

 Rick

[James Landi]

Are you certain that the motor is "bad?"  Isolate the leads coming from the motor and connect them to a 12 volt source...if you get a healthy spark, reverse the leads... if the window goes down, then reverse the leads again.  If the window motor works when connected to a direct 12 volt source, then the problem is not the motor,,, perhaps the switch in the armrest, but more likely, perhaps some generic electronic module in parallel with the switch.  I've experienced that kind of problem and installed a "work-around" double pole double throw switch in the arm rest.   The electronic module was not available.  Mine was not the most elegant of repairs, but it suited our purposes just fine and the window worked without all of the electronic flummery.   

[Cadman-iac]

  James makes a good point. With all 6 of the regulators I've had to replace in my wife's car, the motors were still working. The problem was with the regulator. The cheap plastic cable guides couldn't handle either the tension or the heat, allowing the cable to become dislodged, effectively rendering the whole unit useless.


Rick

[55Fleetwood]

I wasn't think it would be the regulator as there is absolutely no sound being made. No clicking no moaning or anything.

[Cadman-iac]

  Not knowing how that system was designed, I can't say what it could be, except maybe it's either the module or the motor. If there's any relays involved with operating the window, maybe that might be the problem. But you would need to consult a service manual and a schematic in order to find out.

Just another thing that they did to discourage the average owner from attempting a repair themselves, requiring you to have to bring it to a dealer.
I'm actively looking for an older vehicle for my wife that I can service everything myself, and then I'm selling  her 2001 and never buying another front wheel drive vehicle.

Good luck in finding the problem and repairing it. I hope it's actually something simple.
It may be too, but your dealer will still charge you a large fee I'm sure.

Rick

 Edit:
Just had a thought,  since it's the driver's door, it will only get power from one source, that being your master switch. Have you checked the switch to see if it's got power coming out to the motor or module, whichever controls it?

[James Landi]

"I'm actively looking for an older vehicle for my wife that I can service everything myself... "

Richard, that's a wise comment.  Regarding the electric window, about ten years ago, I was able to watch a technician get into my car with a scan tool from the customer waiting room window.  I watched him operate my DEAD driver's side window--- it worked perfectly as he controlled it from his hand held device. He attended my vehicle for a total of perhaps 3 minutes.  I sat in the waiting room for another half hour, and received a 200 dollar charge for "electronic diagnostics." Service Manager:  "Mr. Landi, the problem with your window is a failed generic electronic control module."  Me: "Can you install it now?" Service manager, " They are no longer available." Me: "If I get one from a junked car, will you install it?" SM: " We can't do that, sorry."  Went home, purchased and installed a double throw double pole switch, installed at the front of the arm rest -- problem solved for around ten dollars.  Today's modern cars include a mass of technology, and in some cases, when a problem occurs, they are "bricked"---

[Cadman-iac]

"I'm actively looking for an older vehicle for my wife that I can service everything myself... "

Richard, that's a wise comment.  Regarding the electric window, about ten years ago, I was able to watch a technician get into my car with a scan tool from the customer waiting room window.  I watched him operate my DEAD driver's side window--- it worked perfectly as he controlled it from his hand held device. He attended my vehicle for a total of perhaps 3 minutes.  I sat in the waiting room for another half hour, and received a 200 dollar charge for "electronic diagnostics." Service Manager:  "Mr. Landi, the problem with your window is a failed generic electronic control module."  Me: "Can you install it now?" Service manager, " They are no longer available." Me: "If I get one from a junked car, will you install it?" SM: " We can't do that, sorry."  Went home, purchased and installed a double throw double pole switch, installed at the front of the arm rest -- problem solved for around ten dollars.  Today's modern cars include a mass of technology, and in some cases, when a problem occurs, they are "bricked"---

Sounds like "We're sorry, we can't make enough money to support this huge business by fixing your little problem. Why don't you trade it in for a new one and go into debt for the next 10 years and we'd be glad to charge you exorbitant fees to service it for you until we can't make enough from you to support our lavish lifestyle. But then we'll sell you another one that will put you in debt until your heart attack kills you, then your surviving family members can pay it off so we don't want for anything as your family scrapes by trying to pay for your funeral. So, which one would you like, hmmmm?"

Sound familiar?

Rick

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Well, the problem is that there has to be some point in time that Dealers, no matter where they are from, have to stop repairing older cars that are way out of warranty, or they will not survive.

Makers are only interested in selling cars at a profit.   Not keeping old cars on the road to satisfy those of us that can only afford old cars.

Bruce.

[Cadman-iac]

Well, the problem is that there has to be some point in time that Dealers, no matter where they are from, have to stop repairing older cars that are way out of warranty, or they will not survive.

Makers are only interested in selling cars at a profit.  Not keeping old cars on the road to satisfy those of us that can only afford old cars.

Bruce.

Yeah, I realize that. I'm just pissed that anything you buy that was made after 1990 or thereabouts is junk once it's worn out.
There won't be anyone restoring these throwaway cars, and the only ones left that anyone would want will be one that was left in a garage and not driven for the last 30 years, but even then, time will have taken a toll on them.
Nothing is built to last anymore. That's what has me going off.
  The prices keep going up, and the quality keeps going down. In fact, I doubt quality even factors in anymore. It may as well be a Greek word.

I just put the 6th window regulator in my wife's car, and the replacement cost me $85 bucks, was made in Taiwan, and probably won't last until the middle of next year, if I'm lucky.
This was the top of the line Buick for 2001. If we get another year out of it I'll be surprised. What a waste.
Just pissed and ranting. Thank God for really old cars made out of steel with a real frame and the axle in the rear where it freakin' belongs. No string driven windows with plastic guides that break under stress and a module to tell it when to go up or down and where to stop because we've become too lazy keep a finger on the switch until the window is where we want it. This "auto down" crap is annoying, if I want it down, I know how to hold the button down until the window is open. Useless, expensive, junk!!

Rick

[Lexi]

Yeah, that "auto down" is annoying! I thought I was the only one that didn't care much for that window function. Clay/Lexi