Is there a way to tell whether it's necessary to just replace a motor or regulator or if both need to be swapped out? Could I conceiveably get away with only replacing the motor if the windows still work but stick really bad or do you usually need to replace both?

 

Usually get away with just replacing 1 or the other. Although sometimes, if left too long, a bad regulator can cause the motor to burn out making you replace both. What kind of car are you talking about?

 

sorry... '99 cavalier. And the driver's side window will go down all the way but it takes several "tries" to get it back up. It goes up a few inches, stops, then I let it rest and hit it again at which time it goes up a little more... passenger side was doing the same and now it only moves a fraction of an inch in either direction before crapping out. I've been wondering if the mechanism on either side is just loaded with gunk. The car has lived outdoors for nine years...

 

Sounds like the motors are gone. Could be from the window track being really dry causing too much friction with the window as its moved up.
try lubing up the window track from the outside first. Spray some lubricant into the velvet track the window runs in. Spray lots in there so it has a chance drool al the way down. Work the window up and down a few times to see if it helps. Wynns makes a great prodruct for this type of stuff, called Viscotene. http://www.wynns.be/product.aspx?g=2...l=EN&nav=2

When\if you change the motors, use a vise and clamp the part of the regulator with the teeth, there is some spring pressure there that could really hurt you.I have seen careless guys cause it tohit the roof.

 

ive replaced alot of master switches for the same symptons. if you have a power probe i can tell you how to bypas switch and operate motor to see if works then you will now to replace switch.