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Dear Jim,

I drive a 1998 Dodge Stratus (2.0L, L4), and the power window on the front passenger side completely stopped working a few days ago.

My mother says the same thing happened to her car and that it's because the window motor is broken.

I seriously doubt this is the case, because the other three windows work just fine. Could I have something jammed in there that's keeping the window from moving? Is it expensive to fix?

-- Allen Dominguez

Power windows are a mixed blessing, for sure. They're easier and safer than the cranks, because you can keep your eyes on the road. When they break down, though, they tend to stay stuck right where they are, and sometimes you end up wishing you had that old crank.

Here's something else, bro -- sometimes mother knows best.

A four-door vehicle like your Stratus has four separate window motors, one in each door. Some cars have even more, as you'll find on a 1965 Lincoln Continental. All the doors on that machine have power windows (a serious luxury back in '65), as well as a triangular vent window on each side that's also electric -- a total of six windows and six motors.

Anyway, it does sound as if you've got a burned-out unit in the front passenger side, but the other three are fine, so all the other windows work.

Whatever car you're driving, a single bad motor is going to cost somewhere around $125 plus labor to replace.

Before you get the work done, though, remember that every window has two switches that control it -- one on its own door, and one "master switch" on the driver-side door.

If neither of these switches will move that front passenger window, then yes, you've got a burned-out motor. But if one switch works and the other doesn't, obviously the motor is OK and you just have a bad switch. If that's the case with your car, brother, that's a better situation, because new switches are only $30 to $50 apiece.

Tip of the Week:

While we're on the subject of power windows, all you Ford drivers should know that those vehicles are pretty notorious for problems.

The motors can burn out, sure, but it's usually not the motor itself that goes bad -- it's a special nylon gear package inside the motor that's to blame. This part is about $45 to replace and I've seen a whole lot of them need it.

Buffalo Jim, owner of Allstate Auto & Marine Repair in Las Vegas, writes a weekly column. Send your automotive questions to him at buffalojim@lasvegasniftynickel.com. If Jim picks your question to answer in Nuts & Bolts, you'll also be the proud recipient of a deck of official Buffalo Jim playing cards, presented in a classy, tin box bearing his hairy image.