I was wondering if anyone could help me find two actuators with a two or three inch stroke. I want to hook them to the rear windows to make them powered as well.

 

Your best bet would be to find a current manufacturer that has the same mechanism for the rear windows (like a lot of Minivans, such as the Chrysler line) then buy that mechanism and adapt it to the '8. Just my 2 cents.

 

Now this is a DIY mod I would love to see. Only thing better is if it were possible to have the rear windows actually roll up and down, instead of popping out...

 

Yes, I'd like to see a DIY on this too. I might actually use those little windows for ventilation if I could easily open and close them.

 

Youd haveto open up the suicide doors andget all the mechanical contraptions to makethem roll down. I dont think theres even enough space inside of the suicide doors forthose rear windows to roll down all the way.

The minivan auto windows wouldbe cool but I bet it would be pricey for suchan unnoticeable mod. I wish those windows couldopen more

 

yeah i think its not worth the money to make the rear windows powered. Sounds a bit pricey and you can get some more performance parts like springs or sways or struts or save up for a kit or exhaust or audio system, HECK A LOT OF THINGS! power rear windows willl just make your car heavier. but ey GOOD LUCK dude. i hope you pull it off.

 

Hello..I think that this might help you out..Its either a 2000 or 2001 ford winstar rear window motors will work you the rx-8..Not sure on the year but they have motors in the back..If I had my rx-8 now I would be able to tell u definitly..but with a little time and persauding they should do the job

 

The rear windows wouldn't have to roll down. You'd just have a mechanism with a rod that pushed and pulled the window closed. In the closed position it would have to apply enough pressure or be in a locking position so that the window seals properly.

I haven't seen the mechanism in the Windstar, that might be worth looking into.

I have seen the mechanism in the 3 series BMW coupe. It has a rod that comes out of the seat back that is adjacent to the window. That mechanism looks to be a little large for the area we have to work with in the 8. Because of the position of the 8's window latch, and the angle needed to open/close the window, any device you use to control it electronically would have to sit right at about the rear passenger's face height. You wouldnt want anything too large sitting there.. Maybe something vaccum operated may work, then we could keep the size down.


I'm glad someone started this thread. I've been thinking about this for a little while. Incase you didn't notice.

 

There are other vans in the past that have similar power pop-out windows. Like has been said, one will have to actually see how things are situated. The thing that will cause a problem is that the RX8 windows are inside the doors, and the only real room for any power actuators and the like is under the window. The mini-van power pop-outs that I've seen so far are not on any of the doors, so they are probably mounted behind the windows, not below them.

Still, one would be able to get some ideas for how they are laid out.

---jps

 

Maybe something from here would work.. www.bimba.com

I've never used air cylinders before, but could you hook two of them together, pressurize the line between them, then stick a worm gear on the end of one attatched to a motor and control the other cylinder this way?

I assume that you'd normally need an air compressor to use one..

 

This is a picture out of a 2000 windstar..Some models have the rear power window and some dont..Look at the back window and you will see the power rear window open and closer..I am not sure how big the motor is behind the plastic but I am assuming its not to big b/c of how it would mount..This isnt the greatest picture either but it was all I could find for right now..I am also looking around to see if I can find an actual picture of the set up out of the van and how much it would cost

 

The Honda Odyssey (not sure starting in what year, I have an '04) has a power rear-window as well ...

ZG

 

another thought is from a
nautica van my boy had it yrs ago maybe a 96-97 minivan that
had it.its the same car is mercury villager.
and thumps up on d.i.y
i hate stretching to get those windows open
damn that engineer
sometimes i get embarresed of reaching back there hwn im at a light or stopped to open them manually.

 

http://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi ..This webpage has them on there but no pictures..Has them just to buy..275 for the whole assembly for only one side..Thats a little expensive I think..Here is the main link if that doesnt work www.car-part.com

 

Just have to work out the layout and worry about the price later... although ~$500 total isn't bad.

While many people on here are concerned about "performance" parts, this is definitely one of the areas where the 8 is lacking. Without it, it makes the car feel "cheap". (This and the coat hanger used for propping up the hood.)

When it gets down to it, paying $1500 for a mazdaspeed spoiler is pretty ridiculous too. At least with this, there's a chance of being able cut costs with used parts.

 

I think you have the wrong thread.

 

No, the "search" URL doesn't work. And it might help if you told us what you did search for. By that I mean that I assume that you searched for power-pop out windows for one of the previously mentioned mini-vans. Please tell us which make, model, year, etc.

---jps

 

No, he's got the right one. He was talking about while adding power pop-out windows isn't a performance mod, it still would improve the car for alot of people. He was just using the MS parts as a comparison.

---jps

 

Gotcha, I was tired when I read that lastnight.

 

Your browsers setting might be set wrong..Check you internet options..I tried the link form the forum and it worked..I was typing anything and everything to find what I was looking for and i got this site and they had them on it..They have the whole slider door motor assy..They are called rear quarter motors..I looked for a 2000 ford windstar b/c I knew they had them..For the model you will just have to look and see b/c from what i have seen some have them and some dont..I would rather use these then ones form lets say a Honda Van just b/c Ford/Mazda is pretty much the samething

 

Even ifno one figures out a wayto get the rear windowsto either roll down or open up w/power I am stillinterested in finding out if its possible to increase the angle thatthey can currently be opened at. I havea feeling it can be opened a few more inches w/o damaging anything. Right now they dont even open up enough for someoneto spit out of them if needed

 

That's because your browser still had information on what you searched for. Anyone else using that link will just be brought to a different search screen, because that link doesn't include the information on what you searched for.

Quote:

...I was typing anything and everything to find what I was looking for and i got this site and they had them on it..They have the whole slider door motor assy..They are called rear quarter motors..I looked for a 2000 ford windstar b/c I knew they had them..For the model you will just have to look and see b/c from what i have seen some have them and some dont..

Okay. Thank you!

Quote:

..I would rather use these then ones form lets say a Honda Van just b/c Ford/Mazda is pretty much the samething

Nothing is really going to be plug and play, so I don't know if that really makes a difference. I would suggest looking through all of the options, and you might find something that will fit better.

---jps

 

I agree with looking for other options..I was just going off of what I have seen..Maybe there is something that will work better or is a smaller set up or maybe a combination of things..They are all ideas towards making something work

 

I was looking at the windows again and it's very easy to see how they work I"m just trying to see how I could get a motor to run them I was thinking along the lines of dropping a steel pin down the hole in the joint that's hidden by the handle there, and then with either a gear setup trying to make a track for the pin to run along and have a noctch at each end of the tracks to "lock" the window in place, and then just using a 3 position switch, foward backward and off, anyone please let me know if you have any other ideas

 

I don't know if this helps, but several vehicles out there have had (at one time or another) power vent (tilt-out) windows: Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Mazda 626, and Chevy Venture... off the top of my head. Good Luck!