My driver's side window just started having a problem where is doesn't work properly. When I push the button to make it go down/up it only goes about 3-4 inches and then stops. If I push the button again in either direction it gets nowhere. If I then wait about 30-60 seconds, and push the button again, I have the ability to move it another 3-4 inches It's like the motor only works for a little bit and then gets tired, and was it can catch its breath it is able to move again. I'm trying to figure out the logic behind what could be causing this.

The window has done this maybe 3-4 times in the past over the last 3 months, but now it consistently behaves like this. I've read a lot of posts about these motors dying in older cars, but my car is a 2002! How could it break already?

 

Window motor is shot

You'll need about $50 and this page

http://shbox.com/page/windowmotor.html

 

Yeah, what Brent said.

The motor has an internal self-resetting circuit breaker. After it cools down it resets itself. It's inside the motor and can't be repaired.

 

oh, but it can be repaired

 

It's pretty easy to change out the motor for the windows... I was a little intimidated at first to tackle the project on my Camaro but once I got the door panel off and followed the How-To online, it was very simple

I know how irritating it can be for the windows to not go up/down when you want them to.

 

Wow your symptoms are like a quote from a web page.

As for why your window motor already went out...
GM has never been known for good electrical equipment. 90% of the problems with these cars are electrical in nature. It's pretty much the opposite of an import. GM folks replace some sensors, import folks replace a head gasket...