Toyota Repair: Power Window Switch, power window switch, salvage yard

Question
Dear Ted,

The driver's side window on our 1997 Camry stalled a couple of times and the Toyota Dealer said that the switch or motor was going bad.  It would cost about $400 to replace the parts. However, he did say that we could go to a salvage yard and try to pickup used part for about $100.  I have two questions.
1)  Do you recommend buying a used part from a salvage yard or buy a new part from the dealer?
2)  I haven't worked on cars in years but is this something that someone like me that has little experience can do?  I've never replaced the switch or motor for a power window before.

Answer
Most of the time parts from a salvage yard are guaranteed to work and if there is a problem you can return it for another part,normally within 30 days, you can save a lot of money this way versus a new part but remember that it is used and the life expectancy of the part is anybody's guess.
It sounds like the problem is the motor or the window regulator, I would get both from the salvage yard, neither one is easy to replace so I would recommend buying the part and then just have an independent shop install it.