ok, I took the motor out of the door today and took it apart. I can see the large plastic gear in question and can see where it is work in the middle so it doesn't grip the gear. I found the gear itself here:

http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/199...otor_gear.html

$17 seems like a lot to pay when I could get the whole gear/motor assembly new from rockauto for only $28. coupled with the fact that I don't think I'll be able to get the old gear out of the motor because it's crusted with some kind of yellow crud... I may just shell out the extra $11 and get a new motor. I'll post pics when the internet is acting less stupid

 

here's the picture of the window motor gunk