The most common problem I have had with motors (Many, Many times), has been having the insulation around the wires wear down either where it enters the plug or the motor. This will cause the motor to work while the wire is in some positions, but not while it is in other positions. The way I have fixed several of them is to open up the motor, detach the leads of the wire to the motor, cut off the worn section of the wire, and put it back together. If this is your problem, and you are comfortable with both soldering and having a shorter wire (It may not work in that particular set with a shorter wire, I don't know), this should work. This tutorial video walks you through the process: