Window regulator replacement

[Wanderer]

Mine busted (finally) on the ferry from Dublin, suspected it was due, erratic operation etc. Got a new(ish) replacement, any caveats for the job? I can get the door card off easy enough, done it loads of times troublehooting this one, but it's the actual glass removal (needed?) and mech removal and fitting. Can't be rocket science, just wondering if anyone's done it before - have nightmares of glass dropping and smashing........

Glass is stuck just over halfway down and switch makes clicks and attempts but can't hear motor apart from initial tiny effort. Something is broken!

 

[HowardM]

'Sounds like what happened to mine (QPV rear door). It's a bowden cable system that goes through a plastic scroll on the motor. The cables are secured to the mechanism with plastic clips that are a known weak point. One of the clips gives way and then the scroll lunches itself on the cable if you're unlucky (I was!). If the scroll is ok you can find replacement clips (not Maserati) on ebay, if not you'll probably need another mech.

The glass connects to the mech with a couple of bolts which were fairly easy to get to. What I did was get a helper to hold the glass whilst I undid the bolts. I then pushed the glass all the way up and used several lengths of wide masking tape, doubled up for strength, over the top of the door onto both sides of the glass to hold it.

Once you've changed out the mech I'd suggest greasing every where the glass runs. I used silicon dielectric grease applied with extra long surgical swabs. That will likely cure the erratic operation.

 

[Wanderer]

Well, new regulator on, window doing same erratic upward movement.

1. Winds down no issue

2. Winds up in little bursts only after repeated switch operations per movement - usually goes up in 3 or 4 bursts, but about 10 switch moments since some have no effect apart from a slight click.

3. If I wind part way down, and try to wind up, it always winds down to bottom.

Pointing to switch since motor was changed and new regulator (with another motor).

Ideas?

 

[HowardM]

That's exactly what mine did. Applying the grease to the glass runs fixed it.

 

[flat-12]

HowardM....what kind of grease to use for the glass channels? Lithium...?

 

[Wanderer]

We've done the greasing trick, with silicone tho not lithium.

Noticed today when playing with it, when I wind down part way, and wind up the window jiggles angle slightly, it winds up, hits the top and immediately winds all the way down. I suspect the window jiggle is the issue, but are there sensors in play too?

On the replaced regulator the actual cable had snapped!

 

[HowardM]

flat-12...I used silicon dielectric grease. Check the link in my first post.

 

[Wanderer]

Was filling the washer fluid reservoir and warming the engine up for oil check, decided to mess about with my still errant driver window. On a whim I bent the rubber seal on the door panel top edge back a bit and et voila, window worked perfectly for to or three tries.

Now it's gone back to normal though no matter how much more bending I do, but I suspect I'm onto something.

I'll check Eurospares.....

BTW, 5 litres of washer fluid and it still wants more. Oil level fine, doesn't seem to use any, and I've done a fair bit of driving since I last checked it, in France I think. 116k so far...