Window regulator

[mrjones]

Has anyone had a regulator go bad yet? I put my windows down to air out the car when I got in it this afternoon, and the front passenger window made a crappy noise. When I went to put it back up, it made an even crappier noise and nada, window is still down. I did a little checking around and started tearing it apart. This thing uses a cable drive window regulator that stole all it's technology from an 8track tape. Pretty suckly imho.

The regulator isn't too expensive, but it's somewhat of a pita. I started tearing it apart tonight but am having a hard time getting the window up.

Seems to be a common problem among the Vics and GMs, but I don't remember hearing anything about it on this board.

[MyBlackBeasts]

Has anyone had a regulator go bad yet? I put my windows down to air out the car when I got in it this afternoon, and the front passenger window made a crappy noise. When I went to put it back up, it made an even crappier noise and nada, window is still down. I did a little checking around and started tearing it apart. This thing uses a cable drive window regulator that stole all it's technology from an 8track tape. Pretty suckly imho.

The regulator isn't too expensive, but it's somewhat of a pita. I started tearing it apart tonight but am having a hard time getting the window up.

Seems to be a common problem among the Vics and GMs, but I don't remember hearing anything about it on this board.

It's a crappy design that Ford used for years. Cables wear in to plastic and bind causing slow action & finally failure when car gets some age/miles.

Had a friend who bought an auction PD CV with 99k on it.

3 windows did not work & 4th moved real slow. I replaced all 4 window regs. all 4 wdws worked like new.

Job is fairly simple, 30/45 minutes.

[Tom Kuznicki]

go to a junkyard and pull one from a CV or GM, put good grease on it and you'll be good to go.

[fastblackmerc]

Buy new ones. The junkyard ones could be bad too.

[VMARAUDER]

All the Ford's I owned I just had 1 regulator go bad but had the little cams get chewed up. Never had a cable break.
http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Ford_Window_Lift_Motor_Gear_62 _Splines_p/a18947.htm
so I went to the junk yard and and took several a loose, got tbe little cams and was good to go. A lot easier than replacing the regulator

[justbob]

My F150's rear window dropped in the track all by itself sitting overnight.. At $100 a piece times four, I don't consider that a cheap fix at all. Absolutely dumb design.


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[MM in MN]

Just did one on my Daughters Explorer, same design, $35.00 from the local recycle yard, pulled & checked by them, 90 day warranty, took 45 minutes to install. It did last 11 years and 185,000 miles tho. Had one fail a year ago on the other Daughters focus, same thing, same fix, 2 years ago an my F150...Bad design but typically lasts quite a while, easy cheap fix.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

My driver side rear window is stuck on the MM. I think its just frozen up as the voltage seems to dip when hitting the button.... I need to figure this out before I can re-tint my car.

[mrjones]

My driver side rear window is stuck on the MM. I think its just frozen up as the voltage seems to dip when hitting the button.... I need to figure this out before I can re-tint my car.

I've had that happen before with one of the back windows on mine. Sometimes just opening the door and slamming it will get it going again.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I've had that happen before with one of the back windows on mine. Sometimes just opening the door and slamming it will get it going again.


I hope that's all that's needed. It NEVER gets use.

[mrjones]

The list on a new regulator at OReillys is $45. With my discount it'll probably be $25 or $30, plus about $5 for the hardware kit. After going through this, I am gonna open up the other three doors and lube everything up.

[fastblackmerc]

The list on a new regulator at OReillys is $45. With my discount it'll probably be $25 or $30, plus about $5 for the hardware kit. After going through this, I am gonna open up the other three doors and lube everything up.

What hardware kit?

[mrjones]

What hardware kit?

It's just the rivets and about 5 bolts and washers. It's just easier to get them that way than to try and pick everything out separately. I'm lazy.

[MM in MN]

The ones I've installed come in one piece; motor, cables, pulleys, tracks etc, just unbolt yours from the door, bolt in the replacement. Is the hardware kit for attaching the window to the new regulator? I have to scrounge for bolts to replace those two rivets, but thats it

[fastblackmerc]

It's just the rivets and about 5 bolts and washers. It's just easier to get them that way than to try and pick everything out separately. I'm lazy.

Do you have a 1/4" rivet gun?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/dorman-oe-solutions-window-regulator-installation-tool-743-100/10086721-P

I use 1/4 x 20 stainless steel bolts, washers and locknuts.

[fastblackmerc]

The ones I've installed come in one piece; motor, cables, pulleys, tracks etc, just unbolt yours from the door, bolt in the replacement. Is the hardware kit for attaching the window to the new regulator? I have to scrounge for bolts to replace those two rivets, but thats it

You have to drill or otherwise remove the rivets from the windows and regulator.

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

I've replaced both passenger side regulators.

[Odinson]

Think my drivers door is shot. Banging it shut use to work. At least it failed shut. :)

Got to go in there for the door lock rivet anyway.

[Krytin]

Do you have a 1/4" rivet gun?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/dorman-oe-solutions-window-regulator-installation-tool-743-100/10086721-P

I use 1/4 x 20 stainless steel bolts, washers and locknuts.
+! on This^^
The Dorman new unit I got from Rock Auto came w/hardware and it works perfect.
Hardest part of job is drilling out the old rivets. Have a sharp bit(s) and support the window glass when drilling the two that go through it.
I just did the passenger side - the cables pulled out of the plastic guide and the guide was cracked.

[mrjones]

I do have a 1/4" rivet gun and that's why I bought the kit with the rivets. Some of the folks just use nuts and bolts to put everything back in, but it looks just as easy to me to use the rivet gun. Biggest PITA is getting all the pieces out of the door when you drill them out. I also think I'm gonna get some dynamat or something similar and use on that door while I'm in there. I'll do the others as I get a round tuit.

[fastblackmerc]

+! on This^^
The Dorman new unit I got from Rock Auto came w/hardware and it works perfect.
Hardest part of job is drilling out the old rivets. Have a sharp bit(s) and support the window glass when drilling the two that go through it.
I just did the passenger side - the cables pulled out of the plastic guide and the guide was cracked.

I never drill out the rivets.

Break off the three "ears", push the pin out of the center and pop the rest out.

[1Marauder]

Buy OEM, as there are cheap nasty copies out there, saving the $20 between OEM and not, means redoing it later. from a guy who did this...

[Krytin]

I never drill out the rivets.

Break off the three "ears", push the pin out of the center and pop the rest out.
Where were you last week! LOL
I'll try this if/when I do another!

[fastblackmerc]

Where were you last week! LOL
I'll try this if/when I do another!

Much safer than drilling.

[RF Overlord]

I never drill out the rivets.

Break off the three "ears", push the pin out of the center and pop the rest out.


Much safer than drilling.Dude, thanks so much for the suggestion... :up:

My one big fear if I ever have to do a regulator is having to drill the rivets and cracking the glass. I think Phoebe is prolly about ready for the driver's window regulator to go and now I feel a lot more confident about doing the job.

[Krytin]

Dude, thanks so much for the suggestion... :up:

My one big fear if I ever have to do a regulator is having to drill the rivets and cracking the glass. I think Phoebe is prolly about ready for the driver's window regulator to go and now I feel a lot more confident about doing the job.

It's only been a week but the new (not remaned) Dorman motor/regulator unit looks as good or better as far as construction and fit and works perfectly - I'll let you know if any issues come up.

[lifespeed]

go to a junkyard and pull one from a CV or GM, put good grease on it and you'll be good to go.

I'll never understand advice to buy junkyard parts to replace parts that wore out :confused: