I have a drivers side window that went down and opened about a 1/4 inch and now it appears stuck. I can hear the motor engaging and also the door lock acutator can not lock and unlock the door even though it is firing. My guess is the window reg is broken and somehow the door lock rod is stuck on it. I will open up and assess, but does it sound like window reg only or window reg and motor ?

 

Flemmons --

If you can hear the motor, it's likely only the regulator.

Good luck!
RedAustinIX (Ed)

 

Ok, I did it! I have an operational passenger side window again!

But, there's a story behind it I want to share.

My window regulator has been busted since about June. I was holding the window up with a piece of wood, which in itself was a learning process, I've never removed a door panel before. Over the summer it has slowly slid open about an inch.

I just moved from Atlanta to Bucks Cty, PA last year. Even though it was as hot - maybe even hotter - then an Atlanta summer in PA this past summer, I was terrified to try and fix this window on my own. A little rain, a lot of heat. I lived with it. No one to help (haven't really met anyone here yet), intimidated to do it by myself, not enough money to bring to the dealership. (moved here for a job, and still recovering from a long period of unemployment).

I asked for directions here, got great step-by-step ones, includig pictures, and even updates, but still I hesitated. It started to get cold, so now I had a draft coming in from that 1" gap. I ordered the regulator. And taped the opening of the window with packing tape. (which I'll now be removing with goop for days....damn sticky crap)

Last weekend, we had a snow storm. Not a flurry, but 8 very wet, heavy inches of snow - on October 29th!

My thoughts: a) why did I move to PA? and
b) thank goodness for strong packing tape!

I had no power for 2 days. I sent pix of the storm from my cell phone back to my pals in Atlanta who laughed.

Except for one. My cell rang Sunday morning, showing it was my friend Andrew. Andy and I have been friends for 20+ years, we met playing hockey together. He always said I was a chameleon (why I loved him so!) able to be the girliest-girl, and still kick butt playing hockey, and even attempt - with trepidation - fixing my own cars, plumbing, electrical (not really, installed a light kit on a couple ceiling fans). I knew he'd called to ask if I finally gave in and fixed my window because of all the snowy pictures I sent him.

But, it wasn't Andy. It was his sister Debbie. Debbie and Andy's Mum live in the UK. My stomach dropped. Debbie said "Marn, Andy has been having some double vision, which he self attributed to some meds he was on. He finally went to the doctor about it, and the doctor ordered a couple of scans. (they were friday the 28th) They found brain cancer". I couldn't talk. I managed "how long?" She answered "not long, maybe weeks. He'd like you to come." I of course said I'll get right on making arrangements. I made arrangements for a very expensive flight down Wednesday and home again on Saturday - the cheapest there were, and still maxed out my debit card and left me with practically nothing until next payday. He would have done the same for me.

Monday morning, my cell rang. It said "Andrew". My stomach dropped. It was Debbie. Things were worse, I needed to get down sooner. I made a reservation on Amtrak for 4pm Monday, arriving at 8am on Tuesday morning, actually borrowing my boss' Amex card as I could no longer afford anything. I had a couple hundred to my name for parking, gas, food.

Andy could no longer speak, but he could hear and was aware of what was going on around him. At midnight, on the train, my cell rang. I was already tearing up as I answered. It was Debbie. They called the whole family to the hospice, and thought he would be passing soon. He was pointing to my picture and "pinching" his mothers arm. They asumed he wanted to hear from me. They held the phone to his ear as I told him I was on my way, I loved him, he was a great friend, and I hoped I was as great a friend to him as he was to me. I told him I was still about 5 hours away, but I didn't want him to hurt, and I didn't want him to be scared, so if it was easier to let go....then let go. I talked some more, made some corny jokes, then Debbie took the phone back and said he was less agitated. I told her to kiss and hug him from me and I'd be there soon. 3am my cell rang again. Andy was gone. I missed him by 5 hours or so.

I visited with his family when I arrived at 8am- who after all these years are practically my family, then took the 8pm train back to Philly, getting in exhausted at noon on Wednesday. Then went to work til 6. (needed the money - laid out a lot over those few days). Thursday I worked 7am til noon, then I had chemo (I was the ill one - not Andy!), then worked on Friday all day. Saturday I don't even know what I did. I guess I moped. Or cleaned. The TV was on, but I don't think I watched it. I made calls, answered emails, wrote a blurb for our hockey league's paper. Looked through pictures.

I was called, there was going to be a memorial 11am Monday, and although I was not expected to be there, I wanted to be. I want to be. But I can't - neither physically (ill), logisitcally (work, plane, train, automobile) or financially (now broke for a few weeks). So, I made a video for my friends to play at what is being termed a "celebration of Andy's life".

And I pulled up this link - that I have been saving for so long - and fixed my damn regulator. It took about an hour and a half, and as I hit the window up and down button, it worked. And I started to cry.

I did it Andy. By myself. I can see him smiling and shaking his head. He knew I could.

So, thank you everyone for giving me the courage and instruction to do it myself.

And, if you don't mind, say a little prayer for Andy, who left this earth way too early at 40. Diagnosed the 28th of October, passed in the early morning hours of November 1st.

Rest in peace Andrew Metcalfe. Every time I fix something "manly" on my own, I'll smile knowing you'd be proud of me.

And thanks again to everyone on this forum who has given me advice, instruction, and a "you can do it" attitude. I still have some Disco issues....(my locks, I may never get those fixed), but I am glad I have a "forum of helpers" who can help me where Andy no longer can.

:-)

 

Marni, thank you. Thank you for taking the time to write that post here, realising we are all (or mainly) almost as good as kin here. Whenever you have a question, all you have to do is ask, and help and guidance will be offered. Andy is proud of you, and we are too! I really don't mean this to sound the wrong way, but I hope you own this vehicle for a long time, and are able to make a lot of "manly" repairs in his memory.

 

Hello
I diagnosed my truck as having a regulator issue and went to the junkyard and found a Disco that had a good regulator. I followed the instructions above and the window still will go down with the motor but not back up. Any thoughts? The regulator I bought still had the motor attached to it so I suppose I could swap those out? Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Gabe

 

instead of replacing mine I greased the crap out of the two plastic pieces and reattached them as best and the greased allowed the whole thing to move easily. But sometimes the other parts break and then you are screwed.

 

For those of you who have done this, is the half moon gear position shown in photo #13 the correct alignment when installing a new motor?

 

I have the same questions as the last post. I'm in the middle of doing this job. I took the old broken regulator out, attached the motor. I'm now trying to put it back in the door and thought about the half moon teeth gear unit, where should that be in relation to the motor if the window is about 4" down?? I don't want the window to be halfway down and run out of gears. Should I put the window 1/2 way down and put the motor in the middle of that gear??
Thanks,

 

Tragic story all around. Seems like you're handling best as possible.

Draayer...I just did mine and couldn't have without the RAVE. Look that up, diagrams and all.

 

I got the regulator in today and it went about as slick as possible. The half moon gear ends up where it should be when it all gets bolted in. The thing I thought might be a concern was a non issue.
Thanks all