Help Front Left Window regulator replacement - Page 2

mohan · #11 07-24-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

you might want to try to tap on the window switch (you would need to reconnect the window switch back) and move the lifting mechanism up (or down) to align the plastic clip (or what is left of it) with the hole on the glass. The plastic clip probably broke off, and the glass wedged itself under its weight. Make sure that the door is open, when you tap the switch, you don't want the lifter go up (or down) in one single swoop... you know, when the door is open, the glass is moving as long as you hold the switch.

This about sounds right, what does "to align the plastic clip (or what is left of it) with the hole on the glass", my glass is down and I don't think I have any access hole I think. will try to post a picture..

I took a flashlight and tried to look around:
* I don't see any clips on the Left side, where the glass is attached to the regulator. And whats were the inside screw that is used to attach the glass to the regulator is loose.
* I think I can see some sort of clip on the right side, hard to see. But this is the side that has no movement.
Here are the clips I ordered:
2:
I ordered this, they appear to be 51 33 8 254 781 that you gave. But from the REAL OEM site for my model year (2001,3.0) here, I don't see any part corresponding to the second one, 51 41 8 224 781?

One thing when researching to do this DIY, is every model year and within the model year there appears to be tweaks that might be slightly different from your model.
TerminatorX, thank you very much for the inputs and sticking with this thread.

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mohan · #12 07-24-2011, 11:16 AM

Thanks TerminatorX, I managed to get the window glass up, to where I can get to the bolts where it attaches to the regulator. It appears that my left side bolt (8mm) that attaches to the clip fell off. I didn't change anything, just secured the glass to regulator, the clip seemed fine. I will test and make sure I can roll it up, maybe I don't have to take anything out. Will post the results.

The trick was, I connected the battery back, attached the door switch. I held the bottom of the glass, and in my foruth attempt of rolling it down and up with my hand on the bottom of the glass, it "latched" and rolled up.

mohan · #13 07-25-2011, 12:08 AM

Ok, its all well now. I just attached the loosened screw, it appears to work. The regulator seemed fine, so I did not go through with it. I will keep monitored. Thanks to all who responded with suggestions and answers.
Cheers

TerminatorX5 · #14 07-25-2011, 08:34 AM

Excellent, I am so glad it worked... One thing though - if the bolt detached once, it may do so again. The bolt and the special nut on the back of the clip are metal, so they probably will not break off that easily. the clip, on the other hand, is plastic, and as such, is THE weakest item in the setup.

I would strongly recommend to replace the clip, it seems to be "tired", if it lost the bolt once... It is only couple bucks in parts, but will save a lot of aggravation in a long run... Also, the "wings" on the old clip may look good, but if you compare them to a brand new one, you might notice the difference in the lenghth of the plastic material.

Ask me how I know all these stupid details - the car has total of 6 of those clips - I managed to replace about 8 of them already!!!

EDIT: Wow, the clips in the links you provided are at $3 each!!! dealer is selling them at buck and a quarter!!! I am really amazed to see that the dealer is cheaper - what the world has come to?!!!!

X5Cat · #15 08-01-2011, 11:18 PM

Hooray! Replaced both plastic clips on the DS front yesterday. All is well and working now! Guess that really is all it was. Local parts store ordered for me and sold to me for $1.25 each. Wish I had some way of knowing exactly how much to tighten the bolts, though. Don't know whether to leave them looser and take a chance on them falling out, or tighten down hard and bust up those plastic clips again.

Seems fine for now, though!

X5Cat · #16 08-08-2011, 10:44 PM

Wahhh!!! Been working fine for over a week now with the new clips -- until today. Wife took it to a car wash, lowered the window to pay first, and it never came back up. Then she got caught in the rain at Walmart, and my name was mud.

Took the panel off tonight. The clips look intact from what I can see. Guess I'm going to have to do the regulator. But, I can't get the window up. It's all the way down and won't move more than maybe a quarter inch or so. I just want to get it up tonight and disconnect the motor so she can take son to doctor and run errands tomorrow. I'm afraid if I cut the cable the window won't stay up.

Guess I'll go try to jiggle a bit more....

TerminatorX5 · #17 08-08-2011, 10:50 PM

clips are intact but it is still wedged? does motor make any noise? is it trying to spin? it could be that the glass was not seated in the tracks properly and eventually worked itself out. cutting cables would be last resort... try to get the glass moving, reseat it, and then use a lubricant. not WD-40, no... try graphite powder, apply to the glass tracks and other moving parts of the regulator...

X5Cat · #18 08-08-2011, 11:13 PM

Got it up! Prised up from the bottom with a plastic screwdriver handle, just hard enough to not break (I was praying) the glass, while rocking the switch up & down. Yes, the motor is working. The clips do appear to be intact (still in one piece, with full length of all "prongs/tabs"). Not sure if maybe something became unseated with them, but I don't think so. I'll look closer when I go back into it. The window is all the way up for tonight and I unplugged the motor, so wife can run errands tomorrow.

Think I'm just going ahead with shopping for a regulator and try it with all new parts. Think I need to lubricate the new parts with anything, or should it be okay as it comes from factory? Is that graphite powder necessary? Any other parts I might consider replacing, other than the clips? Thanks!

TerminatorX5 · #19 08-08-2011, 11:34 PM

i would suggest taking the glass out of the door (when you start working on it) and run the carriers up and down... watch out for the metal tabs on carrier tracks, so they don't catch on the cables... if the carriers run fine, the regulator probably is ok... then reinstall the glass, reconnect to the regulator and try again... you would want to lube the moving parts, but you don't want to attract dust... you might use other types of lube, graphite is black and visible on the black tracks... it is about $10 at home depot... utimate option is to replace the whole thing... do NOT disconnect the airbag, just hang it by a twine or a rope out of way... otherwise you would need to reset the airbag light... i got my regulators off ebay, brand new aftermarket... if you want to, i can look up the seller for you...

X5Cat · #20 08-08-2011, 11:51 PM

Thanks, I'm shopping eBay now. They are really reasonable there, so I am just going with new parts. Feel pretty certain the motor is okay, so I'll probably reuse it.

I already tripped the airbag light while replacing the door handle mechanism a couple of years ago. Still haven't gotten it by the dealer to have it turned off. Really need to do that. Guess it's getting off the course of this thread, but I wonder if there is a DIY way to (properly) turn it off. Haven't found it in anything I have read so far.

Thanks again.

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