Help! 1994 Q45 Front Passenger Window won't Roll Up!

[AlabamaDan]

Ah! My window rolled down this afternoon just fine. As I went to roll it up I heard a click and then it wouldn't roll up. I have done a search and that's where I found these inx on how to take the door panel off.

http://www.carstereohelp.com/s...e.htm

Now my car had a plastic film covering the entire door between the door panel and the metal. What was that? Seemed like a shame to take it off and I doubt it'll go back on.

On to the important stuff. I still can't get the window up. I"m reaching in and pushing up on it pretty hard and it barely budges. Trying to roll up with the switch while I do this has no effect. But it will use the motor to roll down, but then gravity does that just fine.

How do I get it to go up just for now and what's the long term fix?

[fourdrinie]

check out carlos knology's http://www.fuzzycats.com website...its about the J30, but I cant imagine the Q45 front windows are much different.check out under J30 DIY, there's a link to a pdf...power window binds or gets stuck...basically you have to replace and or repair window regulator and/or motor....just follow directions...basic stuff

[AlabamaDan]

That fuzzycats site is good for the long term fix. I especially like his tip that the local parts deals has reman window regulators for $50 with lifetime guar.

But how do I get it up (no jokes here) so I can go to work tomorrow? Am I just being to gentle in trying to push/pull it up? But if I do muscle it up, how do I get it to stay up? I guess I'm being gentle because I'm afraid I'll break something else.

Oh, I found this little piece of black plastic about 1 inch long and 1/2 inch wide. Is this my problem?

Thanks!

[fourdrinie]

little pieces of plastic not a good sign...I dont think you can move the window up without the risk of more damage to the motor and the plastic gears without removing regulator and motor...I would rather see you take the regulator and motor out and see if can be wiggled free to move with power...anyone else have an idea?

[AlabamaDan]

Oh, so I don't need to force it or I could break more. Good thinking. But Perhaps if I remove the regulator, and then the motor I guess, I can get the window up until I get a new regulator or motor. Is the regulator this little black box on the right side of this photo?


Modified by AlabamaDan at 8:02 AM 4/18/2006

[fourdrinie]

no the regulator is inside the door...connected to the window...look at the base of the window...its held onto the window by two bolts..then it attaches to the door with I believe four bolts (two on top, two on bottom)...the regulator is attached to the motor...check out and search on ebay for window regulators to see what they look like...I believe Carlos has a good picture of them on his website.

[AlabamaDan]

First of all, fourdrinie thanks.

So, are you saying I need to replace the regulator and not the motor?

BTW, I looked through my Service Man and couldn't find anything on this.

[elwesso]

The regulator and motor come as an assy... Your regulator is likely trashed.. What I would do is try and put the window up at the same time while pushing the switch up...

[AlabamaDan]

The regulator and motor come as an assy... Your regulator is likely trashed.. What I would do is try and put the window up at the same time while pushing the switch up...

No such luck. Tried that last night. Where can I find inx on how to remove the motor and regulator?

[elwesso]

Well if you want you can disconnect the regulator from the window and hold the window up with a pair of vice grips or something.....

window regulator removal is pretty simple, i think louiegz has a thread about it somewhere.

[fourdrinie]

Dan, follow the http://www.fuzzycats.com instructions...I am sure the J30 is similar to the Q45 as far as the window regulator/motor...its the two bolts that attach the regulator to the window, then four bolts that attach the regulator to the door frame...it regulator/motor comes out as one assembly, then you can take the motor off from there.

[daegrigg]

Had what sounds like the same problem.

Key is that I couldn't budge the window.

It was not the regulator or the amplifier but the cable which had jumped out of the groove and was being pinched between the two rollers. You can check this visually by looking top down on the regulator cable pulleys. I had to disassemble the pulley assembly to release the cables. Alternately, you could replace the regulator assembly.

Good luck.

Don

[AlabamaDan]

That would be hopeful. I'm gonna get back on it tonight.

[fourdrinie]

Either way, you have to take out the regulator/motor assembly and inspect it for free play. Once it's out, you can check the window for binding in its track. You can hookup the regulator/motor assembly after inspection to the power connnector and see if the regulator/motor is working and the cables on the regulator are free-moving. Be sure to use silicone spray on the regulator cables to keep them free-moving prior to re-assembly in the door frame.

If you have the energy, it's a good time to do the passenger side. Spray the cables on the regulator with silicone to prevent any future binding.

[fourdrinie]

oops, my fault...if you have the energy do the driver's side..the passenger side is the one giving you trouble now. zer...55269#

[AlabamaDan]

Well I took the whole track motor assembly out and found the problems. At one end of the guide/track is a plastic guide/pulley for the cables that is broken. Also, the cable in the motor is all tangled up and I think it looks like it almost broke. I don't know what happened.

Anyway, so I guess I need a motor and track assembly. Probably not a regulator. Is the regulator by the way the little thing bolted to the motor?

By the way to remove the motor and assembly just take out every bolt you see on the door. Four bolts hold the track. Three hold the motor. Finally there are two that attach the track to the bottom of the window glass. Don't worry about dropping those last two into door, they're easy to get out later.

I was able to pull up the window and stuffed a couple of blankets in the door to make sure that if I hit a bump it won't fall and break. It's my only car so I've gotta drive it.

Thanks

[fourdrinie]

good work...glad you got it out and figured a way to prop the window up so you can drive it without freezing your buns off...prob better to buy the whole unit....motor and regulator assembly as one...search ebay or just google window regulator as there are places that you can send yours in and they send you a rebuilt one...or check out junkyards on http://www.car-part.com for the whole assembly...at least you have some time to find the best deal you can since you got the window propped up.

[Q451990]

The regulator is the cable/track assembly that attaches to the window and motor. I know the term sounds like it should be something electronic, but it's not.

The best temporary solution I found is to take the cables off of the regulator... clip them or whatever. Then reinstall everything.

The window will move up and down by hand. You can hold the regulator in the up position by sliding the window up, then clamping a pair of vice grips on the regulator to keep it from sliding back down. It's pretty rare to see a p/w motor fail - so I would just order a new regulator and be done with it...

Good luck!

Heath

[squeefoo]

If you buy a new cable/regulator assembly from Joe it's much beefier than the stock one.I personally wouldn't put a used one in since it might not have much life left. If I remember right you don't have to replace the motor, reuse the old one.

Lube the window seals and tracks with some silicone too, since mine broke from it sticking to them, right after I bought it.