Window Issue.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 307
Likes: 4
From: Thousand Oaks Calif.
Window Issue.
On my 81, the passenger window has never seals correctly. I've replaced the rubber around the window and purchased and installed the anti-rattle kits from Ecklers.
It helped but the window is still is not right.
While it will go all the way up with the door open not always when the door is closed.
The motor might be worn a bit in that it goes up but slowly. If the door is closed it stops 1/4 inch before fully closed.
Also, The window still has a lot of play in it side to side.
I'm thinking that it not going up is due to the motor being warn but there is still too much play in the window.
Any suggestions.
It helped but the window is still is not right.
While it will go all the way up with the door open not always when the door is closed.
The motor might be worn a bit in that it goes up but slowly. If the door is closed it stops 1/4 inch before fully closed.
Also, The window still has a lot of play in it side to side.
I'm thinking that it not going up is due to the motor being warn but there is still too much play in the window.
Any suggestions.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 648
Likes: 353
From: Portland, Oregon
Replacing the rubber is usually what causes the binding when the door is closed. With new weatherstripping it takes at least a couple of months for the window to go all the way up when closed. If it still doesn’t loosen the adjusting bolts in the door, move the window in the direction you think it should go. And tighten up again. Or hold the window up with glass suction cups with the door closed and then re-tighten.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 2,466
From: Indiana
Having the car running significantly inreases speed and power too..maybe help break it in..
If anything you will find this link with window racing videos
and advice to compare
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...o-rapidly.html
If anything you will find this link with window racing videos
and advice to comparehttps://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...o-rapidly.html
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,692
Likes: 833
From: WI
C3 windows ....there's a lot going on there. Lot of parts. It's amazing how many parts are inside C3 doors. Esp the C3's with power windows. These things are always difficult to tease apart what the problems are w/o directly seeing. Based on your questions, here are some general thoughts:
Window going up slowly: Did you replace that spring on the scissor's lift? There's a coil spring in the center of the scissor assembly which is partly wound "pre-loaded" to off-set the weight of the door glass. It helps remove most of the glass' weight the electric motor has to 'lift'. Essentially they tend to get rusty and break. The broken spring is probably sitting at the bottom of your car's door. W/o that coil spring yer asking your pw motor to lift that heavy side glass, something it wasn't designed for. And if the spring is still in place, the grease on the sliding tracks becomes old, hard and crusty (from attracting dust and debris) which can also slow window movement. The rollers are probably also crusty and not 'rolling'. You could have all conditions going on.
Window doesn't seal properly: Where doesn't it seal properly? Front/Rear ...top? Most of the aftermarket seals ya buy are too hard. Esp the rear seal. They need to be soft like the OEM seals were. If not, they wont compress enough. There are some 'soft' seals out there, (the import gaskets) which are close to the OEM seals. If you've installed hard seals, you probably won't get the windows to seal up properly. You might be able to find a 'best case' happy medium, but will be difficult to get right.
Window grommet: I'm not sure if this is the right name for this, but it's a black or white plastic (roundish) button at the front of the side glass just below the felt strips which rubs up against the top of the inner door frame as your window reaches 'top'. It's kind of a 'locator' device. This helps align ..or position your door glass to be in the right area to seal. They also commonly wear down and get a flat-spot in them after a number of yrs, and a lot of guys don''t replace. You have to remove the door glass to do it. When you see a C3 with 'floppy glass', it's probably bc that button is worn.
T-Top Gaskets: Are they 'hard' aftermarket too, or the 'soft' seals?
Door/Window Adjustments: Ok, there's a near infinite amount of window adjustment here: In/Out, Height, Tilt, etc. And it can take quite a bit of persistent energy to get it 'right'. You have to start with the door, Are the hinges tight or is the door sagging? Make sure they're tight and it's properly adjusted, the seals seal properly, not too hard ...the doors are positioned where they should be. Then move to the glass adjustment.
It's difficult to describe glass adjustment w/o seeing. But the process and procedures and all the door parts are well covered in the 81 GM service manual. Not trying to be a cop-out, but it's a well written section. Maybe you can view online. There's a whole long chapter on door glass and latch hardware. If your window parts are worn and gummed up inside, it might be a good winter project to disassemble your C3's doors and clean all the parts (incl door latches) and replace worn window parts with new. And then adjust from the ground up. And if the door and front/rear window gaskets are the hard style, replace them all with softer gaskets.
So, to sum it up, there are a lot of window and door parts and gaskets which need to work properly together to get a good seal. Then they need to be aligned properly. If some or many parts are worn or not sliding smoothly, it's going to be a struggle to get a good consistent window seal.
Happy Holidays
.
Window going up slowly: Did you replace that spring on the scissor's lift? There's a coil spring in the center of the scissor assembly which is partly wound "pre-loaded" to off-set the weight of the door glass. It helps remove most of the glass' weight the electric motor has to 'lift'. Essentially they tend to get rusty and break. The broken spring is probably sitting at the bottom of your car's door. W/o that coil spring yer asking your pw motor to lift that heavy side glass, something it wasn't designed for. And if the spring is still in place, the grease on the sliding tracks becomes old, hard and crusty (from attracting dust and debris) which can also slow window movement. The rollers are probably also crusty and not 'rolling'. You could have all conditions going on.
Window doesn't seal properly: Where doesn't it seal properly? Front/Rear ...top? Most of the aftermarket seals ya buy are too hard. Esp the rear seal. They need to be soft like the OEM seals were. If not, they wont compress enough. There are some 'soft' seals out there, (the import gaskets) which are close to the OEM seals. If you've installed hard seals, you probably won't get the windows to seal up properly. You might be able to find a 'best case' happy medium, but will be difficult to get right.
Window grommet: I'm not sure if this is the right name for this, but it's a black or white plastic (roundish) button at the front of the side glass just below the felt strips which rubs up against the top of the inner door frame as your window reaches 'top'. It's kind of a 'locator' device. This helps align ..or position your door glass to be in the right area to seal. They also commonly wear down and get a flat-spot in them after a number of yrs, and a lot of guys don''t replace. You have to remove the door glass to do it. When you see a C3 with 'floppy glass', it's probably bc that button is worn.
T-Top Gaskets: Are they 'hard' aftermarket too, or the 'soft' seals?
Door/Window Adjustments: Ok, there's a near infinite amount of window adjustment here: In/Out, Height, Tilt, etc. And it can take quite a bit of persistent energy to get it 'right'. You have to start with the door, Are the hinges tight or is the door sagging? Make sure they're tight and it's properly adjusted, the seals seal properly, not too hard ...the doors are positioned where they should be. Then move to the glass adjustment.
It's difficult to describe glass adjustment w/o seeing. But the process and procedures and all the door parts are well covered in the 81 GM service manual. Not trying to be a cop-out, but it's a well written section. Maybe you can view online. There's a whole long chapter on door glass and latch hardware. If your window parts are worn and gummed up inside, it might be a good winter project to disassemble your C3's doors and clean all the parts (incl door latches) and replace worn window parts with new. And then adjust from the ground up. And if the door and front/rear window gaskets are the hard style, replace them all with softer gaskets.
So, to sum it up, there are a lot of window and door parts and gaskets which need to work properly together to get a good seal. Then they need to be aligned properly. If some or many parts are worn or not sliding smoothly, it's going to be a struggle to get a good consistent window seal.
Happy Holidays
.
Last edited by Mark G; Nov 22, 2021 at 02:21 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,030
Likes: 363
From: Lubbock Texas
When I first got my '73, I had the same issue with my drivers side door glass. It would not go all the way up with the door closed. It would bind on the weatherstrip. I found the procedures for adjusting the door glass and managed to get better aligned so that it would go up just fine with the door closed. Aligning door glass is a pain and takes a lot of trial and error but it can be done.
DC
