on the door panel....anyone??? 
It looks like we aren't the only ones having this problem.
Driver Window Grinding
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Whitesboro Texas
Driver Window Grinding
Today my driver side window started making a terrible grinding noise when it is lowered. On the way up, it is quiet and great.
Any ideas on what may be going on?
The regulator was replaced on it in March of 2009.
Any ideas on what may be going on?
The regulator was replaced on it in March of 2009.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Whitesboro Texas
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
From: Waterloo, IA
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Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: coastal MS
I took my door apart and the only thing that looks odd is that there is a fair amount of slack in the cable. I am looking to see if there is a cable adjustment. I have to go slow, it is about 90 degrees outside with lots of humitity. I'm loosing weight every time I go out there.
Just so everyone knows, mine only make the noise when it goes the first couple of inches down. It also seems very jerky. After that it seems ok. I'll keep posting as I make progress.
Just so everyone knows, mine only make the noise when it goes the first couple of inches down. It also seems very jerky. After that it seems ok. I'll keep posting as I make progress.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: coastal MS
Ok, I found something and it seemed to make a difference. There is a zip tie that holds the widnow regulator cables together. Sperkins has a good image on his sale add. (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...-assembly.html). That zip tie has a tab that presses into a hole on the door's innner frame. Mine came out of the hole. By putting it back like it should have been it seemed to take some of the slack out of the cables.
Between that and some WD-40 (carefully applied to the cables. My window seems to be working 90% better. On a good note, if you do have to replace your regulator, the door has large openings. It looks to be much easier then other cars I've worked on. I think two beers and a friend, a couple screw drivers, a 30 torx and a 10mm socket...2 hours+/-. (this is a guess, I didn't actually have to replace mine....yet )
Between that and some WD-40 (carefully applied to the cables. My window seems to be working 90% better. On a good note, if you do have to replace your regulator, the door has large openings. It looks to be much easier then other cars I've worked on. I think two beers and a friend, a couple screw drivers, a 30 torx and a 10mm socket...2 hours+/-. (this is a guess, I didn't actually have to replace mine....yet )
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: Fresno CA
Check these guys out for replacement info, they have a few good videos on YouTube also.
www.upanddownmainstreet.com
www.upanddownmainstreet.com
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Whitesboro Texas
Ok, so I go out and pull off the interior of the door (broke one clip, so I figure that isn't too bad for my first time). When I get it off, I run the window up and down, and it made a slight pop and everything was good. I continued running it up and down for probably 8 times without the interior piece on. At this point I am feeling good about not having to do much of anything, and that whatever it was pretty much got back into place. However, when I put the interior part of the door back on, the grinding is back!
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: coastal MS
Ok, so I go out and pull off the interior of the door (broke one clip, so I figure that isn't too bad for my first time). When I get it off, I run the window up and down, and it made a slight pop and everything was good. I continued running it up and down for probably 8 times without the interior piece on. At this point I am feeling good about not having to do much of anything, and that whatever it was pretty much got back into place. However, when I put the interior part of the door back on, the grinding is back!
There isn't much that would cause that. Make sure all the door track bolts are tight.(don't over tighten, you'll break that fiberglass). Then make sure the guides are in place and clean. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out if it works good without the door panel in place.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,430
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From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
Check the cable pulleys too while you have the panel off. Had one on a guys car that was making all kinds of noise and the cable just came off the front pulley. Just something to check.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: coastal MS
I went a head and did some insulating while I was in there. The bass sounds much better. I'll eventually do the rest of the car. But since I had the doors apart, it was time.