Drivers window issue.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Drivers window issue.
I am having an issue with my drivers window, I will try to explain what is happening.
When the window is in the up position and close the door I get this really bad sound when the window moves It is a really loud cracking noise, I can grab the window with the door open and move it and it sounds terrible, Anyone have any idea what I am talking about?
Thanks in advance.
Mr.Bill
When the window is in the up position and close the door I get this really bad sound when the window moves It is a really loud cracking noise, I can grab the window with the door open and move it and it sounds terrible, Anyone have any idea what I am talking about?
Thanks in advance.
Mr.Bill
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
Most likely you have a broken spring guide on the window regulator. The only cure at this point is a new regulator. Check eBay for an inexpensive knock-off. I bought and installed one recently and it fit great and was comparable quality to the GM at 1/3rd the price. It was the unit with green pulleys (gm unit has pink pulleys).
Once you get the window up DO NOT operate it again until you have the new regulator. They tend to jamb in the down position, (usually in a thunderstorm, on the way to the airport or in a bad neighborhood with no cell coverage.) Here is a pic of your busted part. The little white plastic tube is supposed to be one piece, not two. The cable shroud eventually spears through the top of the guide allowing slop in the cable and the jerking, screeching noise you hear is the tube scraping against the cable spool:
Once you get the window up DO NOT operate it again until you have the new regulator. They tend to jamb in the down position, (usually in a thunderstorm, on the way to the airport or in a bad neighborhood with no cell coverage.) Here is a pic of your busted part. The little white plastic tube is supposed to be one piece, not two. The cable shroud eventually spears through the top of the guide allowing slop in the cable and the jerking, screeching noise you hear is the tube scraping against the cable spool:
Last edited by Cratecruncher; Jul 9, 2011 at 03:16 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Most likely you have a broken spring guide on the window regulator. The only cure at this point is a new regulator. Check eBay for an inexpensive knock-off. I bought and installed one recently and it fit great and was comparable quality to the GM at 1/3rd the price. It was the unit with green pulleys (gm unit has pink pulleys).
Once you get the window up DO NOT operate it again until you have the new regulator. They tend to jamb in the down position, (usually in a thunderstorm, on the way to the airport or in a bad neighborhood with no cell coverage.) Here is a pic of your busted part. The little white plastic tube is supposed to be one piece, not two. The cable shroud eventually spears through the top of the guide allowing slop in the cable and the jerking, screeching noise you hear is the tube scraping against the cable spool:
Once you get the window up DO NOT operate it again until you have the new regulator. They tend to jamb in the down position, (usually in a thunderstorm, on the way to the airport or in a bad neighborhood with no cell coverage.) Here is a pic of your busted part. The little white plastic tube is supposed to be one piece, not two. The cable shroud eventually spears through the top of the guide allowing slop in the cable and the jerking, screeching noise you hear is the tube scraping against the cable spool:
Thanks.
Bill
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
If you work on cars regularly it's not difficult. If you only change oil and filters it might be something you have a shop do. Do a search. I believe there is a how-to somewhere. The two hard parts are getting the door trim panel off without breaking the plastic retainers, and getting the door glass adjusted so you don't get wind noise. The only special tool I can think of is a door panel fork for popping the little hidden fasteners and mybe a torx head for the two bolts behind the pull handle on the trim. Make a note of the way the window is adjusted relative to weatherstripping before taking the old regulator out and start there with the new one. Don't wash the dirt off the bottom of the window either. It has information you need in the patterns.
Thread Starter
Race Director
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Thanks for the help guys, I ordered a new regulator and it should be here in a day or two, Hope I can figure this out...lol
Bill
Bill
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
The reguator is the entire assembly so it'll be all good once you align the window.
Forum member in this other thread needs a part from yours when you replace....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...or-pulley.html
Forum member in this other thread needs a part from yours when you replace....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...or-pulley.html
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 34
From: King George Virginia
After you get the door panel and the door speaker off take a sharpie and mark your window glass where it is held in place by the regulator it will help you realign the window. I just did this last weekend. It is an easer procedure that the service manual makes it out to be. The crunching sound is one of he strands of the cable used in the regulator has broken. Mine sounded like broken glass when it jammed.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 593
Likes: 9
From: San Antonio Texas
Just to add to the list of cautions. When you remove the door panel get a good idea of where the push clips are and apply constant but gentle pressure to pull the plastic pins out of their respective plastic ports. I broke one of the pins when I took my drivers side panel off. Just take your time and dont rush. Also, I found it helpful to look at the Vette Essentials procedure for removing the door panel on their website. The reflector on the lower panel has two ears on the TOP that are easily broken if you pry on the wrong side of the piece. Usde a small flathead screwdriver and a folded piece of cloth to protect the panel to pry it off from the bottom.
If the panel has never been removed it might be a little challenging to get the top of the panel out of the channel groove in the top of the door. Mine had been in there for 12 years so it took a bit of wiggling but it came out in one piece.
Given all the mods on your car I would have guessed you were doing a lot of your own wrenching! Good luck Mr. Bill.
If the panel has never been removed it might be a little challenging to get the top of the panel out of the channel groove in the top of the door. Mine had been in there for 12 years so it took a bit of wiggling but it came out in one piece.
Given all the mods on your car I would have guessed you were doing a lot of your own wrenching! Good luck Mr. Bill.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,451
Likes: 2
From: DFW Texas
another word of caution, lol
if you have your windows tinted do not operate the window until you put the door panel back on. when i did mine i ended up scratching the tint (if you dont have tint it'll be the glass) because the panel wasnt on the door.. doh!
if you have your windows tinted do not operate the window until you put the door panel back on. when i did mine i ended up scratching the tint (if you dont have tint it'll be the glass) because the panel wasnt on the door.. doh!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
window problem
hey Mr Bill how did your window reg workout? i have the same problem with my 03 vert. when the window is up, it moves (toward and away from center of car) about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (when door open) and makes an awful cracking sound. when i close the door with the window down it rattles real bad. passenger side is nice and tight sounding (no rattle or glass wiggle). so i think i have the same problem as you and i'm real interested to hear how it worked out for ya. 
julian
julian
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
hey Mr Bill how did your window reg workout? i have the same problem with my 03 vert. when the window is up, it moves (toward and away from center of car) about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (when door open) and makes an awful cracking sound. when i close the door with the window down it rattles real bad. passenger side is nice and tight sounding (no rattle or glass wiggle). so i think i have the same problem as you and i'm real interested to hear how it worked out for ya.
julian
julian
Thanks everyone.
Mr.Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
window problem
should do the trick for my vette too.julian