When I express down my drivers side window it makes a noise like the glass is cracking. It is very loud and ends with a thump when the window hits the bottom stop. It does not make the noise going up, only going down. The window fits perfectly. The noise is not present when I run the window up and down half way. I have put WD40 the plastic rollers and put white grease on the tracks. No help!

Any ideas out there?

 

My window makes a lot thump when it hits bottom too. It sounds like it's crunching when I roll it up, and most the time I have to help it go up. Hopefully someone can answer both of our problems!

 

Both of you have the same issue, your regulator needs to be replaced.

 

You both are in need of new window regulators.

What you are hearing is the wire on the spindle either frayed or a broken plastic part that keeps the cable tight. I have replaced both of mine.

check out rockauto.com for a good deal. I would not recommend removal before you have the replacement part in hand.

Search the forum or youtube for a how to.

 

My cables do not appear to be frayed. Autozone has a replacement motor for half the price of the whole assy. Have you tried just replacing the motor?

If you replaced the whole assy which one of the two listed by Rockauto did you use?

 

Belay the motor post. I have decided to replace the regulator assy. Found one on the Forum for $75. I can't believe that mine failed at 18,000 miles!

 

Mine was 475.00 at the dealer parts and labor.

 

Both the motor and assembly wear out. The brushes on the motor wear out and the cable spindle spring housin breaks allowing slack on the spindle to cause binding.

You can repair the motor brushes for a temporary fix and clean up the carbon that causes the windows to seize however both here describe NOISE which indicates issues with the cables binding.

It is a HUGE nightmare trying to rewind the spindle especially when the part that keeps the tension is broken.

VDO Part # WL42073

VDO Part # WL42072

See pics in the below link. The blue plastic section with the spring will crack causing tension failure producing the noise you describe while the cable becomes loose on the spindle.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...uild-pics.html

130 bux for each and an hour or two it is a simple fix.

tip: When removing the window you will find that the window appears to be glued to the clamps it sits in.
After you remove the bolt to spread the clamp, use a small screwdriver on a cloth to break the rubber seal that has compressed to the window over the years.

Be sure that you mark the washer positions prior to removal and lay the old assembly next to the new so that you can position the nuts at the same locations on the new part making install alignment much easier.

 

I would recommend a new one or you will buy it twice. They die from lack of use as well.

 

I ran across a video of the removal and install yesterday it was very good. As I said I ran across a Forum AD for 2 regulators removed from a 16K mile vette for $75 each. I sent him a PM but have not heard back as yet. I looked at Rockauto and they had 2 models of regulator. One was $149 the other $130. The $149 part was a Delco and it had a note that another part was required. The other was a name that I am not familiar with but had no note? Which did you use?

 

I provided you the part number. I used the VDO one so i did not need another wire pigtail adapter for the motor connection on the passenger side. Plus the ac delco ones are the ones that BREAK