New problem. Window reg..

s1120 · #1 08-23-2009, 07:11 AM

OK, well just heard form the wife.... Seems the driver side window will not go all the way up. Gets to within 1/4" or so, and the reg just skipps. Its a manual window. Are these repairable, or do you just need to buy a new regulator? Car has almost 190k on it, so dont want to dump a lot of time/money into it.

denisond3 · #2 08-24-2009, 08:02 AM

Since no one else has replied yet - I will guess. The window regulator may have gotten its 'scissor legs' bent sometime, or the teeth may have worn out or gotten broken. So it might be repairable or might not. I think you get to the regulator by taking off the outer door panel on a Saturn S series car. If you take off the inside panel, you only see the metal panel inside the door, and the regulator is on the outer side of that. Its not hard to get the outer panel off, if you know to take the door handle off First. If you lift up that handle, you will be able to look up and see a screw or pin that you unscrew or push out of each of the little arms, then the handle will come off of the two arms. Then you need a Torx wrench to take the several screws out. I forget if you have to remove the inner plastic panel for the rear view mirror or not.
I see the regulators for sale at www.rockauto.com - for about $42 plus shipping. They may be available at auto parts stores too, I havent checked.
We have 2 SL-2's in the family, so have the electric window regulators. And its the rear windows that go bad on those more often than the front doors.

RC1488 · #3 08-27-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denisond3

Since no one else has replied yet - I will guess. The window regulator may have gotten its 'scissor legs' bent sometime, or the teeth may have worn out or gotten broken. So it might be repairable or might not. I think you get to the regulator by taking off the outer door panel on a Saturn S series car. If you take off the inside panel, you only see the metal panel inside the door, and the regulator is on the outer side of that. Its not hard to get the outer panel off, if you know to take the door handle off First. If you lift up that handle, you will be able to look up and see a screw or pin that you unscrew or push out of each of the little arms, then the handle will come off of the two arms. Then you need a Torx wrench to take the several screws out. I forget if you have to remove the inner plastic panel for the rear view mirror or not.
I see the regulators for sale at www.rockauto.com - for about $42 plus shipping. They may be available at auto parts stores too, I havent checked.
We have 2 SL-2's in the family, so have the electric window regulators. And its the rear windows that go bad on those more often than the front doors.

Dead on except its a manual window

All it is is 2 gears, one that you crank and the other that is connected to the scissors that push the window up. The weak point in the entire design is in how they keep the gears aligned. Its just a small piece of metal that eventually bends away and allows the gears to slip past each other. Do the above, however you may be able to just smash the tab back in place with a hammer and punch

No need to buy an electronic window regulator.

s1120 · #4 10-28-2009, 08:28 AM

Cool thanks!!

Ya, its a manual reg. I will pull that panel and see if I can fix it.

s1120 · #5 10-31-2009, 01:36 PM

Well I got it apart. Kinda a pain getting that belt molding off!!!!!!!!

Ya, teeth are all chewed. It rolled up real hard, so mush have just wore them out. I lubbed up everything REAL well, and now you can at least help the window closed by hand. Gotta think what I want to do. Do i want to put $120 into a car with 190k on it?? Is a used one going to be any better??

RC1488 · #6 10-31-2009, 02:22 PM

Hmmm If you find a low mileage car at a junk yard, it might. I forget how those gears attach, so Im not sure what you would have to buy exactly.

Greggory2347 · #7 12-23-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s1120

Well I got it apart. Kinda a pain getting that belt molding off!!!!!!!!

Ya, teeth are all chewed. It rolled up real hard, so mush have just wore them out. I lubbed up everything REAL well, and now you can at least help the window closed by hand. Gotta think what I want to do. Do i want to put $120 into a car with 190k on it?? Is a used one going to be any better??

You might look also at the window channel as on my SL2 it would bind now and then and eventually caused the gears to strip. Naturally I discovered this after the power window started the stripped sound.

I hear your pain of spending $120 on a car with 190k miles-I have sort of the same decision-$200 for a new exhaust system.....160k.........

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD