Door window fails to operate correctly. Diagnosis & Repair

[Kathryn]

S***! F**! B*******! I may have mentioned I had a clunky window, it is clunking no more.
It goes up and it goes down, but only about a third of the way!

I have read this whole thread and looked at the pictures, I can’t view the videos. I don’t think fixing it is within my skill set. (Last time I tried something similar was attempting to change a window motor on my Seat Ibiza. I almost got the doorcard off but was thwarted by one final over-tightened screw. My brother did it in the end (with my assistance) but that was a simple case of swapping the motor, didn’t need to touch anything else - none of these sliders, butterflies etc!)

Is there a way I can get the glass up, so it is at least closed, until I can get it fixed?

[Bern]

Have you tried helping it go up, as in pulling the glass upwards whilst operating the switch?

[Kathryn]

Have you tried helping it go up, as in pulling the glass upwards whilst operating the switch?

Yes, my dad and I tried that, it won’t budge.

[Steve A]

Shame it didn't happen at Hethel there was a master class on window maintenance
I suppose if you try and get it to move you run the risk of jamming it further down
but on the other hand what have you got to loose, sound's like a strip down to me.

[Rambo]

S***! F**! B*******! It goes up and it goes down, but only about a third of the way!

Try a sheet of thin perspex gaffa taped to the window as a temporary problem to keep the rain out. Or a sheet of clear polythene until you get sorted

PS I would have thought a practising pharmacist would have a little blue pill for that particular problem

[Kathryn]

S***! F**! B*******! It goes up and it goes down, but only about a third of the way!

Try a sheet of thin perspex gaffa taped to the window as a temporary problem to keep the rain out. Or a sheet of clear polythene until you get sorted

PS I would have thought a practising pharmacist would have a little blue pill for that particular problem

Perspex and gaffer tape is in fact my plan, but I’m going to see if I can remove the door card and have a look first.

(And in answer to your question, I am not a pharmacist, which means I don’t get to ask the questions before selling it, thank God!)

[clemo]

From memory of fixing a fellow elaners car last week
Remember the screws behind the Door cards and carpets. The carpet ones are plastic within a lug thing. they might need a bit of help prizing out with a flat head as well as the cross head screwdriver.
Also the 1 screw hidden in the rubber by the top corner above the door handle.
The screw in the door escutcheon / internal door handle and then a further 3 behind it.
Careful as you ping the orange clip out . take the door knob out and then there is another big screw behind that.
i think there is also 3 behind the triangle clover up by the wing mirror.

Then remove the centre plastic cover . You will then be able to see whats going on.

Let us know what you find. it sounds like one of the plastic clips had broken . If its the butterfly clip then its more simple to fix. With the door card off you will be able to assist the window up and even pop the window back on the butterfly clip hole as a temporary measure.


If it is the lower one that connects the 2 cables is a motor out job ( as we did in the carpark at hethel).

Report back when you have had a look then we can advise from there.

Good luck .

[Kathryn]

I’m hoping I will be able to push the window back up, even if is wedged closed as a temporary measure. That’s if I don’t fail at the first hurdle and fail to remove the door card.

[Giniw]

I can't remember anything particularly difficult when I stripped down the door and removed the window but of course I was not in a hurry as the car was garaged and I had another one to go to work ...
Good luck and obviously please don't hesitate to post photos and ask questions if you need help!

[muley]

Not sure why you can't watch the videos .

.you'd find this one https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sLJWCYD_lu8

Invaluable

Rgds

Jim

[Kathryn]

Thanks Jim, that video was very useful. I was aware of the YouTube videos and was going to search them if I couldn’t do it using the photos.

I’ve got the doorcard off before I ran out of daylight. Speaker is out, next I need to remove the two black plastic bits. Do I just prise them out? They’re not screwed but do appear to be siliconed in.

And I didn’t break the little red clip!!

[muley]

Thanks Jim, that video was very useful. I was aware of the YouTube videos and was going to search them if I couldn’t do it using the photos.

I’ve got the doorcard off before I ran out of daylight. Speaker is out, next I need to remove the two black plastic bits. Do I just prise them out? They’re not screwed but do appear to be siliconed in.

And I didn’t break the little red clip!!

Good stuff; if you mean the black plastic pieces about 20 cm. or so across - it looks like someone has been there before - just carefully prise them off.

Jim

[Giniw]

next I need to remove the two black plastic bits. Do I just prise them out? They’re not screwed but do appear to be siliconed in.

In my opinion, it's better if you try to cut the silicon with a sharp blade — I don't trust much old plastic.

And I didn’t break the little red clip!!

Congratulations (they are available from any Vauxhall/Opel dealer anyway — and apparently from SJS too but not too sure of the price)

[clemo]

As Giniw said ^ .

[Kathryn]

Thanks guys! Tomorrow evening’s job. I’m actually quite enjoying this so far!

[clemo]

You may wish to acquire a piece of wood say 3x2 about a 50cm long and a saw and a tape measure

that way if the lower white clip on the bottom of the window has failed then you will be able to cut down the wood and pop it in the hole (where the plastic cover was ) and prop the window up.


DANGER TO FINGERS / WARNING

Do not put your hand in the door to just pop the window up and use the window switch in the DOWN POSITION at the same time. there is a nasty edge where the side impact bar is that , if you get it wrong and have your fingers close to the window and that impact bar whilst using the electric motor you could come close to loosing your fingers.

Both I and Pinky did it in the carpark at Hethel. it was painful .

If you are helping it UP with your hand then only use the UP SWITCH . you will be fine ...
BUT down is like a guillotine anything in the down position TAKE YOUR HAND OUT.

Fairly straightforward advise not meant to scare you at all .

[Kathryn]

Thanks for the advice / warning Clemo.
My aim is to get the door glass up. If I find out what’s wrong or fix it (unlikely) it will be an added bonus.

Not scary at all! I shall just have to make sure I know which side of the switch is up or down.

[clemo]

Thanks for the advice / warning Clemo.


Not scary at all! I shall just have to make sure I know which side of the switch is up or down.

THIS ^.

or whoever might be helping you.

[Giniw]

EDIT: Well, please see Jonathan's post below: just check and don't trust me on that one!

[I think] the concave side is supposed to open/lower the window whereas the convex side is closing it. But ... please don't trust me too much and check before!!

[Saltire]

The concave side is supposed to open/lower the window whereas the convex side is closing it. But ... please don't trust me too much and check before!!

Works the other way on my S2, so do check as Julien suggested.