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Showing results for tags 'window regulator'.
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Window regulator repair While enjoying an early spring ride with my PT81 two days ago, the driver side window one third open, I wanted to move the window a bit down. Klonk, the crank lever blocked. Cranked it to the opposite direction, the window moved up easily. Down, klonk. Three attempts later the window was completely closed … It ended that I had to remove the regulator unit out of the door. For those who had not yet had the opportunity to work on a regulator: essentially that thing is a simple mechanical device. No need to get afraid of it. When inspecting the unit, I did not see anything that was unusual worn or any dirt that was sticking in the mechanics. First tried it with oiling, but it still moved only into one direction, not into the other one – klonk. That klonk let me assume that there must be something in that pot [1] where the crankshaft comes out. Unfortunately that pot is spot welded to the unit`s main plate [2]. What shall I say, at the risk to damage more, I had to open that pot in any case … I carefully drilled the spot welds off and detached the pot with a small steel wedge [3]. I really was surprised how many pieces were inside [4]! After cleaning the parts I became aware that that what first appeared to be a fine thread [5] was a spring [6]. I also found that tiny piece of wire [7] … that is the end piece of the spring. The repair was pretty simple: Bended a hook to the broken end of the spring [8], greased everything and put all pieces back into the pot [9]. The two ends have to be hooked into the mechanism. The picture shows one of the spring`s end unhooked [10]. The green arrow shows where it has to be, when ready installed (spring loaded). Instead of trying to weld the pan back onto the main plate (I feared to damage the pan since it has got a thin wall thickness) I first tried to solder it [11] and it worked. Two hours after removing the regulator unit out of the car I had a perfect working unit. Hope this post helps in case someone of you will have an issue with the window regulator, too. By the way: Althogh I was a little disappointed that the mechanism already has gone broken after 78 years - I am really again and again impressed what great solutions the guys developed, even at so minor things like a window regulator !