Re: Groaning (then non-working) electric windows

["Music Research Corp." <mureco@telenet.net>]

Hello to whoever "amz" stands for!

    There are a number of possible problems the "painful death" sounds could
be attributed to.  You still have sound so,  let's figure that the motor is
actually working, but not just the way it once did.  The number one problem
of this unit has is:  there is a Nylon reel that wraps and unwraps to make
the window go up and down.  An educated guess is that the wire that should
be in following the "spools grooves" is wrapping itself otherwise.
    I would think that taking the regulator out of the door would be a good
start in the scheme of things.  Once the unit is out, go to the motor end
and remove the oddly shaped cover from the spool cage. The screws used here
are  a TROX system point.   If luck would have it, you may be able to make
the wire go where the design engineer expected it would go no matter what
the variations of temperature, moisture, rust etc., etc. may be.
    If the wire is not broken, tension must be relieved so the straightening
of the wire can happen.  If you go to the "U" shaped rail where the sliding
"window puck"  resides, you will see pulleys at either end.  Just above the
pulley is a rectangular junction box that holds the pulley wire in place.
(Similar at both ends)  From the back side, squeeze the two protruding clips
together and the clip will move away from the frame to allow the removal of
the clip and the wire tension.  Take care here, for things can go flying!
    After you clean up the pulley and the Nylon spool, be sure sure you
don't neglect the motor,  for there often is rust here that may have started
the problem in the first place.  A new gasket should be fabricated by
tracing the old one on gasket paper and cut it out.  I've used some sticky
bicycle grease in this re-assembly and the metal  wire works well with
"Super Lube" with Teflon.
    Check your work by hooking up a low DC battery (9.6V DC works OK) source
to the
motor.  If all this work doesn't make things work, look for a reasonably
priced rebuild from the many sources available to you on the Quattro List or
. . try my own trick of using Spectra instead of metal wire.

Wayne Scheer
Amsterdam, NY

-----Original Message-----
From: amz <amz@eskimo.com>
To: 'Quattro List' <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 1:18 PM
Subject: Groaning (then non-working) electric windows


>I think the passenger-side front window (motor?) in my 88 5ksq has died
some
>sort of a painful death.  It began about a week ago when the window would
>sometimes groan slightly when closed.  No problems opening.  Yesterday, it
>started to groan as it went up and the window stopped, but it seemed like
>the motor was still going for a little while.  To make sure the motor was
in
>the 'down' position, I then opened the window.  It now didn't like doing
>that, either.  I then closed the window by helping the glass along.  It
>stays closed.
>
>Is it possible that the motor or other parts are generic or at least
>available in GM 'flavor' like the seats & A/C?
>
>Is it possible that the motor still works, but that the glass slid out of a
>track or off of some arm and that's what caused the groaning?
>
>A non-Audi mechanic friend is willing to take a look at it and I'd like to
>pass on any tips or info you can suggest.
>
>Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.
>