window stuck open

[rburnham11]

hi there
as with most chimaeras i assume my wing mirrors constantly need adjusting which is a separate problem i shall sort at a later date, but while adjusting my drivers side mirror i opened the window over 3/4s the way down and now it wont go back up. the passenger side still works but is very stuttery and slow but works. ever since i got the car the windows have been laughable and was only a matter of time before one failed completely. now i have read how to take off door panel which i get the impression its a cruddy job at best however i dont think its even possible to do with the window glass still in its down position, so my question is- is there a way of manaully getting the window to rise? pulling it doesnt work. if i cant get the window up i believe the only way to access the bolts is by cutting a hole in the fiberglass behind the carpet which isnt too bad as i intend to recarpet/leather the whole interior anyway.
then assuming i have the door panel off with all the mechanism accessible i did read there was a window mod involving a relay or other gadgets to boost the power to the motor, could somebody give me a idiots guide to this?

any help would be much appreciated....
cheers guys
Rich

[ch427]

Have you checked for power at the motor terminals?
The terminals are not too bad to get at throught the speaker hole, id probably rig up a decent sized pos and neg straight from the battery terminals to test it and see how it runs.
Lubrucating the widow sliders will help too.

[rburnham11]

I did put a voltage indicator on it but wasn't too clear as it's more of a 230v one I use at work. Are the windows fused separately? Thing is lunging up the runners would help but even if I pull the glass while pressing the button it has nothing. I'd really like to get the door panel off so I can actually see what I'm doing but with the glass inside the door it's difficult to get to the nuts. I will use your idea of rigging up a lead straight from the battery. Just need a way of getting the windows to rise otherwise I'll have to start cutting access holes

[ch427]

The diagram suggests one fuse, number 11, 30 amp.

[Dodsy]

Take the speaker out, behind it you will find a 2 pin connector. Mine kept working loose stopping the window working. In the end all I had to do was clean up the pins and bend them in slightly for a better contact. Takes seconds to get the speaker out, pull that connector off then push back on so worth a bash.

My windows used to work but were a bit slow, then I let a TVR specialist have a go at them now the drivers side doesnt work without a helping hand. Mine takes 2 people, one to operate the button and push the glass from the back towards the front of the car to straighten in in the runners and the other person using both hands and pulling hard on the window to help it up.

Try wiggling the glass back and forth in a front to back of the car motion while operating the switch and pulling up on the glass you may find it works.

[rburnham11]

from the not so wise, if your window gets stuck open before doing anything drastic like cutting holes or anything like that, check and try the obvious first, just before conceding to cutting a hole just to access the nuts I decided lets give the motor a tap/whack thinking sometimes when starter motor gets stuck I have heard a thump with a hammer sometimes frees it, well tapped the window motor, pressed button and now goes up and down. still might change both motors before they do fail as still very slow and weak. as suggested on here I will lube the runners and the rubber seals, may even change them too.
if somebody knows more about the extra relay for more ompff on the window motor please let me know.
thanks

[Dodsy]

Interesting that the specialist who looked at my window also told me that new motors couldnt be bought and I *might* be lucky and get one down the scrappie otherwise that was it, no more leccy windows.

They are available from TVR car parts for about £100 so while not cheap they are certainly not discontinued.

Im not convinced the motor is the problem on mine though - its always been slow so I suspect that new window runners, some lubrication and maybe new wiring via a relay might pep it up a bit

[ch427]

The problem is that you need 2 relays in each door and its quite a complex circuit so that means more spaghetti and relays floating around in unusual places!
There are some threads with diagrams if you have a search for slow windows.

[Oldred_V8S]

Lubricating the runners is a short term fix and it attracts more dirt and st resulting in slow windows so you lube it again, it attracts more dirt and st, resulting in slow running windows,so you lube it again................

Get the picture?

Find the root cause and resolve that rather than the symptoms. Check the runners still have a lining of felt. If not they will be nice and grippy, unless you keep lubricating them and attracting st.

Check the mechanism is free running, check the motor with a couple of beefier cables directly on the battery.

Edited by Oldred_V8S on Thursday 18th June 08:00

[eric450]

The one thing that made a huge difference to the speed of the windows on mine was cleaning and greasing the worm drive between the motor and window bottom frame.
Get all the sh1 off with something like a toothbrush them grease all along it's length. I was amazed at what a difference it made.
Sorry, not a lot of use until you get 'em working.

Cheers ....