Front Window Lubrication / Sticky
Discussion
Anyone had any issues with a front (nearside) electric window that really struggles lifting the window back up on the lower half of the travel? This one has been a bit sluggish these last few years, but always got there. This year, it needs a help to raise the window by pinching the glass and pulling up at the same time as activating the switch.
At the moment, I have the door trim off and am judiciously trying to spray white lithium grease at the various moving bits of the regulator, whilst trying to minimise the amount of plastic water shield sheet I peel off, being aware that this sheet is a bit precious, and issues with it can lead to wet footwells, which so far has never been a problem. So far, I think I have managed to direct aerosol white grease, through the straw poked through a tiny bit of sheet pulled off, into all the relevant bits, but still the window is sluggish to raise, and still needs a help. So looking to see if there are any other bits I can lubricate, before I go the whole hog, peel the sheet completely off and drill out the rivets holding the regulator in.
The window seems to open no bother, with gravity helping it. But closing is a bit sluggish. OK, when its more than 50% up, it will go the rest of the way itself. But the bottom 50% is hopeless, and the concern is that someone opens the window fully, then we cannot get a grip of it to help it up.
There is some other friction surfaces where glass runs on the door edges, but obvioulsy not suitable for applying grease on
At the moment, I have the door trim off and am judiciously trying to spray white lithium grease at the various moving bits of the regulator, whilst trying to minimise the amount of plastic water shield sheet I peel off, being aware that this sheet is a bit precious, and issues with it can lead to wet footwells, which so far has never been a problem. So far, I think I have managed to direct aerosol white grease, through the straw poked through a tiny bit of sheet pulled off, into all the relevant bits, but still the window is sluggish to raise, and still needs a help. So looking to see if there are any other bits I can lubricate, before I go the whole hog, peel the sheet completely off and drill out the rivets holding the regulator in.
The window seems to open no bother, with gravity helping it. But closing is a bit sluggish. OK, when its more than 50% up, it will go the rest of the way itself. But the bottom 50% is hopeless, and the concern is that someone opens the window fully, then we cannot get a grip of it to help it up.
There is some other friction surfaces where glass runs on the door edges, but obvioulsy not suitable for applying grease on
May need to try step 8 as in the below....

Though no reason to believe it should have gone out of adjustment. Have also noted its at its worst in the middle of the lift, when the regulator has the least mechanical advantage over the glass. It can actually lift the glass from fully open, but grinds to a halt about 30% up. Then needs help to get past 50% up, then off it goes on its own again.
Though no reason to believe it should have gone out of adjustment. Have also noted its at its worst in the middle of the lift, when the regulator has the least mechanical advantage over the glass. It can actually lift the glass from fully open, but grinds to a halt about 30% up. Then needs help to get past 50% up, then off it goes on its own again.
bigwheel said:
Hi, the area in your last paragraph is the usual place for causing difficult window raising.
I don't remember the type of product to get into the channel/groove where the glass slides.
At that point, the door frame seems to be lined with a black velour type fabric. Lubricating anything there will just be a clarty mess! I don't remember the type of product to get into the channel/groove where the glass slides.

Windy Miller said:
bigwheel said:
Hi, the area in your last paragraph is the usual place for causing difficult window raising.
I don't remember the type of product to get into the channel/groove where the glass slides.
At that point, the door frame seems to be lined with a black velour type fabric. Lubricating anything there will just be a clarty mess! I don't remember the type of product to get into the channel/groove where the glass slides.

I sprayed copious amounts of silicon spray into the channel you describe (the rear edge one) and hey presto, massive improvement and surprisingly not that messy. I used the straw attachment to direct it into the channel. That was 7 years ago now, maybe time for me to do it again.
Do it when the car is due a clean.

I removed all the original glue from the door and the plastic sheet when I did the rust proofing and re-stuck it with refix tape (3M or Jtape) . I've used refix tape on hundreds of car doors when i worked in a bodyshop and as long as it's clean and dry when fitting is perfect.
The old glue is a pain to get off but the best way I found was to use the glue itself in a gum ball and keep dabbing it on the glue you want to remove and it pulls it off.
The old glue is a pain to get off but the best way I found was to use the glue itself in a gum ball and keep dabbing it on the glue you want to remove and it pulls it off.
The two main reasons for what you are experiencing is not from the adjustment points or the window being out of adjustment. It will be the motor wearing out and likely needing replacement. That means the regulator assembly needs replacement because it’s all part of the same thing. You don’t often find just the replacement motor.
The other thing that happens is the white plastic guides that move back and forth in the regulator rail wear. That is where the movement in the window comes from. It will cause the window to shift slightly when going up and cause it to push too hard into the flocked weather seals. That will give the illusion the seals are the problem. They are fine. Never lubricate them.
As this wear happens, that puts an ever increasingly heavier load on the motor. This leads to the motor getting flogged out or close to it.
That’s why often these two problem co-exist.
There are two types of plastic guides. VT-VY (including the variations of international models). And the VZ guides for the relative VZ models. The difference is where the guide fits onto the regulator is bigger on VZ. Any that are bought online will be reproductions and suit the smaller VT-VY mount. The guides have to be machined to fit VZ by drilling them out and resurfacing where the cup shape is in them. It’s the eternal annoyance for VZ owners.
Most aftermarket regulator assemblies will be like VT-VY. They will fit fine if sold for Monaro. The guides will work the same.
I hope that makes some sense.
The other thing that happens is the white plastic guides that move back and forth in the regulator rail wear. That is where the movement in the window comes from. It will cause the window to shift slightly when going up and cause it to push too hard into the flocked weather seals. That will give the illusion the seals are the problem. They are fine. Never lubricate them.
As this wear happens, that puts an ever increasingly heavier load on the motor. This leads to the motor getting flogged out or close to it.
That’s why often these two problem co-exist.
There are two types of plastic guides. VT-VY (including the variations of international models). And the VZ guides for the relative VZ models. The difference is where the guide fits onto the regulator is bigger on VZ. Any that are bought online will be reproductions and suit the smaller VT-VY mount. The guides have to be machined to fit VZ by drilling them out and resurfacing where the cup shape is in them. It’s the eternal annoyance for VZ owners.
Most aftermarket regulator assemblies will be like VT-VY. They will fit fine if sold for Monaro. The guides will work the same.
I hope that makes some sense.
Getting there with this. Plastic membrane off today as its a warm day and a lot easier, aided even more by softening the adhesive with a hairdryer. Then, loosened the 2 bolts for the front guide rail (C & D below);

Next, copious amounts of lubricant around all the runners, pivots, quadrant gear and what not. Some a bit blind working with an aerosol and a straw through door apertures. But a boroscope camera shows roughly the places to aim for.
Then, lots of exercise - For the window regulator, not me!
Spray, up, down, repeat. Stop when the motor gets a bit warm.
Its now pretty much there. It slows slightly in the middle of the upwards travel, but now has no bother lifting the glass all the way by itself. Better with the engine running when the voltage is that bit higher. Its on a motor cooling period at the moment, then might give it one more round of exercising, tighten up bolts C & D and hopefully that is it!
Next, copious amounts of lubricant around all the runners, pivots, quadrant gear and what not. Some a bit blind working with an aerosol and a straw through door apertures. But a boroscope camera shows roughly the places to aim for.
Then, lots of exercise - For the window regulator, not me!

Its now pretty much there. It slows slightly in the middle of the upwards travel, but now has no bother lifting the glass all the way by itself. Better with the engine running when the voltage is that bit higher. Its on a motor cooling period at the moment, then might give it one more round of exercising, tighten up bolts C & D and hopefully that is it!
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