Window Mechanism Re-assembly
Window Mechanism Re-assembly
Author
Discussion

Griffit

Original Poster:

375 posts

236 months

Monday 12th February 2007
quotequote all
Since I bought my car a few weeks back the passenger door has been a bit tough to close properly and made a horrible "clanging" noise when doing so. I decided what with the bad weather that this weekend was an ideal time to discover what was wrong and so stripped the door cards off the door to have a look. (Interestingly my door cards appear to fit the description of the Chimaera cards from the bible, in that they were in two parts fitted just as described for the Chim?)

Anyhow, the problem was obvious as the rubber/flocked rubbing strip that the glass runs in had been pushed down the rearmost aluminium channel by the glass at some point and thus the glass was "clanging" about in the aluminium channel when closing the door. A simple fix then, or so I thought.... Due to one of the screw heads that secure the bottom of the channel being trapped by some of the gelcoat overlapping the head of the screw I was unable to remove the screw and thus decided to remove the glass from the mechanism to assist in removing the aluminium channel - THE BIG MISTAKE! When I removed the 2no M6 bolts, I'm pretty sure something dropped into the bottom of the door, but I'm not sure from where? Searching around the bottom of the door revealed 2no door hinge bolts and washers and thats about it.

All I have at present is the winding mechanism, the bracket fixed to the glass and 2no M6 bolts, 1no with a washer and nyloc nut, the other just a plain M6 washer and nut. What I can't seem to grasp is how tight these should be wound up to secure the glass to the mechanism? I don't seem to think that they were tightened close together originally and this doesn't seem to run correctly in the door. Also if they are fully wound up the screw of the plain bolt fouls on the motor bracketry at the bottom of the door. Should there be some kind of spacer or packer between the two parts of the mechanism? Is this what my old bolts where doing previously?! Something is obvously not correct at the moment as the bottom of the door seems to bow outwards when the glass is wound fully down. There are also some dubious noises at the bottom of its travel and quite a loud knock when it hits its uppermost stop.

Any help much appreciated guys.

Ozstyle

392 posts

252 months

Monday 12th February 2007
quotequote all
I think if I was in your position best option would be to take the other door card off and look at that window mechanism to see what goes where.

Griffit

Original Poster:

375 posts

236 months

Monday 12th February 2007
quotequote all
Damn, I was hoping that nobody would suggest that! I really didn't fancy the hassle, especially with all the extra hassle of the mirror wiring etc.

Aussie John

1,021 posts

260 months

Monday 12th February 2007
quotequote all
Hi, you have dropped two spacers that are about 5 mill thick, one for each bolt, the plain nut is the one that goes in or near the channel ( the nyloc would stick out too far) hope this helps, cheers, John.

Griffit

Original Poster:

375 posts

236 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
Aaahh, sounds promising.... I didn't see any spacers in the bottom of the door but I'll look again! Are they nylon or steel or what and are they both the same or is there a front and a rear to take out the angle? Any help as to what I'm looking for much appreciated as there seemed to be quite a lot of censored in the bottom of the door including those hinge bolts!

With regards to the bolts, I've definitely got the plain one in the channel section. I had the bolt head to the rear and the nut in the channel though as per the way the nyloc nut/bolt assembly was fitted - should I turn this around or will the spacers (when I find them) stop the fouling problem? Perhaps the spacers are what makes the nasty noise at the bottom of the window's travel? rolleyes

spend

12,581 posts

280 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
Griffit said:
Perhaps the spacers are what makes the nasty noise at the bottom of the window's travel? rolleyes


You've been cured of the earlier paranoia then rolleyes

When you drop things in the bottom of the door you just have to persevere ~ washers are the hardest, they can get jammed in the 'seam', try to be gentle so you dont force them in further...

Dave

Griffit

Original Poster:

375 posts

236 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
Definitely cured of the paranoia, yeah! biglaugh A small window problem doesn't concern me like a big bill for a broken engine (as my imagination would have had it!)

seasider

12,728 posts

278 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
spend said:
try to be gentle so you dont force them in further...

Dave



That sounds like a voice of experience


I find one of these invaluable

Yes i am butter fingers

spend

12,581 posts

280 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
seasider said:
[quote=spend]That sounds like a voice of experience
Yep irked

The other thing I have done is chop some CH pipe insul in half (I use it for various purposes) and stuff it in the bottom before I start. It always seems if you prepare for something it doesnt happen so much

Dave

Griffit

Original Poster:

375 posts

236 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
Thankfully I seem to have small arms and nimble fingers - I couldn't see what all the fuss was about in removing the door trims and should be able to retrieve the bits hopefully? I did learn one valuable lesson about working on fibreglass bodied cars though shout WEAR SOME GLOVES - I'm still itching in some places now (on the backs of my hands before anyone starts)!

Aussie John

1,021 posts

260 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
The spacers are steel and are identical, not angled and have an o/d about 3 times the bolt diameter, keep looking!! John.

Griffit

Original Poster:

375 posts

236 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
Yep, found the spacers, one in the seam of the door and one stuck on a ledge. Also found a load more bolts, nuts, washers, old zip ties... no wonder the door rattled! Cheers Aussie John thumbup

Mechanism seems far better now but door still stops at the top with a bang and still seems to deform the door slightly at the bottom of its travel. The top will probably quiten down with the panels back on, but should there be any kind of rubber damper between the running part of the mechanism and the top height adjuster screw? I found a piece of foam/rubber in the bottom of door but it was about 20x10x2mm?

I'm sure that the bottom must be a runner alignment thing which I'll look at over the weekend when checking the hinge bolts are tight etc before reassembling the door.

seasider

12,728 posts

278 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
Griffit said:
etc


Check the allen bolts on the lock mechanism (in the door cavity) as well

Griffit

Original Poster:

375 posts

236 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
Cheers Seasider, will do - there's no point missing any if I can help it as you can guarantee they'll be the ones to come loose if I don't! yes

spend

12,581 posts

280 months

Tuesday 13th February 2007
quotequote all
Griffit, Theres a chap on the other side that needs your help

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=356152&f=8&h=0

Dave

seasider

12,728 posts

278 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
spend said:
Griffit, Theres a chap on the other side that needs your help

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=356152&f=8&h=0

Dave


Dave are you going for P.H. Nobel nomination ??

spend

12,581 posts

280 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
seasider said:
Dave are you going for P.H. Nobel nomination ??

No just being my naturally helpful self O:-)

Dave
But I do reckon some gongs will be up for grabs to those who have'nt given Bliar a penny

Griffit

Original Poster:

375 posts

236 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
spend said:
Griffit, Theres a chap on the other side that needs your help

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=356152&f=8&h=0

Dave


Do I detect some sarcasm Dave? I'll pass on the number of a man good at counselling for paranoia - I'm clearly cured now

spend

12,581 posts

280 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
Griffit said:
Do I detect some sarcasm Dave? I'll pass on the number of a man good at counselling for paranoia - I'm clearly cured now


Sarcasm never... You did offer an open invitation:

Griffit said:
...I'm prepared for a ribbing about all this... at least it ended with a !


Dave
I hope it was the other thread writer that you think has a paranoia problem, me I'm someone else today

Griffit

Original Poster:

375 posts

236 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
quotequote all
Sarcasm never... You did offer an open invitation:

Griffit said:
...I'm prepared for a ribbing about all this... at least it ended with a !


Dave
I hope it was the other thread writer that you think has a paranoia problem, me I'm someone else today
[/quote]

banghead So I did...

Not sure if he deals with schizophrenia too?