Disobedient window regulator

[RatMonger]

Greetings All,

First let me say thanks for all the assistance. I've been quietly hanging around for a little over a year, and in that time you guys have helped me to avoid learning about my Z the hard way. Hopefully, some day soon I'll have enough experience to interject productively.

Anyway, I am having a problem with the driver's side window regulator. It will not roll up. The last couple of times it did work there was a notchy feel to the beginning of the cranking. Now it catches a little, just enough to get the window up about 1/8", and then it spins.

So, the question: are the regulators serviceable or do I need to replace the whole unit?

[EScanlon]

One of two possible things to happen to cause what you mention:

The window handle has stripped out it's spline but the clip is still holding it in place....replace the handle. But, from what you mention, it's more than likely:

The window regulator....the big gear lever inside the door...may have stripped IT'S gear that operates the large lever. Only solution is to replace the whole unit as it's riveted and spot welded together and nearly impossible to separate. Then even if you could separate it, finding that little gear is....fruitless.

Open up the door and check everything out. If nothing else it will confirm what you read here.

Preventive maintenance for those of you who have your regulator out is to make sure that the grease around the gears and rollers is stll soft and greasy and not rock hard rubber cement from 30+ years ago. When you inspect the gear that the window crank handle attaches to, check for play. A little is to be expected (i.e. you rotate the handle up to one "hour" in each direction before it starts to move the large lever), but excessive play or even a wobble to the rotation is something to check out.

2¢

Enrique

[Blue Meanie]

Power of the crank my brother, power of the crank!

[RatMonger]

Thanks Enrique,

Unfortunately, I am sure it's not the splines in the handle.

You've confirmed my suspicions. So, the search begins for a drivers side regulator for a 240. I've heard that these are interchangeable through the 280s with the exception of the 2+2s. Am I on the right track? (apologies, I couldn't resist)

If anyone in northern Virginia has one they would be interested in selling, please let me know.

[george71z]

Just read in the paper that auto manufacturers are going to have power windows in all cars, and do away with roll-ups. I have repaired MORE than my share of power windows, but this is the first roll-up regulator I've heard of that broke. I'll trust my 35 yr. old crank windows in my 240 over any power mechanism.

[zbane]

dealing with windows can be a pane in the glass.

[Mr Camouflage]

dealing with windows can be a pane in the glass.

ROFL