You Should Know This About Your Car Window Regulator

As the power is supplied to the electric motor, the window regulator will move the window up and down as it is a mechanical assembly.

The window regulators are usually placed until they stop working. The things that can go wrong with a window regulator is the breakage of the gear that drives the assembly, the pulley or the cable might be loose or they can break, the regulator carriage may no longer be in contact with the window that guides it up and down. Regulators are fixed to the door so that they cannot be easily removed or changed.

There are usually Four types of window regulators. They are:

Scissor Type

• This type of regulator you can usually see in classic vehicles.
• They are built with metal components where the main arm is fixed to the window carriage or tray on one end and a large gear plate that has a gear plate on another end.
• When it is power operated, an electric motor will turn a worm gear that meshes with those teeth to move the arms.
• When there is no power motor, a manual crank will handle the same function.
• Scissor type regulators will usually fail if the wheels at the ends of the arms wear or breaks off - that causes the glass to tilt at an angle inside the door.
• When the center hinge wears between the two bars as they scissor up and down, the complete mechanism will make noise and the glass will rattle in a sloppy, unpredictable fashion.

Cable Type

• This type of window regulator is compact in size and makes availability for more room inside the door for safety beams, airbags, as it contributes less weight to overall fuel economy,
• Also, the integrated assembly will reduce the manufacturing cost. But they are more complex than scissor type.
• A metal track is placed vertically inside the door panel and it serves as a guide piece as the window tray slides up and down.
• Few setups have one main regulator track in the center of the door, based on the design and there is a track on each side of the glass in other setups.
• There are two smaller guide rails along window edges in window regulators with one center track so that it can prevent the window from wobbling during travel.
• In cable type, an electric motor or manual crank will move the wire cables which travels across a series of pulley wheels before it connects to a window tray or clamps. Once the cables are pulled to and for,
• the window will open or close. Cables bear the weight of the window, and if they break then the glass will fall into the door panel and get stuck.
• At times, they can be shredded if the cables run over them at angles.

Manual Window Regulators

• Both the above type of regulators can be manually operated with a handle sticking through the door panel so that the up and down movement of the glass window can be controlled.
• These type of manual window regulators has to be physically rotated so that the door glass can be raised and lowered.
• When you turn the hand crank, a plate that supports the glass will lower or raise the window into its desired position.

Power Window Regulators

• In a power window setup, a compact electric motor will transfer its motion through worm gear as well as several spur gears.
• In the end, there will be a reduction in the gear that permits a small motor to produce more torque to do the work of moving a heavy window assembly.
• There is a self-locking function in most worm gears to gear the ratios and angles of contact. This is the reason why you cannot force a power window to open.
• The component that is used in modern window regulator assembly is designed to fit with tight clearances.
• If you don’t clean the windows periodically to remove tree sap, dirt, and airborne pollutants which create a sticky film on the glass surface, a significant drag will be formed and the window will be hard to move up or down.
• This additional stress will cause warpage and misalignment of metal regulator tracks.
• In a few vehicles, a window motor that is not functioning can be separated and changed separately from the window regulator assembly.
• Repairs this type of window regulator costs less labor as the time and effort involved with accessing and changing the full regulator assembly is removed.
• The individual power motors that can be changed separately are a design feature of a scissor-type window regulator and not the cable type regulators.
• You will see regulators both with and without motors if your vehicle has this design. Purchase the right parts!

A window regulator is a mechanical assembly behind a door panel that’s responsible for moving a glass window up or down along a guided track. Basic window regulators which have been around since enclosed automobiles were first introduced 100 years ago are operated by a hand crank, and power window regulators use an electric motor to do the work of moving the glass along its path.

As you push the electric button for the window movement to engage, the relay will send a signal to the motor. The motor will then function on a linear basis so that the up and down motion is created. The signal is received by the motor and it will break the circuit to the gears which will then spring into action based on the direction which is selected for the button to move the window. Some problems with overuse of the button will end in miscommunication between the relay and the motor. Hence, as you push the window button, it will not move up. You will have to then find if the relay switch or the motor is causing an issue.

A damaged or broken window regulator cable will make the window to jam or fall inside. Abnormal noise will raise due to worn out cable or a frayed window regulator cable. And this is the same reason, the window will not go up or down. During cold temperatures, the window may be frozen in a closed position. The window will separate from the window regulator as you operate the switch.

Here are a few symptoms of a faulty window regulator:

• The window will fall inside the door.
• As the window moves up and down there will be an abnormal noise.
• The window will open slowly, maybe jammed or will not close at all.
• The window will slide up or down crookedly.
• The window will not move as you press the switch even if the window motor runs.

It is said that a workman is only as good as his tools, and it is definitely true when it comes to the car bodywork. It is vital to have the right tools to repair your Window Regulator or else a straightforward job would turn into constant headaches. So that’s why we have listed out some invaluable tools below which you will need while repairing your Window Regulator. 

• A drill for drilling out the rivets
• A couple of screwdrivers (flat and Philips)
• Some tape
• Pliers
• A hammer and a punch
• A socket wrench and box wrench
• And a magnetic retrieval tool
• A window regulator
• A pop-rivet gun and some rivets
• Bolts/nuts if you can't find a pop-rivet gun big enough
• Some lubricant

If you know which car parts brand suits the best for your Window Regulator then it would save a lot of your decision-making time. What we believe is that picking a particular brand would always be helpful in reducing the clutter, and at the same time would make it easier for the customers to find what they are actually looking for. That’s why we have listed out some top brands for Window Regulator below as follows:

Do you want to know what are the related parts of the car Window Regulator? Say no more! We are here to help you out. Have a look at Window Regulator related parts below:

• Window Regulator Tape
• Window Regulator Clip
• Window Regulator Rail
• Window Regulator Roller
• Window Regulator Rivet
• Window Regulator Sliding Pivot
• Window Regulator Kit

There are a lot of factors that should be considered when you are thinking of replacing Window Regulator. First, you have to decide that if you require some related parts of Window Regulator or a whole Window Regulator Then after that the next step is to decide what type of make as well as the type of Window Regulator you are actually dealing with and then from where will you get a brand new one. Just keep in mind that a brand-new Window Regulator which would come from a warehouse would cost much more than the one you will get in a junkyard. After that, the next point which should be considered is that from where you are going to get it replaced and how quickly it needs to be done.

The cost for window regulator repair lies between $270 to $370 and the approximate labor cost will be between $80-$100, while the cost of parts is around $190 and $270.

These Are The Following Steps To Change Window Regulator

Step 1 - Remove Battery Cable

Turn on the car and ensure that the window is pushed all the way up. Now turn off the key. Remove the battery cables by going under the hood and ensure that there are no accidents while you work with the electrical components.

Step 2 - Remove Door Panel

Start removing the screws of the trim panel on the door and that holds the various components. Pry off the window, lock the switches and the door handle bezel. You will have to unscrew them out of their housing. As you take them off disconnect them. Some screws may be hidden around the door and so remove every screw. Do a deep check before you pry off the door panel. Start from one side by popping the door panels and then pry the pop rivets out of their housings.

Step 3 - Disconnect Window Harness

Take off the inner door's water protector and remove the wires to the window harness. Loose every screw that holds the window regulator starting from the glass to the regulator and then to the door.

Step 4 - Remove Window Regulator

Now remove the window regulator from the door as the window is held in place by the frame. Both sides of the regulator have to be folded in and then take it from the door. Separate the power motor from the regulator by removing the bolts. Until the wire becomes loose, wiggle the motor. During this procedure, ensure that the cable does not come off of the spool.

Step 5 - Replace Window Regulator

Now you can proceed with the window regulator replacement. Fix the new regulator inside the door place it correctly. Attach the motor to the regulator in the reverse process of removing it. Fix the regulator to the door, glass, and top of the regulator. The water deflector has to be resealed and change the door panel.

Step 6 - Secure Door Panel

Once you fix the window regulator secure the panel back to its original place. Start from the side of the panel and then press the pop rivets back into its original place. Replace all the screws that you took off while you made the connections to the lights, switches, and locks. Now fix the battery cable and check your new window regulator