DRIVERS window fault (regulator cable snapped... AND FIXED)

[BahnStormer]

Hi peeps - I was driving into work today (fortunately clear and dry)... I'd had the windows down to help de-mist, wound them up as I hit the dual carriageway (slight "clunk" from driver's side)... 2 mins later, decided to open the window a fraction in preparation for the roof coming off and the window went down, slowly.... and kept going....

I can't wind it up again.

I can hear a slight relay "click" from the door when I use the window switch.

Hoping something has just been "derailed" rather than something actually breaking or burning out   

Door trim coming off shortly (in my office car park)... interested to know what to look out for... I've taken the trim off before (18 months ago) for the speakers...

[Call the midlife!]

If it's anything like the regulator on a Mondeo then it sounds like one of the cables has snapped and you'll need a new regulator.


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[Topdownman]

If it's anything like the regulator on a Mondeo then it sounds like one of the cables has snapped and you'll need a new regulator.


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That was my first thought. It happened on my ibiza.....

[BahnStormer]

Thanks guys, it looks like this cable snapped!

Any idea if that is a Toyota only part or generic?!? Really need to get the car secured ASAP.

[BahnStormer]

Thanks guys, it looks like this cable snapped!

Any idea if that is a Toyota only part or generic?!? Really need to get the car secured ASAP.

I checked with Patrick (Headcase) and he reckons that it's a Toyota only part.

Local Toyota dealership can only fit it in a week... and I can't get through to their parts department.

Any idea on where I could source it (or what the part number is that I'm after)...

EDIT1: I'm guessing "driver's side window regulator": https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112598628181 (for about £35-£40 2nd hand)??

EDIT2: or from Toyota that is £293 (incl VAT) and on backorder (ETA 1 month).... but seems to include the motor too...

EDIT3: or this one for £25, looks pretty new (2nd hand though) and only £25.... although it is from somebody called MazdaDudes...

[Call the midlife!]

Can't speak about the availability of parts but when it went on my Mondeo a few weeks back I wedged a plastic scraper between the glass and frame on the inside to keep the window up.
Different style of windows I know but from the outside you couldn't really tell there was anything wrong, just had a week of passing my security pass through a slightly opened car door at work that's all [emoji23]
If it's only the cable then there's an outside chance of finding something to repair it with, depending on how it's fixed at the other end you might be able to bodge it with a bike brake cable and a small clamp or similar?


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[Carolyn]

I just took a driver's side door off my silver.  The paint is scruffy, but it does have a working window in it.

You're welcome to it, if you want to pick it up.

[BahnStormer]

I just took a driver's side door off my silver.  The paint is scruffy, but it does have a working window in it.

You're welcome to it, if you want to pick it up.

Thanks! I think I've got a part now... the next question... any idea what tools I'll need to replace the window regulator (rail, motor, two cables)??

Trying to work out if it is worth buying the tools at Halfords / finding somebody near Gatwick or driving 30 miles home with no window.... I've just done a 90mile round-trip to fetch the parts and I'm getting bored of this: I drove there with the roof (AND WINDOWS) down... and drove back with only the drivers window down... but the air pressure imbalance is making me feel more than a little dizzy...

I've got a screw driver (And that's about all!)... if all I need is a set of ratchet spanners, then I'm up for it...

[Topdownman]

Years ago I had a bit of wood holding my rapier glass up for some time.

On my ibiza one I couldnt get at the bolts to remove the mechanism because the glass was in the way and I couldnt move the glass so had to get a garage to do it and they struggled.

[Call the midlife!]

I just took a driver's side door off my silver.  The paint is scruffy, but it does have a working window in it.

You're welcome to it, if you want to pick it up.

Thanks! I think I've got a part now... the next question... any idea what tools I'll need to replace the window regulator (rail, motor, two cables)??

Trying to work out if it is worth buying the tools at Halfords / finding somebody near Gatwick or driving 30 miles home with no window.... I've just done a 90mile round-trip to fetch the parts and I'm getting bored of this: I drove there with the roof (AND WINDOWS) down... and drove back with only the drivers window down... but the air pressure imbalance is making me feel more than a little dizzy...

I've got a screw driver (And that's about all!)... if all I need is a set of ratchet spanners, then I'm up for it...

If you can get hold of the glass you should be able to pull it up into place and use something appropriate to wedge it up.


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[BahnStormer]

I can pull the glass up, but might just have a go at fixing it at the local Halfords car park IF all I'll need is a set of ratchet spanners (that I want to buy anyway!).... not so keen if I need two sets + this  that + something else... and the shop is closed by the time I'm half way done.

[Carolyn]

Jam the glass up and get it home....

The possible 'desperation stakes' in the car park don't bear thinking about...

You won't know what you need until you get stuck in and I can guarantee it's more than just some sockets.  It always is.

[jvanzyl]

I can pull the glass up, but might just have a go at fixing it at the local Halfords car park IF all I'll need is a set of ratchet spanners (that I want to buy anyway!).... not so keen if I need two sets + this  that + something else... and the shop is closed by the time I'm half way done.

I'm WFH tomorrow and on holiday thursday and Friday so you're totally welcome to come round mine as I'm sure I have enough tools to get it done - plus I have the workshop manuals...

[Call the midlife!]

I just took a driver's side door off my silver.  The paint is scruffy, but it does have a working window in it.

You're welcome to it, if you want to pick it up.

Thanks! I think I've got a part now... the next question... any idea what tools I'll need to replace the window regulator (rail, motor, two cables)??

Trying to work out if it is worth buying the tools at Halfords / finding somebody near Gatwick or driving 30 miles home with no window.... I've just done a 90mile round-trip to fetch the parts and I'm getting bored of this: I drove there with the roof (AND WINDOWS) down... and drove back with only the drivers window down... but the air pressure imbalance is making me feel more than a little dizzy...

I've got a screw driver (And that's about all!)... if all I need is a set of ratchet spanners, then I'm up for it...

If you can get hold of the glass you should be able to pull it up into place and use something appropriate to wedge it up.


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[BahnStormer]

I just took a driver's side door off my silver.  The paint is scruffy, but it does have a working window in it.

You're welcome to it, if you want to pick it up.

Thanks! I think I've got a part now... the next question... any idea what tools I'll need to replace the window regulator (rail, motor, two cables)??

Trying to work out if it is worth buying the tools at Halfords / finding somebody near Gatwick or driving 30 miles home with no window.... I've just done a 90mile round-trip to fetch the parts and I'm getting bored of this: I drove there with the roof (AND WINDOWS) down... and drove back with only the drivers window down... but the air pressure imbalance is making me feel more than a little dizzy...

I've got a screw driver (And that's about all!)... if all I need is a set of ratchet spanners, then I'm up for it...

If you can get hold of the glass you should be able to pull it up into place and use something appropriate to wedge it up.

Door card off, glass up, then an upside-down 1litre Lucozade bottle (the £1 fat ones from Tesco), the grooves on the bottom nestle around the glass and mechanism really well and gives you ~2cm of gap... drove it to Halfords, picked up the ratchet spanners (been on the list for a while!) and drove home, where I wedged in a couple more plastic bottles, so it now looks watertight.

JvZ sent me about 20 photo's of how to do it, so I need to work through there and make sure I've got all the tools to do it - I really want to do it in one hit as I'm just parked on the side of the road, so no option to stop halfway through to take a break, fetch reinforcement or fetch any extra tools. Good news is that there don't seem to be any specialist 'Yota workshop tools, so now I just need to see if I have all the normal tools (and enough hands/space).

edit: if anybody has a cheat sheet on the tools required, then that would still be appreciated!

[BahnStormer]

Okay Patrick (headcase) confirmed:
Philips screwdriver
10mm socket
ratchet and extension

...and I'd add "a VERY small flat-head electricians screwdriver* and maybe some plastic trim removal tools"

*or something small and thin to get around the door pull plastics and move the retaining tabs out.

I think I'm good to get started with a reasonable level of confidence that I won't need to re-assemble the car to drive down to Halfords/wreckers half way through the process!

I'll confirm once I'm done

[paulj]

I like the Lucozade fix, so much more elegant than a screwdriver stuffed down the side of the glass.  Nicely done and good luck with the full repair.

[BahnStormer]

I like the Lucozade fix, so much more elegant than a screwdriver stuffed down the side of the glass.  Nicely done and good luck with the full repair.

...the downside being that you have to take the door card off first, but most people carry at least a reversible (Philips)  screwdriver and there's Tesco Expresses everywhere

I've been driving around today with the door card screwed back in, but I'm not putting the plastic trim on and off every time... car is strategically parked on the end of a row of cars in the office carpark and I've got the toolbag in the passenger footwell, so I'll have a go at lunch time, so I've got daylight on my side! There's times I really envy people with garages, electric lights, solid driveways, etc...

[Call the midlife!]

Don't forget something to stick the plastic sheet back on once you're finished, I can't remember if they're designed as "wet" doors or not but you're better off with it on I'm sure.


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[BahnStormer]

okay - all done - headcase's list of tools was right (with my additions):

Philips screwdriver
10mm socket
ratchet and extension

...and I'd add "a VERY small flat-head electricians screwdriver* and maybe some plastic trim removal tools"

Torque levels required for all parts are pretty low, so pretty much any basic ratchet will do.

Ratchet spanners NOT required - the bolts / nuts are are all accessed through service holes.

Please note that these steps are all for the drivers door (although most directional references are "forward and backwards" in relation to the front and back of the car....

These are also all from memory and NOT following any service manual, but since there are zero other guides out there, as best I can recall the order attack was:

Door card off: (need philips screw driver, small flat-head screw driver and optional plastics removal tools)
1) plastics off...
   a) plastic trim out of the arm rest
   b) plastic plug out towards the front part of the door
   c) plastic at the top edge of the grab handle off
   d) plastic cover inside the door pull
2) this should expose the four bolts and screws which will allow you to undo the follow...
   a) large screw at the lower end of the grab handle
   b) small screw with a washer at the forward part of the door
   c) bolt at the top of the grab handle
   d) small screw inside the door pull (this is the tricky one - you'll need a TINY screw driver to prise the little lugs OUT away from the lock button (there's one directly above and one below), then the rest of the door pull pivots out - goes back in reverse - pivot it onto the front latch, then push it back onto the two little lugs).
3) pull the poppers away on the lower part of the door and then lift the whole door card up, so the top hooks can let go of the top edge of the door without damaging them.
4) Your call if you want to detach the tweeter or work with the door card flat on the floor - largely depends on length of tweeter wire / plugs.

Then onto the window / regulator: (need 10m socket + extension and optional small screw-driver/needle-nose pliers for the clips)
1) Peel back the plastic sheeting - you'll need to slide the door pull backwards and unlatch that (three simple little claws hold it in place - easy as the retaining screw is out already) - you'll need access to the wiring just in front of that.
2) unplug the small window electrics plug just under the door pull AND the two plastic retaining clips, so the wire is free - trace it back to the regulator motor if you're unsure.
3) detach the glass: two bolts and a nut hold the glass onto the window regulator: pull the window up ~90% of the way and support it there (Lucozde bottle, etc) you should be able to see the service holes line up with the bolts. Bolts first, then the nut... then the glass is FREE (don't drop it!). Slide that up, and it will pivot very slightly in towards the car to get it clear and out. Store safely.
4) the regulator: three main bolt areas...
   a) bottom of main rail - the lower weird bolt and three threaded bolts "contraption" - take a photo so you're confident how it looked!
   b) top of main rail - the top two nuts (?) - simple.
   c) motor mounting points nearer to the door pull
5) once undone the whole piece can be pushed into the door and then tilt backwards and twisted out through the largest gap in the door.

Pieces all go back in reverse. Shouldn't need too much tightening (especially on the glass!) and I'd advise testing the window first before doing the door card.

[Carolyn]

Well done, sir!

[BahnStormer]

Well done, sir!

Thanking you kindly!

On an entirely unrelated topic... if you happen to have a spare door lying around, could you check the details of the large self-tapping screw in the lower part of the grab handle? I know EXACTLY where I put it two days ago (handbrake cupholder) and I know it's not there now

[Chilli Girl]

Yes, very well done.  Been following your progress. Great result

[BahnStormer]

Yes, very well done.  Been following your progress. Great result

Thanks... and if anybody wants any further incentive to try this fix for themselves...

Parts: £20 from a scrappy that afternoon - albeit a 90 mile round-trip (with window down) to fetch it....

versus

Parts from Toyota: £293 (one month lead-time)
Labour TBC (probably 1hr, so presumably >£100)... but could only be booked for approx one week after the part arrived...

[Carolyn]

Well done, sir!

Thanking you kindly!

On an entirely unrelated topic... if you happen to have a spare door lying around, could you check the details of the large self-tapping screw in the lower part of the grab handle? I know EXACTLY where I put it two days ago (handbrake cupholder) and I know it's not there now

I have the very screw.  You're welcome to it.  I'll dig it out,