How Do You Lower the Top if a Rear Window Won't go Down? | FerrariChat

How Do You Lower the Top if a Rear Window Won't go Down?

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by Burch1, Jul 2, 2012.

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  1. Burch1

    Burch1 Formula 3

    May 26, 2012
    1,028
    Singapore/Carmel, IN
    Full Name:
    Greg
    The passenger side window won't go down (doesn't even make noise) but all others will.
    Is there a manual way to lower it?
    If not how do I get into the window motor area?
    Thanks!
    Greg
     
  2. soucorp

    soucorp F1 Rookie

    Sep 20, 2011
    4,816
    Old Dominion
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #2 soucorp, Jul 2, 2012
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2012
    Hi Greg, Sorry mate, but you are 'SOL'.
    There is no manual over ride. If it does not go down even if you try to assist it to go down, the motor is shot. Welcome to the achilles heel of the Mondial Cabrio !

    Here is my thread on removing the rear windows. Sounds like you may have to take it out in order to get your top down. You can always get some plexi glass incase it rains and the top has to go back up while you get the motors rebuilt or find a replacement.

    http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=339623&highlight=rear+windows

    All the best,
    Mike
     
  3. Burch1

    Burch1 Formula 3

    May 26, 2012
    1,028
    Singapore/Carmel, IN
    Full Name:
    Greg
    #3 Burch1, Jul 3, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    Yes as mentioned above, you are in a world of hurt. You can try one thing though and it's just a gamble. The window system has power drops all over the place and the motors and mechanism grease get hard so they are all a bit rough at this point. You can try disconnecting the battery, getting to the bottom of the switch and spraying some deoxit in there and rocking it back and forth a bit. Blow it out, then allow to dry for a while. Reconnect battery and try again. Maybe even give the window the lightest of jiggle.

    I suppose if you know exactly what you are looking at you could jumper across the switch when the console is apart, I don't recall what the bottom looks like so i'm not recommending it but for a one time try and if you know exactly what you are looking at it might get the desired result.

    This isn't a way to live and won't fix your problem but there is a chance you can nurse it down if your motor isn't shot.

    I'm embarassed to say I've been helping my rear windows up since the day I purchased my car 3 years ago. They have not gotten any better through regular use. My top and been down and up over 100 times since I've purchased the car. I have relubricated the mechanism channel but it really hasn't helped in my case.

    Good luck and you are definately not alone. There are some folks here who never put their tops up so the function of the rear windows is irrelevant. My car has been driven in every weather and I use it for long distance touring so I need the function. I'm afraid one day these windows will bite me in the rear too.
     
  5. soucorp

    soucorp F1 Rookie

    Sep 20, 2011
    4,816
    Old Dominion
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    Mike
    #5 soucorp, Jul 3, 2012
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2012
    PV Dirk,

    I've taken my motors and assembly units out of my car, not alot of folks have ever done this or even know where to begin. From what I can tell, its not the switches, its not dried up lube, but rather a combination of things that actually causes these motors to eventually stop working. I'll list them out:

    1) flaw in design of rear motor /rod looping needs alot of force to bend the rods that eventually puts too much strain on the motors
    2) motors are not powerful enough
    3) poor ground connection
    4) Roof mechanism when top is down gets in the way of glass movement and puts a strain on the motors

    I wish someone would make a manual crank conversion kit for these so they will never fail again for the life of the vehicle.
    My $.02 observation as I am still dealing with trying to get my motors working again once its back in after a year.
    The coupe guys don't have to deal with any of this nonsense because the rear windows are fixed.

    -Mike
     
  6. Burch1

    Burch1 Formula 3

    May 26, 2012
    1,028
    Singapore/Carmel, IN
    Full Name:
    Greg
    I spent 4 hrs removing the rear passenger side window as I could not get it to go down.
    The good news is that the motor is fine and works perfectly when 12v is applied to the leads.
    The bad news is I need to find where the wire is broken as the switch is fine. So next step is to either run a new power wire to the switch or trace the other back.
    MANY MANY MANY THANKS to Mike for his fabulous thread & pictures showing the procedure as I literally had my laptop in the garage going through it step by step.
     
  7. soucorp

    soucorp F1 Rookie

    Sep 20, 2011
    4,816
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    Mike
    #7 soucorp, Jul 12, 2012
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2012
    That's awesome, please let us know when you get it back in and working again. I need to put mine back in but its just not priority at the moment and my top is always down.

    Cheers,
    Mike
     
  8. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    You've got me most curious. HOW did you get the window out. PIcs would be 'awsome'[hate the word, but it applies here].

    Since you have a Mondial T, such is very important to understand. We know the passenger's side is the most difficult UNLESS yours is a LHD: that is, unless you are removing the left side window it is extreemly difficult. The good news, too, is your window is UP and not down making this entirely a different story.

    sooo, please tell us more.
     
  9. jgoodman

    jgoodman F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 29, 2009
    3,263
    Central PA
    Full Name:
    Jay Goodman
    PV et al, lubricating the mechanism channel with lots of WD-40 and then white lithium grease has made a world of difference on my rear windows. They move up and down freely as I believe they were designed, even though mine are always down. Good luck.
     
  10. SCousineau

    SCousineau Guest

    Jul 17, 2004
    3,652
    Full Name:
    S Cousineau
    I am thinking that if somebody made a replacement soft top with canvas where the window goes up, it would be a great solution. Just take the failing window out all together. It is not particularly useful. In it's place put a locking rod that holds the top up.

    The advantage to this idea is one can save the window hard ware if it is ever needed, and the weak spot is replaced with a faster action top.

    -sc
     

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