Mondial Rear Windows stuck in Down

My windows actually work, they just are slow and sound like gravel in a blender. I thought I would upgrade to the Volvo units mentioned a few years back here on Fchat, but the guy who was the main architect of this swap seems to have disappeared. I put everything back stock after much cleaning and lubing and will live with what I have for now.

 

On the plus side, I can get the stock regulator and window out of the car in about 35 minutes at this point, lol.

 

Can I hire you when it inevitably happens on my '88 convertible?

 

My turn with this dreaded problem on my 88’ 3.2. Passenger side will only go up about an inch now. My garage is semi public, so leaving the top down isn’t a good idea. I’m going to try the WD-40 and then grease to start.

 

Finally tackling this minor nightmare of a project. I don’t get how the window glass is pried off from the white plastic clips at the bottom edge? I see a nut on each side but I can’t imagine manipulating a wrench in that gap? Any pointers about the most nerve racking part to get the glass out?

 

The front connector is a ball/ socket type of arrangement. You have to pry it apart gently with a screwdriver. Easily the most white knuckle part of the operation. It seems to me access to the nut on the rear one was doable, but I cant remember from where.

 

Got it out today! We ended up pulling a grey painted metal panel out from the front side of the wheel well. Which required pulling the air intake box out or at least completely loose. This allowed easy access to the nut and bolt at the rear. I then managed to reach in with a stubby screwdriver and pry the plastic clip off at the front in order to remove the glass. In my case it was stuck fully down and there wasn’t anything long enough to pry in that skinny space.

With the glass out, the regulator came out with some effort. We took the one metal loop off (the enclosed end), using a mallet to bang it off. Then drilled a small hole in the crimped end to flush it out with cleaner and air. The cable was binding in that loop, preventing more than 1/2” of movement. Not sure exactly why, but thoroughly cleaned the cable, ran it up and down a bunch with a battery charger and then re-greased it. Re-assembled it at that point and then tried a couple positions in order to squeeze it back into the car. Fully down seemed to work best. Tested it with the actual wiring/switch and it worked!

After that was getting the glass re-installed and that was easiest with the track all the way up. I think I used a pair of pliers to squeeze it. The rear nut and bolt were at the access point and easy.

Lastly put all the interior trim pieces in place and tested the alignment with the canvas at the top. Very happy to have a functional window again!

With all of the wheel well area apart, it makes sense to replace the fuel filter which is a task for tomorrow. Otherwise did oil, transmission oil and spark plugs.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Regulator out and getting cleaned up. That is the tube that caused all the problems. I was worried that tiny ball bearings might escape through the plastic tube end, but no problem with that.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login The grey panel at the front of the wheel well and a view of the abyss where the miserable troll, I mean regulator lives.

 

Good job! The basic design of that regulator track is an invitation to issues. Always nice to not let the car win!