Window regulator?
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 131
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From: Elmhurst IL U.S.
Window regulator?
I see that I'm not the only one here with window problems, but my problem is the cable.
My driver's side Rear door window got messed up yesterday. I picked up a Haynes manual to help me take it apart without breaking anything and I did manage to do it successfully. But, the cable is completely kinked and fraying at some parts. I'm looking for advice on what to do next. I doubt the dealer sells just the cable, right? I thought about trying to make a cable myself from something at Ace Hardware… but I would need to get nearly identical crimps on the ends of the cable to make it fit into the plastic pulley correctly. Also, I'm not sure that I can get really snug crimps anyway if they were the perfect size to begin with.
I heard that VW has some kind of warranty for seven years on the window regulators because they're so bad. I don't know if that's true - nor do I know if Audi would have that option for me since it's the weekend. My car is a 2001 A4 with 73k miles on it.
The bottom line is that I need to get this all back together anyway by tonight so I can drive to work in the morning. Any input would be appreciated.
My driver's side Rear door window got messed up yesterday. I picked up a Haynes manual to help me take it apart without breaking anything and I did manage to do it successfully. But, the cable is completely kinked and fraying at some parts. I'm looking for advice on what to do next. I doubt the dealer sells just the cable, right? I thought about trying to make a cable myself from something at Ace Hardware… but I would need to get nearly identical crimps on the ends of the cable to make it fit into the plastic pulley correctly. Also, I'm not sure that I can get really snug crimps anyway if they were the perfect size to begin with.
I heard that VW has some kind of warranty for seven years on the window regulators because they're so bad. I don't know if that's true - nor do I know if Audi would have that option for me since it's the weekend. My car is a 2001 A4 with 73k miles on it.
The bottom line is that I need to get this all back together anyway by tonight so I can drive to work in the morning. Any input would be appreciated.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 244
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Chances are it's the regulator...
The cable gets twisted because the upper pulley "disintegrates". When there is no tension on it, it self destructs. There is no fixing it, the solution is about $125 for parts alone per side (if one is bad the other is about to go too). Good luck.
P.S. If you have access to a machine shop and feel like making these pulleys (originally plastic) out of aluminum, unwinding the cable and resetting everything, there is a fortune to be made...
P.S. If you have access to a machine shop and feel like making these pulleys (originally plastic) out of aluminum, unwinding the cable and resetting everything, there is a fortune to be made...
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Elmhurst IL U.S.
Re: Chances are it's the regulator...
Thank you for the reply... actually that is not as much as I thought I'd have to shell out. Yesterday I managed to put it back together with two zip ties holding the window up for now - so I got to work okay today. Also, luckily it's the back window - not as urgent.
New Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Re: Chances are it's the regulator...
hey i have this exact same issue, but with my luck this plastic pos pilly ring shattered, and now my cable is crimpted liek it was fed through the meath grinder. anyway, i cant seem to find jsut teh plastic ring, or a metal replacement, and the cable alone. My advice, or what im about to to, is put the window lock on, and never touch the rear windows again. they know they go bad, and no one will sell the regurlator w/out the motor, this is why they were soo expensive. if you were to make your own, that worked, outta metail, and better metal rope, i would buy one from you for more than 125.00 anyway. good luck to the both of us. we both took the exact same steps, drove to work one day with window down? i did. next day got book. got it to stay up by pressing windows down button while holding up... let me know if you find anything please!
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