iwishidpickedabetterusername
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I broke the window regulator (up & downy mechanism) a couple of weeks back. I picked a nice rainy day to fix it.
The gazebo leaked.
This was the day I had booked off work to do it...
The part I ordered didn't fit, so ended up getting a whole new panel. I bought rivets, but they didn't fit the rivet gun...that I'd bought specially.
In the end, I bolted the panel on by holding the bolt end with pliers as I tightened the nuts.
After bolting the panel on, I dropped this super-important clip inside the panel.
Off came the bolts. The damp had made them slippery and near impossible to undo.
After nearly an hour, I managed to skewer it with a pencil and retrieve it.
Seriously, f*ck the universe today. 500 assorted nuts, bolts & washers to sort out.
Finally got me a working window though!
rrborow
As a 25 year owner of cars made by a company that rhymes with ‘Boyota’ I’ve never experienced this level of poor quality/design. Good luck!
TheYodajen
Congrats
AMagicianWasDrivingDownTheRoadThenHeTurnedIntoADriveway
With luck like that you could fall into a barrel of titties and come out sucking your own thumb.
thenewteddy
I'm lazy, prob would have just told everyone that window don't work no more.
Telharmonius
That last one made me feel your pain. I'm OCD tho, so sorting stuff is actually fun, mostly.
Telharmonius
For those about to question OCD-ness, it's not just about noticing one thing out of place. It about obsessing and repeating small actions.
Joylove
“The gazebo leaked” ?
CarlosBenjamin
I once installed a new stereo and my wipers would not work if the radio was on.
drewcrosby
Automotive designers should be required to be automotive mechanics first.
Drew442
Keep a retrieval magnet handy and magnetize some of your screw drivers for things you drop.
iwishidpickedabetterusername
Unfortunately, the window clip is plastic. I definitely need one of those little grabby claw do-dads though
DrMcTouchy
Pro tip: put a dab of grease on the end of a screwdriver, or something flexible. The tackier the grease the better.
Drew442
I've back wrapped tools with tape too to grab something. Grease or petroleum jelly works well too.
ItsMeSanders
I had a tube of rtv sealant. I've done this before lol
gdpmercy
Good job on the repair. A real man never gives up!
GemsAreOutrageousTrulyTrulyTrulyOutrageous
Is it hard to take off a door panel? I dropped a piece of cardboard down the window and may need to clean out other shit. Hyundai Accent 09
iwishidpickedabetterusername
The fabric covered bit was no issue, some torx screws and clips. The metal bit was riveted on, so I had to drill it off.
Goodwill82
*reads repair manual section* "looks simple enough. this project will take 2, maybe 3 hours, tops" - lies we tell ourselves
SaItamontes
Does the manual even tell you how to fix the windows? I don't think any of mine do. I learn stuff like that from YouTube videos.
sadurdaynight
Those manuals feel like a work of fiction sometimes. Like whoever wrote it never actually had to do it.
joebuck123
I especially like when they show you how to replace an engine part with the engine out and on a stand. Good luck.
phuzz00
Me: "Now how do I put it back together?!" manual: "Refitting is the reverse of removal" Me: "fu Haynes"
bugeyetex
If you deal with this kind of crap and still think $100/hr is too much for labor, I'd like a word.
Reaper3087
Kinda wish factories would deburr door panels and such. Those are not replacement friendly. You can get it done, but you'll be cut up.
Fastback66
If you're good you will never give up, My man I love your tenacity.
stinkbert1106
I thought all those nuts and bolts on the ground were pieces of your broken window. It could have gone worse.
iwishidpickedabetterusername
I was expecting that too to be honest!
Felkster
@pakcross You need this. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C3H7JH1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_8F1D4V69E9ZHJCY580ZC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
deadpoolsdong
As a mechanic and do my own side thing on weekends.....I feel this in my bones
wheezer72
I already knew what a window regulator is. 1. Uncle is mech engineer and told me he had worked on one. 2. I replaced one on my jeep.
kitenkatt
Did the same in my pilot yesterday. Took about 40 minutes stsrt to finish
JSymphony
Goood job, you finished it out of grit and spite, I'm proud of you.
JeffGodofBiscuits
I have to do something similar on a older Ranger, but first I have to figure out the phantom current draw that keeps killing the battery.
NationalistCanadianMooseWarrior
Battery switch. Solved.
Drew442
If the battery is good and you know how consistently it happens, like overnight. I'd pull the fuse on a couple things and see if it holds
Drew442
You can isolate the voltage draw that way, once the battery doesn't die you know what to look at.
JeffGodofBiscuits
That's a good plan.... My spark chasing skills aren't what they used to be
JeffGodofBiscuits
Ironically enough, I think it's a relay in the window circuit, in a panel that I can't find a matching diagram for.
genbadger
Ended up being the alternator when my ranger did it. Randomly dead battery random times. Found a warm alternator after digging around
mistermystery
Remove all the fuses. The battery voltage will climb at rest. Then reinstall one by one, and you'll see what draws it down.
strategy400
Check the vanity lights on the visors
iwishidpickedabetterusername
Too complex for me. I can manage fairly easy tasks like changing wiper motors, but can't trace electrical faults. Hope it goes well for you.
vahnn
Pulling the fuses will help narrow it down easily. If you pull a fuse and the battery's not dead in the morning, then that's your problem.
Wolfire0769
Set a halfway decent meter to mV and check across the fuse terminals (with the fuse still installed). If there is current flowing you'll see
Wolfire0769
A voltage drop. Most fuses you should see .01 or so, if it reads more than a few mV it's a likely suspect. Keep in mind some circuits are
dougherd6
Mr Shunt here with the delta V
Wolfire0769
Meant to always have a tiny bit of power flowing to keep module memory alive.
ChemicalG
Ah yes, reminds me of 90% of my home mechanic jobs
absurdative
Every project is one broken bolt away from becoming a 3 day ordeal.
ItsMeSanders
As a BMW owner, I've probably done about 10 of these so far I'm my life time.
Northerntwit1
As a mechanic who has done a few VW windows regs I can happily say I want to slap whoever designed that setup! It's cr*p!
Urgalicity
As someone who's worked in design for a long while. Most engineers need boat paddle orientation.
dergage
Whoa now. Watch that language.
SnoopyDancing
did the drivers on mine, not doing the passenger side till it goes. too much trouble
TwoSeamer
That's a Skoda. As a Czech, know them well. But yeah since they're owned by VW it's virtually the same
berserk
Amen brother. Had to do a door lock on my daughter's VW. Took two people to hold all the pieces to put it back together.
DoorbyTheHouseShelf
VWs are notoriously a pain in the ass to work on. Everything is crammed so tightly. My last one needed a new head gasket, and I just said
DoorbyTheHouseShelf
"fuck it" and sold it right then. Not worth the pain and suffering
AtillatheGun
this isn't their first overengineered product by a long shot. Love to drive VWs but i'll never own one for that reason.
Northerntwit1
I really want a VW because they are good cars and lovely to drive but the thought of repairing them make me avoid them like the plague.
WoeToHice
But isn't this a Škoda? Or is there something I'm missing here?
Northerntwit1
Very have owned skoda since around the 90's. They are the same engine, gearbox, electricals. The only figgerencenin panels and trims.
WoeToHice
TIL. Thanks!
BettyWhiteSupremacist
Me ex had one, I replaced the front two, when one of the back windows went, I said no thank you.
Tanhis
Vw doors are designed for onetime installation. Any repairs where you need to separate inner part from the outer are nightmares
Northerntwit1
It's the same with a lot of the interior like the dash and steering column, absolute pain to work on, lots of swearing and grazed knuckles.
Tanhis
I have fixed the lock wire from 3/4 of my passats doors. And it is pain in the ass everytime.
phuzz00
I ended up replacing the whole door on my old car. Cheaper (2nd hand) and quicker, took 30mins.
ATerribleArtist
You ever do a actuator on a 90s firebird? A meter of metal frame to put into place and a hole only big enough for one hand to do it with.
MightyMouseTech
The harder they make it to change, more the more likely it will break often. (Audi timing chains) cough cough
JustASlightJingleOfPocketChangePulsing
Does skoda have the same setup as VW? But ya, fuck VW for that.
squishybaker
Skodas are just VWs with big boots, all VAG, like SEAT is VWs spanish half-bro after a lads trip to magaluf.
TwoSeamer
As a Czech - VW has owned Skoda (car in the picture) since late 90s
JustASlightJingleOfPocketChangePulsing
Ya, but it doesn't mean they share 100% designs.
QueefLover69
Skoda is a VW subsidiary
JustASlightJingleOfPocketChangePulsing
Ya, but it doesn't mean they share 100% designs.
QueefLover69
This is a octavia which is built on the A5 platform shared with multiple VAG vehicles like the Audi A3, VW golf and VW touran to name few
phuzz00
They share a lot. I just had to replace a brake light switch on my Polo that also fitted Seats, Audis and Skodas (and other VWs).
iwishidpickedabetterusername
I think the designs are similar, and there were 1 or 2 VW branded parts in the door. I think the Octavia & Passat are pretty close cousins.
strapontin
Designs, no. But platforms and systems are shared. An Octavia is a Golf in a different dress. I'd bet window regs come from same factory.
GaryMcDonald
Have you ever worked on a Ford? (I’m a mechanic and a ford guy) but fuck their engineers lol
Northerntwit1
I've dont a good few Ford rear axle bushes haha. Yeah their engineers suck!
tomatoboy
Their engineers are brilliant at saving money on parts. Less so on making reliable parts. I refer you to the Explorer/Taurus/Flex PTU.
tomatoboy
“This part sucks. It isn’t properly cooled, has insufficient fluid, and is difficult to access.” “Yes, but we saved $0.97!”
tomatoboy
I blame Ford management though, the engineers got their hearts broken in the late 80s. They were coming off the triumph that was the...
tomatoboy
My personal favorite is the 3.5 Duratec. “The engine is too long to fit transversely.” “I have an idea! Let’s make the pump internal...
tomatoboy
...because that worked so well for Chrysler!” “Capital idea!” “But if the seal bursts won’t it destroy the engine and be horribly...
GaryMcDonald
What about the starters underneath the intake on north star engines!?
tomatoboy
Proof GM isn’t immune? Lol. Actually, the most poorly designed car I’ve ever owned was a Pontiac Bonneville. It was an aging platform...
tomatoboy
...difficult to replace?” “I SAID CAPITAL IDEA.” ?
MrBoh
This is the type of stuff that makes me tell people fuck European cars when they ask me what they should buy
BillHubbard
With the panel gaps on American cars, fixing stuff can be done from the outside.
MrBoh
Lol whenever I bash euro vehicles people always assume I love american. I hate them all equally just for different reasons
MightyMouseTech
All cars are crap.
BillHubbard
I hate VAG cars dearly, but not as much as I hate Opel. Still, I have the deepest hate for Chinese cars. Which are better then American.