Tips and tricks for falling driver's side window

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Marc, Dec 8, 2005.

  1. Marc

    Marc Guest

    The driver's side power window mechanism failed today on my 2001 Durango. I
    have Chrysler's Silver plan but, of course, according to the dealer that
    repair isn't covered under that plan.

    The service writer at the dealer gave me an estimate based on his
    experience -- it will cost $402. We can't afford to repair it today; the
    earliest date based on our budget is January 20th.

    Any tips or tricks to hold the driver's side window securely in place until
    then? The window holds in place fairly well but I know it's possible for
    the window to fall and possibly break. So far today, if I "test" it to make
    the window fall, it will fall about halfway and stop, presumably in the grip
    of the rubber at the bottom of the window.

    I'd prefer not to remove the door panel but will do so if needed. Anything
    to prevent an extra $200-400 window replacement cost on top of the
    motor/regulator kit or whatever they're going to do to fix the mechanism.

    Thanks!
    Marc in Cape Canaveral
     
    Marc, Dec 8, 2005
    #1

  2. Duct tape.

    If I were you I would call around, you can probably get a new motor from
    a wrecker for $50 and find a decent mechanic that can put it in for about
    $150 or so.

    Ted
     
    Ted Mittelstaedt, Dec 9, 2005
    #2
  3. Marc

    Bill Putney Guest

    If it's like most of the other Chrysler windows, the problem is a clip
    that atttaches the glass to the window regulator lift plate (there are
    two of these clips per window). You can buy a new glass (with clips
    already attached) or you can buy just the clips. To replace just the
    clips requires removing the old clips and glueing the new ones in place.
    All the Chrysler vehciles I know about take the same clip part - can't
    be sure about the Durango.

    Going the route of the new glass costs a lot more in the part, but is a
    lot quicker and less labor intensive - that's probably what the dealer
    will do. Considering labor cost, it probably would not be any cheaper
    for them to replace just the clips. Replacing just the clips is
    inexpensive, but requires more time - for the DIY'er, it just depends on
    if you have more time or money at the moment. You could get a glass
    with clips at a junk yard, but you run the risk of the clips being in
    the process of doing the same thing - again, that's the way it is with
    other Chrysler vehicles (LH's and others).

    The problem is probably *not* the motor or regulator per se.

    If the clip is the same part as the other vehicles, it is Chrylser P/N
    04878907AA. You *need* to take that part number in to the dealer with
    you, otherwise the parts guy will probably tell you that clip does not
    exist as a separate part. Give him that part number, and ask him to see
    if its applications include the Durango.

    Heat the old clip up with a hair blower to soften the glue that attaches
    it to the glass, and pull the old clip off. Scrape all traces of old
    glue off with a razor blade, and clean the glass with alcohol. A
    Chrysler TSB specifies a certain 3M adhesive, but you can use J-B Weld.
    (The 3M stuff will be removable in the future if the problem happens
    again, not the J-B Weld, but I believe the later clip parts are better
    and should not break.)

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Dec 9, 2005
    #3
  4. How failed is "failed"?

    I know this may sound daft, but a while ago I had a problem with my driver's
    side power window (other side to yours, but that's unimportant except that
    it is the driver's window that usually gets the most used), which to me
    looked bad but was easily fixed (zero cost).

    Different car, different circumstances, but the window dropped back by
    several inches on closing. I even checked with my local official dealer.
    In the end it was just a fiddle with the rocker switch, which reset the
    computer. (It has a small drop/rise action because it is a
    cabrio/convertible.)

    DAS

    For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
    ---

    [...]
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Dec 9, 2005
    #4
  5. Marc

    Joe Guest


    I agree, and in fact I'd go farther and say it's probably just some plastic
    doodad that needs replacing. I.E. There may be a cheap way to fix it. Most
    of the time that's the case on these Chryslers.
     
    Joe, Dec 10, 2005
    #5
  6. Marc

    Bill Putney Guest

    If you have in fact seen the inside of a Durango door and how the glass
    attaches to the regulator, then I will defer to you. But if you
    haven't, dollars to donuts it's a broken metal glass-to-regulator clip
    just like is used on many other Chrysler vehicles. See my previous post.

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Dec 10, 2005
    #6
  7. Marc

    Bill Putney Guest

    To see what I'm talking about, go to this thread in the 300M Club forums
    and scroll down to my post with the photos:
    http://300mclub.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2400&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

    Maybe someone who knows the Durango door can confirm if the glasss
    attachment clips are like those (of the LH cars and other Chrysler
    platforms) in the photos.

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Dec 10, 2005
    #7
  8. Marc

    maxpower Guest

    They are.

    Glenn Beasley
    Chrysler Tech
     
    maxpower, Dec 10, 2005
    #8
  9. Marc

    philthy Guest

    a screw in the trac will hold it in place and a mom and pop shop can do it a whole
    lot cheaper than that
     
    philthy, Dec 10, 2005
    #9
  10. Marc

    Bill Putney Guest

    Thanks, Glenn. Sounds like the OP's going to pay to have it done, and
    he may have left the building.

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Dec 10, 2005
    #10
  11. Marc

    philthy Guest

    actually i have factory service cds and its not the same
     
    philthy, Dec 11, 2005
    #11
  12. Marc

    Bill Putney Guest

    OK. Can you tell us in words how the glass in the Durango attaches to
    the regulator. Would you agree that the parts that attach to the glass
    have either separated from the glass or broken?

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Dec 11, 2005
    #12
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