FAQ > Door Glass and Side Window Questions

• The drivers side power window door glass in my Lincoln Town car has stopped working in the middle of it's operation and won't work any more. I can hear the motor operate, but it doesn't do anything, Can Phoenix Glass repair this for me? We sure can! In most cases in vehicles like yours, it usually requires replacing the entire power window regulator unit that raises your window up and down. Over the years we have found that this is a common problem on many vehicles that use this type of design. Unfortunately the unit itself is what is referred to these days as a "non serviceable item" and cannot be repaired, your only option is to have it replaced. For information on having us do the repair work for you just click this link and it will take you to our Door glass power window regulator repair and replacement page.

• What about replacing it with a used power window door glass regulator assembly? We will be happy to do that for you but from experience we recommend you replace the window regulator with a new “OEM” or after market “OEE” window regulator. A used assembly sounds like a good idea but in the reality of this situation it absolutely isn't. Keep in mind that a door glass window regulator of this type must endure a significant load. Buying a used part that is at or about the same age as the broken one your replacing isn't a good idea. Most regulator assemblies must be contorted or manipulated to remove and replace the units within the vehicle door which places stress on the older as well as brittle plastic parts. Many times even when it appears all is well the plastic parts will have small fractures you may not see at the time but after the first few times of operation one or more of the parts will fail and you will be right back here buying a new one in a very short time frame. One major thing to consider is that when these parts fail it's very possible that the door glass could fall to the bottom the door and be broken leading to an even more expensive repair. These types of window regulators work well as long as they aren't subjected to any additional loads. If you take care of them they will do their job for a very long time.

• Things you can do to help prolong the life of your window regulators. 1 . Operate the window at least once a week. This will help the windows keep from becoming stuck in the glass run channels they operate in as well as lubricate the regulator mechanism and electric motor bushings. 2 . "Never" operate your windows especially an automatic power window in frozen icy conditions as they can be literally frozen to the Glass Run Channels. Operating the window in that situation can and will cause major stress on the frozen plastic parts possibly causing them to shatter or pull apart. 3 . Keep the window felts that the glass travels up and down in clean, lubricated and protected with a product such as "STP's Son of a Gun" on the rubber window felt glass run channels. Some people even use products like WD- 40. Be careful what you use as some of these products can attack the very item your trying to protect so read the product labels carefully.

• I had a power window door glass replaced in my Cadillac at another auto glass store a few months ago and it hasn't worked properly ever since, can Phoenix Glass fix the problem? If the problem is glass related we sure can. A Cadillac, like many of today’s vehicles, is a fairly complicated automobile. We would be more than happy to have one of our Phoenix Glass technicians look at your door glass and make an assessment. Our first thought is that the auto glass technician that originally installed your new power window door glass more than likely wasn't aware that the power door glass window in your Cadillac must be calibrated during the installation.

• I have a Chrysler PT Cruiser and my door glass window regulator needed to be replaced. I purchased a new one from my local dealer and it’s a totally different design from my original one, what’s up with that? We came across the same situation and we were also told the same thing by our local dealer here in Knoxville, Tennessee. Believe it or not the plastic regulator on the left in the photo is the factory replacement for the "OEM Factory Installed steel regulator unit. At first glance you can see that it works in a totally different manner and doesn't look near as durable. It has a couple of serious issues, one is that the wire that goes to the motor moves up and down with the window so great care has to be taken to ensure it can’t get hooked on anything within the door as it runs through it’s course of operation. The 2nd is that, at least in some particular year models, the silver metal support brace in the photo cannot be used which takes away quite a bit of support from the inner layer of the door.

In an effort to save weight many auto manufacturers began using various designs of this type of door glass regulators. Ford by far isn't the only manufacturer that uses this type of door glass window regulator as they are commonly found in everything from Chevrolet to Nissan’s. One of the main problems we see happening is that the plastic parts carry the entire weight of the door glass and become aged and deteriorate to the point that they fatigue and release the cable. The second most common problem is that the plastic that retains the lead anchor attached to the end of the cable fatigues and detaches from the cable. When that happens the cables become tangled and damaged beyond repair in the drum/pulley mechanism that the motor or window crank turns to raise and lower the door glass window.