Window rolls down on its own; is there a fix for this

Discussion in 'Technical' started by rachelcade, Apr 6, 2018.

  1. rachelcade

    rachelcade Member

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    I have a 1975 Ford Maverick that has a window that will roll down slowly on its own as I drive along. It will stay closed but once I crack the top open a bit it will continue to come down on its own. Is there a fix or do I need to replace the window regulator?
    Thanks,
    Sandy
     
  2. bmcdaniel

    bmcdaniel Senile Member

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    Sounds like the window regulator spring is broken. Or maybe it just became disconnected.
     
  3. rachelcade

    rachelcade Member

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    Thanks, bmcdaniel, for your reply. I'm thinking you are right that it's the spring. I spoke to Roy Duffield of regulatorroy@comcast.net in New Jersey yesterday and he repairs window regulators. Mostly on older cars than mine but he agrees with you that it is probably just the spring and that I may not need a complete regulator. I have an original shop manual for the body of my Maverick and it gives very detailed instructions and drawings for removing the regulator. I'm pretty handy with tools and following instructions so when I get a good weather day I'm going to try to remove it myself. I'm feeling pretty confident right now. I used to follow detailed blueprints when I built wiring harnesses for the communications satellites for Northrup Grumman, Sirius radio, and the military, so maybe I can handle this. Roy says he has lots of springs one may fit my Maverick so after I get it out I probably will ship it to him to install a spring. Who knows, I may get lucky and all it needs is to be reconnected, as you say. Wish me luck.........Sandy
     
  4. bmcdaniel

    bmcdaniel Senile Member

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    It's a simple job, at least on my'70. Remove the screw holding the window crank, remove the screw holding the door handle, remove a couple screws that hold the arm rest. Pry the door panel loose, there are about 16 clips around the perimeter. A plastic pry tool works good here to keep from damaging the panel (bought a whole set at Harbor Freight for $8) although in a pinch I have used a big screw driver and a lot of care. Once the panel is off you'll see two plastic rivets that hold the window glass to the regulator. Just punch out the center pins in the rivets, they'll fall down into the bottom of the door and you can get them later. Pull the rivets out to separate the glass from the regulator. At this point I usually push the glass all the way to the top of the window channel and use a half dozen or so long pieces of masking tape that go up over the door frame sticking to both sides of the window to hold it up out of the way. Five bolts hold the regulator to the door. Take those out and wiggle it through one of the openings in the door.

    Instead of fooling around with a spring or shipping your regulator off to someone you could just buy a regulator (or two) from someone on here and finish the job at one time. Several people, including myself, have them laying around.
     
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  5. rachelcade

    rachelcade Member

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    -Thanks for all the info. I'm going to make sure that the spring is the problem and that it hasn't just disconnected somehow. Hopefully it's a simple fix that I can do. If not, I might get back to you about buying a regulator.
    Do you have one for right front on a four-door 1975 car?.........Sandy
     
  6. COMETIZED

    COMETIZED Member

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    Common problem;
    I used a small strip of ' Duct Tape ' ... Problem solved :)
    Cometized
    (Chip)
     
  7. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    I have used 4-door window regulators if you need one.
     
  8. Crazy Larry

    Crazy Larry Member

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    Have you tried an exorcist?
     
  9. rachelcade

    rachelcade Member

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    Thanks so much for the offer of your used regulator. I want to check out the source of the problem first.
    Sandy
     
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  10. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    use caution...
    that regulator spring is a bear trap...:yup:
     
  11. rachelcade

    rachelcade Member

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    Thanks for the warning. I know of someone who fixes these window regulators, so if it's too much for me I'll send it on to him to replace for me.............Sandy
     
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