XMattingliy
11-29-2007, 06:24 PM
Hey, everyone. This is yet another post about a busted power window rig. My situation is one of the more common ones: those cheap little plastic clips broke.
I have checked with local shops, and they're giving me estimates ranging anywhere from $200 to $500, which to me is ridiculous since a) we're talking about a couple of cheap 50¢ pieces of plastic, b) it sounds like most mechanically inclined folks are able to fix it in about an hour, and c) my car is rolling on eight years old, and that seems pretty steep for what it's now worth.
My issues regarding this are that at present, I'm unemployed at would rather not spend the money on that kind of thing unless absolutely necessary, and I'm also mechanically retarded. I've taken the door apart without much fuss, but there is still a big piece of metal that is held on to the center of the frame with three nuts. I've managed to strip a couple of 'em and can't get that piece off (cheap metal nuts, go figure). While I can get my hands inside the door frame and fish around, I'm not really comfortable with attempting to install a new regulator (or trying to fasten new plastic clips) and putting the thing back together on my own; especially since my tools don't amount to much more than a screwdriver and crescent wrench.
Long story short, my question is this: does anyone have any suggestions for a simple and/or easy way to ghetto rig my window to keep it propped up? I've attempted to wedge a couple of pieces of lumber in there, but I can't get them lined up with the bottom of the window, and they aren't the right length, anyway. I've found some other approaches to the "no-repair" method on the 'net, ranging from duct tape, to rubber stoppers, to super glue, to (believe it or not), paper clips. Duct tape might be my best option, but I'm not sure of the best way to keep the window securely locked in place. I'd also rather not do something that is going to be permanent or damage anything, since I'll probably want to get this properly repaired before I sell the car.
Any suggestions would be enormously appreciated.
I have checked with local shops, and they're giving me estimates ranging anywhere from $200 to $500, which to me is ridiculous since a) we're talking about a couple of cheap 50¢ pieces of plastic, b) it sounds like most mechanically inclined folks are able to fix it in about an hour, and c) my car is rolling on eight years old, and that seems pretty steep for what it's now worth.
My issues regarding this are that at present, I'm unemployed at would rather not spend the money on that kind of thing unless absolutely necessary, and I'm also mechanically retarded. I've taken the door apart without much fuss, but there is still a big piece of metal that is held on to the center of the frame with three nuts. I've managed to strip a couple of 'em and can't get that piece off (cheap metal nuts, go figure). While I can get my hands inside the door frame and fish around, I'm not really comfortable with attempting to install a new regulator (or trying to fasten new plastic clips) and putting the thing back together on my own; especially since my tools don't amount to much more than a screwdriver and crescent wrench.
Long story short, my question is this: does anyone have any suggestions for a simple and/or easy way to ghetto rig my window to keep it propped up? I've attempted to wedge a couple of pieces of lumber in there, but I can't get them lined up with the bottom of the window, and they aren't the right length, anyway. I've found some other approaches to the "no-repair" method on the 'net, ranging from duct tape, to rubber stoppers, to super glue, to (believe it or not), paper clips. Duct tape might be my best option, but I'm not sure of the best way to keep the window securely locked in place. I'd also rather not do something that is going to be permanent or damage anything, since I'll probably want to get this properly repaired before I sell the car.
Any suggestions would be enormously appreciated.