DIY - Replacing the front door window regulator clips and/or door lock module

[digitalhippie]

Quote, originally posted by VgRt6 »

Good duct tape is plenty strong to hold the window up. You can also just take the window out. I've done this about a half a dozen times now and now always take the window out. I don't necessarily recommended that you do this since it would really suck if you dropped it. It's not that difficult to do though. You slide the rear of the glass out first and then the front. When reinstalling the window, you need to make sure that the window seals are not folded down as you slide the window back in place. Do it slowly and watch the seals. Gary

Not so easy on the back doors... stick to the duct tape. Removing the window on the back doors requires removing the divider and the small triangle window first.... duct tape is def the way to go

[automan21]

Bro youre the best thanks alot.

[Micheal.dillon]

Thank you very much for your excellent guide.

I have had a very troublesome window as of late. She would only close when she felt like it. Even in the heaviess of showers she wouldn't listen to me.

I came across this article about 2 weeks ago and it put the thought in my head that you may have had diagnosed my problem.

Unfortunatley as it is now winter in Ireland and it rains 80% of the time, i kept putting this job off.

Last week while trying to yank the window closed as another shower broke, I managed to closed the window on my hand while still doing 60mph down the road.
This was my sign to attempt your well detailed procedure

I spend an enjoyable afternoon yesterday stripping the panels off the doorr and I cannot thank you enough for you descriptions and photographs that held my hand through each step.

regards,
(a now warm and dry driver!!)

Micheal

[G60PM]

I know this post is old, but i have a Q.

In that guide it says that you unbolt the interior panel, but my 99 Golf has a riveted panel, so i need to drill all them out ? and if i do, how do i reattach that panel ?

[VgRt6]

You would need to drill the rivets out. Re-riveting the panel would be easiest - Home Depot, Lowes and other places sell relatively cheap riveting devices.

Gary

[strangetdi]

added to favorites

[UKMK5GOLF]

Thanks very much for this excellent how to guide. I brought the repair kit in the UK, which contained the clips and the pulley. I had to fit them to the panel, which proved very difficult. I got in a bit of a muddle and had to drill the rivets out of the panel to get it all out in the first place. Anyway without the picture of which way round everything goes I would have been well and truely buggered. I had a hard time pulling the wire over the little wheels, its a tight fit. So in the end I filed a bit of the blue plastic thing that sits in the hole to give me more clearance.
I did the other side with the whole pre fitted panel last year and wish I had brought that part instead of the repair kit!

[mujjuman]

wow, awesome DIY Gary! lots of pics, good explanation.... all are a +

[RipperMan]

step 1123...lol

thats alot of steps man, but kudos on ur effort

[CapeGLS]

This is the correct DIY to follow.

[VW4JH]

I have been lurking this site for a long time. I have done a few things following the DIY section and a few contributor's tips i.e. I changed the ac compressor, MAF, O2 sensor, brake pads ( another set is in my near future) and basic fluid changes. This site is outstanding. I did not register before because I did not have much to contribute. However, I am in the process of replacing my door lock module (I am waiting for parts) the write up in the DIY section is excellent! I have to add a small detail that I did not think of while I was removing the inner door. If you are going to leave the window in place held by tape as suggested and you have tinted windows make sure you put a piece of cardboard or something strong between the window and the inner door mechanism. There are some sharp corners inside that will scratch your tinted windows. My windows have a few scratches to prove it. I hope I can help somebody from the mistake I made.
Sorry for the long post. I hope the moderator can add as a note for the DIY section.

[boomer_bloke]

Just replaced a pair of broken clips on my passenger front window. The glass had fallen inside the door on a very very wet day. Thanks to you this scary job was very manageable and easy to do. Thanks so much for taking the time to take all the informative pics and passing on your tips and hints. Saved me around £150. Thanks again.

Boomer

UNITED KINGDOM

[VgRt6]

[rdtompki]

Anyone looking at this thread experienced a dealer who claimed that the "cable broke" and as such is not covered by the extended warrantee? This seems extremely unlikely unless a clip failure or the actually drop of the window strains the cable and causes it to fail.

[VgRt6]

That's ridiculous. What usually happens is that the clips break, the window falls into the door and the owner tries to raise the window with the motor and messes up the cables in the process. If the dealer said this to me, then I would ask to see the existing clips. If they're intact, then it's plausible that the cable is what broke. There's no good reason for the clips to break once the cable breaks, so if the clips are broken, then they almost surely failed first.

[rickg3000]

I used this tutorial to replace the clips and reel assembly on my Jetta's passenger side door today. Works perfectly now! As others have said, it's a lot easier/quicker than it looks at first. Thank you so much for this tutorial.

I would make a suggestion, though, regarding the required parts for step 24. You mention a "triple square tool" there and in the intro. Perhaps I was a bit thick headed, but when I got to that part I figured I could simply use a Torx driver. I had never even heard of a "triple square tool". I learned the hard way, though, that a Torx just strips those bolts. Making matters worse, they don't even sell "triple squares" at my local auto supply store nor do they sell them at Lowes. So, I guess it's something you need to special order. Since I stripped mine, I ended up having to use an extractor to get them out and replaced them with new bolts (thankfully they are a standard size M8x1.25x16or20). Anyway, a warning or something might be good at that step or in the introduction to let people know they absolutely must get a triple square thingy...

-Rick

[VgRt6]

Thanks for the tip. FYI, triple square bits are available at PepBoys and Napa, as well as from better the better tool distributors like SnapOn.

[Burley]

Kinda wish that either this was up or that i had seen it like three weeks ago, my window fell into the door before going camping one weekend. But its a good thing its under warrenty for me still

[VgRt6]

It's been up for nearly three years.

[Burley]

Quote, originally posted by VgRt6 »

It's been up for nearly three years.

whoops like i said I wish i would have seen it

[VgRt6]

At least you got it covered.

[Ainrue]

Incredible DIY. Saved me plenty of headaches

[daniels_steven]

Just had this repair completed on my '03 Jetta Wagon and am STEAMING! First, the window clips are (were) plastic in my 03.
Second, they replaced it with repair kit part number 1JM-898-462-A which I'm guessing is the same repair kit used to repair cars covered under the 99-02 TSB.
Third, now the window will NOT lower all the way. A good 1/2" of window sticks out of the door when the regulator stops lowering the window.
Fourth, VW USA didn't cover the repair as they said it wasn't part of the TSB.
Finally, our Premier extended warranty won't cover the repair either!

Ok, now that the rant's over with, has anyone else had an issue with the window not completely lowering into the door after the repair? Our technician says that this is normal (for the post-repaired part), but I have my doubts.

[VgRt6]

It is normal for the window to stick up slightly after the repair. The exact same thing happened to me when I did the repair for the DIY.

[daniels_steven]

Thanks for the response. Your DIY instructions are awesome and if(when) my drivers side window fails, I'll do it myself instead of taking a $300 fleecing from the Dealership.

[VgRt6]

[Ainrue]

Yeah, I was busy with school so I asked my GF to get a quote on the parts for me today. The Stealership here in Nmkt told her it would be in the range of $150/door. I stormed back in there after my exam and basically said "wtf." I walked out with new metal clips, one kit (front driver's and passenger's sides) for about $49 CAD (including the ridiculous 14% tax )

She's all in now, but yes, I also noticed a bit of a raise on the window I did today. I'm going to order that crazy Alien-whatever window controller and do it up along with the reg. clips in one fell swoop.

[daniels_steven]

As a follow up, I FINALLY got the dealership to cover my 2003 window clip issue. There is a TSB out there (circa May 2006) which talks about this window issue and extends the TSB from 2001-2005 vehicles. However, there is no mention of an extension of the 'extended warranty' to include 2003+ vehicles. Anyway, it's good fodder to take with you to the dealership as it DIRECTLY refers to TSB 64-04-02 which talks about the repair needed. Obviously this is a YMMV, but in this case persistance paid off.

[VgRt6]

[dyeinbreed]

Anyone know the part numbers for a 99.5 vr6 gti to get a window clip kit like was mentioned in the first post?

Left window control is shot and the pass window has a mind of its own so I'd rather replace both.

Unless the clips in the jetta kit will work for the gti.

[VgRt6]

AFAIK, the clips for the Jetta and GTI are the same.

FYI, I have an extra set of clips, cables, etc in the garage if you need one. I'll sell them to you for $30. If they're not the correct ones, send them back (in useable condition) and I'll refund the $$$.


Modified by VgRt6 at 6:07 PM 9-11-2006

[dyeinbreed]

Thatd be awesome.

I imed you so email me your paypal address and youll have some cash on the way.

[VgRt6]

Clips went out today and UPS said it would arrive to you end of day Thurs guaranteed.

[Matt4x4]

Hi Gary,
I just joined the forum since we just bought this car and i've had some issues - thanks to this forum most are sorted out.
Great thread on the door lock module fix (soldering repair job), we have an 02 Golf GLS 4 dr. One problem with it is I can't unlock all doors with the second push of the button - I hear a click in driver's door, but all 3 others stay locked. Working it off the armrest button or with the key works fine.
Do you think it's the same issue??
Thanks!

Matt

[VgRt6]

Sounds like a coding issue to me.