Tightening Vent Windows

[hyperlightboards48]

I posted earlier that I tightened my vent windows, I received a couple PM's asking how so I figure I should make the available to all

Anyways my drivers vent window would flop close going anything above 20mph, the passenger was great.

When you open the window you will notice two holes in the bottom of the gasket. The green circle has the adjuster in it. Red circle is a mystery to me.


Take a 4mm allen and find the adjuster. Righty tighty lefty loosey


I've read that if you over tighten in it will crack a plastic piece... be careful

[They_Call_Me_Bob]

Just to contribute. That bolt is down there pretty far, you will need a longer allen wrench. 4mm worked, 5mm was too big (some other posts indicated a 5mm bolt was down there).

[MissAnthropic]

Thank you thank you!!!!

[BFDeihl]

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing this info!

[Beetle.freak]

I need to do my drivers side but the top hinge is a lil loose from the door and the rubber seal is so brittle !

[They_Call_Me_Bob]

I need to do my drivers side but the top hinge is a lil loose from the door and the rubber seal is so brittle !

My top hinge was a little loose, much better after tightening the bottom hinge.

As for the brittle seal, get some of this and apply it over and over and over. It won't fix any cracks but it will save what's left of the seal and plump them up a bit. Works wonders on b pillar seals.

Gummi Pflege Stift

[Beetle.freak]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Eventually I'd love to get all 4 window scrapers and replace the ratty looking windshield plastic chrome and I'm sure I'm gonna need em for the triple white when go to redo her !

[briano1234]

Just so you can see what you are adjusting see number 1 in the pic,,,, warning too tight and you break the thing so easy does it.

[kamzcab86]

Thanks for the reminder. My driver's vent window has been closing in direct correlation with speed for eons.

Question for those in the know: Does tightening this gizmo change the degree to which the glass opens, or does it simply tighten things up? My window currently opens to a nice 45° and I don't want to lose that. My van's vents open to 90° and that angle is utterly useless, except for preventing bugs from hitting me in the face through the main window at 70mph.

And: Cabby-Info'd!

[hyperlightboards48]

I"m pretty sure all it does is clamp down on the post labeled 15 in the image Brian posted. You should be able to open your window to what ever angle you wish... i think

[They_Call_Me_Bob]

Mine still opens to the full 45 and they now stay open until 60 ish. The pivot is just tighter, no loss in range of motion.

[Beetle.freak]

How are you guys/girls getting 60-70mph ?!?! Lol

[kamzcab86]

Mine still opens to the full 45 and they now stay open until 60 ish. The pivot is just tighter, no loss in range of motion.

Excellent. I'll give it a go then.

How are you guys/girls getting 60-70mph ?!?! Lol

By placing proper force upon the accelerator pedal with one's right foot.

[They_Call_Me_Bob]

How are you guys/girls getting 60-70mph ?!?! Lol

I guesstimate, as I am too lazy to fix my speedo! HA.

[h8Tr_]

Awesome!!!!👍👍gonna go this this now

[BoraVR]

Just did this, worked great! Thanks for the post

[They_Call_Me_Bob]

As a shameful follow up and friendly reminder; don't over tighten the pivot in the door frame. I learned the hard way that it will indeed snap on you.

However, the way it snapped surprised me so listen up. I was able to torque down the 4mm pivot inside the door pretty hard, without anything snapping. I thought I was in the clear and would enjoy vent window action up until 90 MPH. Well, after I tightened the pivot I went to close the window; POP! The friction was so high the window wasn't able to close and VW must have designed it such that the pivot gave before the window itself. It did not take much force at all for the pivot to snap, and it happened before I even knew it.

So, what I learned is that the pivot may not necessarily break while you are torquing it down, but it is more likely it will snap when you go to close the window! Be careful!

I will take some pics when I fix the part; for reference the part number is 171837455

[hyperlightboards48]

Well if you really want your windows open while going 90 heres an idea from MissAnthropic "I've been folding the drivers mirror back to hold it open"

I have done this on the highway. It works really well. You loose being able to see out of the mirror but they are pretty much worthless anyhow.

[tinygiant]

worked great! over tightened the pass side though.. now i gotta find a new piece

[benrk]

Well if you really want your windows open while going 90 heres an idea from MissAnthropic "I've been folding the drivers mirror back to hold it open"

I have done this on the highway. It works really well. You loose being able to see out of the mirror but they are pretty much worthless anyhow.

Worthless??? My chrome mirror buying wallet has a different opinion