Driverside electric window fault - mechanical

[Icarus83]

Hi all, got my car back from the garage and as they've had the battery disconnected the auto windows needed resetting (full down and up) and as I did my driver side it didnt move so assume it came off its rail and now just makes lots of grinding noises, with no movement of the glass.

The window had made scraping noises since I got it last July but got neither better or worse.

Anyone experienced this fault or likely to know what may need replacing?

 

[TheDriver]

More than likely the window reg. mate. Good that it's making some noise, shows the motor is still working. Can be possible that it has come off it's runners but I reckon the grinding noise is probably the cable snapping or coming out of it's locators and smashing about in there.

Have to whip the door panel off and see what you can see. There are a few clips/brackets in the assembly tht can be replaced rather than buying a whole new regulator, depends where exactly the fault lies. Have a look-see.

 

[Icarus83]

More than likely the window reg. mate. Good that it's making some noise, shows the motor is still working. Can be possible that it has come off it's runners but I reckon the grinding noise is probably the cable snapping or coming out of it's locators and smashing about in there.

Have to whip the door panel off and see what you can see. There are a few clips/brackets in the assembly tht can be replaced rather than buying a whole new regulator, depends where exactly the fault lies. Have a look-see.

Right'o that sounds pretty logical, I did see there are quite a few kits on eBay that arnt too expensive so might just replace the lot and save any problems with debris left in the old mechanics of it......

Are the door clips the standard white plastic ones that seem to be on every car? Will have a poke around in the door tomorrow evening!

 

[Icarus83]

Are all the B6 driver door regulators all the same?

 

[TheDriver]

Yeah you got it, pretty much all cars have them, vary in form sometimes but generally carry out the same function. I was just going to mention the repair kits, but obviously you've clocked them already Might be worth getting the whole kit and replacing everything as you mentioned, they are pretty cheap in comparison, although I'm sure Euro Car Parts were only 40-odd quid for the whole regulator - I think Audi were in the region of £120 - didn't try TPS.

Regards all B6 regs. being the same - I haven't got a scooby doo in all honesty mate. Half-heartedly I would think the Saloon and Avant fronts to be the same but the back's different. I'd imagine the cabriolet to be different again, but please don't quote me on that, I'm totally guessing! I'm sure someone with more knowledge on B6's and their parts will be along to offer some more guidance. Good luck mate!

 

[TheDriver]

There's a decent youtube vid on how to change the regulator here. Slight pain in the buttocks though compared to, well... pretty much every other car out there!

 

[Welshquattro]

I had the same thing happen two years ago. I had pressed the window button by accident when the window was frozen and it snapped some plastic clips off. It also made a grinding noise.

 

[Icarus83]

There's a decent youtube vid on how to change the regulator here. Slight pain in the buttocks though compared to, well... pretty much every other car out there!

Hmm, the 'this is the sound of a damaged regulator' sounds familiar.......its exactly what its been like.....

Looks like a useful video, thanks!

 

[GeoffDunk]

I have replaced these on golfs, passat and my B6, top tip and I cannot stress this enough, buy original part, the cheap copies fail far to quickly and it's not a job you want to keep having to do. I learnt this a long time ago.

 

[TheDriver]

I agree with you there Geoff, either they won't quite sit right in the door causing your windows to squeal and scratch against the weather strips, or you get random rattles from inside your door, or noisy regulator operation and no doubt premature failure. I had no choice but to get one from Euro as mine broke last Xmas on the way to my parents house for the weekend. Wife and kids in the car freezing our nads off for the last 15 mins! Had no tools on me or anyway of investigating/chocking up the window so had no choice but take it to a local garage to get done on the Monday before making the 3hr journey back home. If I had it my way I would have bought a genuine one but no stock till the following day. At least with a genuine one you're almost always guaranteed a perfect fit + 2 year warranty, and it should last you for as long as you've got the car. Mine's been a tad noisy in operation from the day it was fitted, not silent like the original, then again it could be the fitting that's to blame, who knows...stuck with it now though

 

[Icarus83]

I've bought a cable and regulator replacement kit so will keep the rails. Will attempt to repair without taking them out so the alignment of them should still be ok.....

After having spent £1100 on the beast in the last month at the garage, and that's not including the other bits I've spent on the S4 calipers, alloys, tyres, discs, pads, braided lines, Meyle HD kit.....I cant afford to spend another £120 yet, 18.99 delivered for all the repair bits will have to do for now. I need to do the cambelt and a service, so the parts for that are a good £200, but I will be able to do those myself* including a proper timing belt locking kit.

On a slightly different topic, does anyone know why my drivers window has never done an 'auto down' function, only 'auto up'? All the other windows have the full auto function in both directions.


*Famous last words

 

[Icarus83]

Oh and on ETKA there is only one part number for front rails and regulator each side so I fairly confident that all the B6 saloon and avant models are the same. Not sure for Convertibles though.

Rears are obviously different and seem to be all one piece including the window frame?!?!??!

 

[GeoffDunk]

I've bought a cable and regulator replacement kit so will keep the rails. Will attempt to repair without taking them out so the alignment of them should still be ok.....

After having spent £1100 on the beast in the last month at the garage, and that's not including the other bits I've spent on the S4 calipers, alloys, tyres, discs, pads, braided lines, Meyle HD kit.....I cant afford to spend another £120 yet, 18.99 delivered for all the repair bits will have to do for now. I need to do the cambelt and a service, so the parts for that are a good £200, but I will be able to do those myself* including a proper timing belt locking kit.

On a slightly different topic, does anyone know why my drivers window has never done an 'auto down' function, only 'auto up'? All the other windows have the full auto function in both directions.


*Famous last words

Sadly I feel this is false economy.

 

[Icarus83]

I heartily agree, but unfortunately I cant afford to spend any more with my sister getting married this month and the expenses that brings.....I also had a £1300 bill for new turbo and associated bits in Jan, so the gold reserves are running a bit dry.....so to speak.

 

[Mike_B]

Another "how to" which may help - DIY: B6 A4 Window Regulator & Motor Replacement

 

[Icarus83]

Well I found the problem........which has now been fixed! Added some grease to the runners and regulator that should hopefully extend its life:

It had self destructed!!