Tips and tricks for falling driver's side window

The driver's side power window mechanism failed today on my 2001 Durango. I have Chrysler's Silver plan but, of course, according to the dealer that repair isn't covered under that plan.

The service writer at the dealer gave me an estimate based on his experience -- it will cost $402. We can't afford to repair it today; the earliest date based on our budget is January 20th.

Any tips or tricks to hold the driver's side window securely in place until then? The window holds in place fairly well but I know it's possible for the window to fall and possibly break. So far today, if I "test" it to make the window fall, it will fall about halfway and stop, presumably in the grip of the rubber at the bottom of the window.

I'd prefer not to remove the door panel but will do so if needed. Anything to prevent an extra $200-400 window replacement cost on top of the motor/regulator kit or whatever they're going to do to fix the mechanism.

Thanks! Marc in Cape Canaveral

Reply to
Marc
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Duct tape.

If I were you I would call around, you can probably get a new motor from a wrecker for $50 and find a decent mechanic that can put it in for about $150 or so.

Ted

Reply to
Ted Mittelstaedt

If it's like most of the other Chrysler windows, the problem is a clip that atttaches the glass to the window regulator lift plate (there are two of these clips per window). You can buy a new glass (with clips already attached) or you can buy just the clips. To replace just the clips requires removing the old clips and glueing the new ones in place. All the Chrysler vehciles I know about take the same clip part - can't be sure about the Durango.

Going the route of the new glass costs a lot more in the part, but is a lot quicker and less labor intensive - that's probably what the dealer will do. Considering labor cost, it probably would not be any cheaper for them to replace just the clips. Replacing just the clips is inexpensive, but requires more time - for the DIY'er, it just depends on if you have more time or money at the moment. You could get a glass with clips at a junk yard, but you run the risk of the clips being in the process of doing the same thing - again, that's the way it is with other Chrysler vehicles (LH's and others).

The problem is probably *not* the motor or regulator per se.

If the clip is the same part as the other vehicles, it is Chrylser P/N

04878907AA. You *need* to take that part number in to the dealer with you, otherwise the parts guy will probably tell you that clip does not exist as a separate part. Give him that part number, and ask him to see if its applications include the Durango.

Heat the old clip up with a hair blower to soften the glue that attaches it to the glass, and pull the old clip off. Scrape all traces of old glue off with a razor blade, and clean the glass with alcohol. A Chrysler TSB specifies a certain 3M adhesive, but you can use J-B Weld. (The 3M stuff will be removable in the future if the problem happens again, not the J-B Weld, but I believe the later clip parts are better and should not break.)

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

Reply to
Bill Putney

How failed is "failed"?

I know this may sound daft, but a while ago I had a problem with my driver's side power window (other side to yours, but that's unimportant except that it is the driver's window that usually gets the most used), which to me looked bad but was easily fixed (zero cost).

Different car, different circumstances, but the window dropped back by several inches on closing. I even checked with my local official dealer. In the end it was just a fiddle with the rocker switch, which reset the computer. (It has a small drop/rise action because it is a cabrio/convertible.)

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling

Reply to
Dori A Schmetterling

I agree, and in fact I'd go farther and say it's probably just some plastic doodad that needs replacing. I.E. There may be a cheap way to fix it. Most of the time that's the case on these Chryslers.

Reply to
Joe

If you have in fact seen the inside of a Durango door and how the glass attaches to the regulator, then I will defer to you. But if you haven't, dollars to donuts it's a broken metal glass-to-regulator clip just like is used on many other Chrysler vehicles. See my previous post.

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

Reply to
Bill Putney

To see what I'm talking about, go to this thread in the 300M Club forums and scroll down to my post with the photos:

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Maybe someone who knows the Durango door can confirm if the glasss attachment clips are like those (of the LH cars and other Chrysler platforms) in the photos.

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

Reply to
Bill Putney

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They are.

Glenn Beasley Chrysler Tech

Reply to
maxpower

Reply to
philthy

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Thanks, Glenn. Sounds like the OP's going to pay to have it done, and he may have left the building.

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

Reply to
Bill Putney

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Reply to
philthy

OK. Can you tell us in words how the glass in the Durango attaches to the regulator. Would you agree that the parts that attach to the glass have either separated from the glass or broken?

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

Reply to
Bill Putney

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