Window Regulator

[Leon R]

This is now a few weeks old, but I am just now getting to it:

OH JOY! So today I took my VX to my mechanic to install the new regulator. (As much as I wanted to do this myself, my lack of free time is minimal) It's installed BUT it's binding in the front. The rubber guide is split and he says that is causing it to bind...He said that's what broke the regulator and has instructed me to buy that and he will put it in. I see it really is split, but wondering if this really is my issue. I read a few of the posts (thanks Kat for putting the links all together) and I see there are other reasons it could be doing this. Anyone replace this rubber guide thingamadoobie with success on correcting the binding issue?

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by the rubber guide is "split". Are you talking about the rubber strip the edge of the the glass goes into?

If it's that one, it goes around the glass edge, then down IN FRONT of the tweeter panel, where I'm pointing.

This is the rubber channel we suggest be kept lubed with something like pure silicone spray, or Teflon silicone. It has several channels within it, (not just the channel the glass edge goes in) and I wonder if that's what your guy means by "split"?

I think I know what this mechanic is talking about, and I think I agree with him! As the window travels up and down, it wears out the rubber in FRONT of the window! I am sure that lubricating since new would have help with this wear, but it is too late for most of us now.

That wear gives window extra space to tilt forward and bind up! That binding eventually damages already poorly fitting regulator and white clips on the window.

Replacing the plastic clips with metal brackets and getting new regulator does not solve the original problem: split rubber channel with extra space! We need to ether replace the rubber guides (are they still available?) or build up some material for TIGHTER window fit (front to back).

[tom4bren]

Replacing the plastic clips with metal brackets and getting new regulator does not solve the original problem: split rubber channel with extra space! We need to ether replace the rubber guides (are they still available?) or build up some material for TIGHTER window fit (front to back).

She's replaced both the regulator and the rubber weather strip with new components & is still having tilting issues.

For some reason one of the plastic guides is not properly engaging the vertical track.

[VX KAT]

This is now a few weeks old, but I am just now getting to it:



I think I know what this mechanic is talking about, and I think I agree with him! As the window travels up and down, it wears out the rubber in FRONT of the window! I am sure that lubricating since new would have help with this wear, but it is too late for most of us now.

That wear gives window extra space to tilt forward and bind up! That binding eventually damages already poorly fitting regulator and white clips on the window.

Replacing the plastic clips with metal brackets and getting new regulator does not solve the original problem: split rubber channel with extra space! We need to ether replace the rubber guides (are they still available?) or build up some material for TIGHTER window fit (front to back).

I've seen several of these rubber gaskets (Isuzu officially calls "Glass Run"), and IMHO the rubber gasket/track/run itself is not getting worn down.
I've heard of, but haven't seen any with a "split" of any kind involving the rubber channel.

I believe it's a combination of 3 factors:

1) Rubber gets dry and doesn't allow the glass to slide easily thus causing glass to bind and struggle to go up. (So lubrication helps). I "think" because the rubber channel gets dried out, it causes glass to kind of stick to it, causing it to get ripped and torn up as glass goes up/pdown.

2) The metal channel (see my post #29) is too narrow, causing rubber gasket to be squeezed into the channel, and therefore causing more friction on both sides of glass,

3) The metal channel is pushing rearward, thus applying more pressure on the forward EDGE of the glass.

So that's why widening the channel as well as moving the vertical channel a little forward helps relieve pressure on the glass, allowing it to slide easier.

**** I don't know if any of this affects the TILT issue, as mine has never had that problem ****


I have a used glass run from a '99, I can take detailed pics of channel to see if it's showing any wear.

[tom4bren]

I hafta agree with KAT. The glass run (rubber track ... weather strip ... whatever) isn't wearing & causing the window tilt. The window tilt gets bad enough to cause the wear & tear. I've actually only heard of 2 glass runs bad enought that they had tears, mine & Allison's.