Well I got new speakers for my car and was taking my door panels off to do some body work/dent repair when I thought, hey, why not fix your stinkin windows while your here? I'll get the pics uploaded by tonight as well.Supplies List: >$10 at local auto store
-any type of degreaser/dirt remover, I had a few extra cans of simple green and engine degreaser I used
-any type of mechanical grease, I picked up a tube of "waterproof green grease" from autozone
-Phillips and flat head screwdriver
-cheap/reusable shop cloths(i have s*** ton o microfiber towels so I just used those)
-grease gun(optional), I used my good ole fashioned fingers to grease the tracks
-your choice of mood food or mind calming meditation you prefer because your hands and arms will get cut up, scratched, pricked, pinched, and slightly bloody(maybe thats just me being hardcore
lol
Step 1: Door panel removal
-carefully remove plastic door handle trim(three clips total around these things, be careful, 20yo!) flathead healps, if you break of bend them you can always get more at local pullnpay or glue them with gorilla glue or similar crazy glues
-remove the screws holding the door panels in place
-->Rears have 3 screws, one is next to where the actual door latch is and one at the top inside of the handle below the latch and one inside the lil square piece that pops off in the middle/center of the panel
-->Fronts have 3 screws as well, same deal AS WELL as three smaller screws that are near the speaker covering(underneath)
-once all screws and clips are popped out, carefully pop the window switches out of the panel or just undo the wiring harness to them and lift UP and OFF. some wiggling may be required
-take off the plastic lining(i taped mine up to the top to stay out of the way) to reveal the two window tracks that the arm travels up and down on.
Step 2: Pick the guinea pig door(best to choose is window giving you most problems)
- Start by spraying the degreaser you chose up and down the two tracks(both should be located at opposite sides inside the door itself)
-from here you can let it sit a couple mins or just start going at it, I had tons of nasty 20yo grease built up inside my tracks so I spent a good half hour on each door cleaning and regreasing(to give you an example)
-your grease will prolly be that brown/yellowish stuff and youll be able to see its coated the sides and inside the tracks so you can see where you need to clean/scrub off.
-once you get both tracks I highly recommend you clean/degrease the arm/rail that connects the tracks and pulls the window down. its just a perpendicular track with some bearings on it, give it a good spray and clean as well!(you may have to roll the window up and down by using the switch while the panel is off to get a good angle to clean the arm)
-once the tracks and arm is clean proceed to spanky new grease! I just popped the top off and used my pinky and index fingers to trace along and inside the tracks and arms. Don't be too skimpy, youll have plenty of grease leftover after all 4 windows! Make sure there is enough to cover all the surface inside and along the tracks
-after you finish your regrease on the 1st window, DO NOT proceeed to others! First use the switch and make sure your window goes up and down with little to no problems compared to before, then if its better/fixed go on to the next 3 windows
Step 3: Reverse Installation
-put the plastic sheet back over(you may or may not need more sealant if yours didnt have enough to reapply itself back to the door.
-put door panels back on reverse order making sure the right screws(big or small) go the appropriate holes otherwise your door panel may be off center or too tight/loose.
-put plastic trims back on and enjoy your windows which feel brand new!
***My passenger window was completely off the front track!! it was literally unbolted so my arm was only pulling from the rear track, I always knew that window was fudged up somehow on the inside, I'm glad I took the time to do this to find and fix and rebolt as well
If I left anything out or you have any questions just post.Optional upgrades/maint. to do while this:
-upgrade your crappy paper oem speakers
-sound proof/dynamat any part of your doors if need be
-replace broken door panel trim or customize your door panel cloth
-clean insides of door panels(mine was coated with dirt and leaves)
-grease the locking mechanism or actual door levers(mine are much smoother/easier to operate now)
-windex the bottom of the window while its down in the door, while your regreasing(this is the part that you can never reach while washing your car because the trim at the bottom of the window WHEN its up prevents you!)
