The drivers side window, in my 87, won't roll down. I can hear the motor running, so I'm guessing it's some part of the regulator. Maybe the 'flex rack' (the name shown in the FSM) is broken?

Anyone have experience repairing the window regulator in early C4's? Is the flex rack replaceable (if that's what the problem turns out to be). Is it most likely something else?

Welcome!

The track is replaceable... but it's a pain and it will break again.

the best solution is to upgrade to the later gear driven regulator.

You can find a nice used one at vette2vette.com for about $100.00... and it won't break. oh, sure the motor will crap out, but they all do that.

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Ahhh... good to know! I will definitely look into that.

Thanks much!

yer welcome!!

It's an easy upgrade. It does require drilling... and the most annoying part is readjusting the glass, but you would have to do that with the ribbon replacement, too.

Glass adjustment is a pain. Just tinker with it and you should be ok. It is best done with the door closed and the window up, and with someone outside helping find the right spot.

Cheaper to replace the ribbon, better long term solution is the 88-96 regulator.

It looks like I have the new (used on the convertible) style in my 87.

I tried pushing down on the window, while pressing the power window button 'down', and the window went down.

I took the door panel off and found what I think is a sheared off fastener between the 'gear' and the frame holding the glass (there's a shiny aluminum 'hole' just above the spring in the pic).

Has anyone encountered this before? Is this likely a rivet that I might just be able to replace? Or some other fastener? I can't see anything in the bottom of the door without taking the aluminum frame out.

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  Window Regulator-fastener sheared off.jpg (231.05 KB)

I have no personal experience with that but sounds like you're on the right track.

Good detective work!

I am not sure what it would hold.

I would clean the area with brake cleaner, then relube with some light grease and make sure nothing is floating around. I would be more inclined to use a wire tie?

I don't have a C4 anymore, so I don't have anything to look at (oh, don't feel bad for me, I got a C6).

I bought a used regulator off a 93.
I got past most of the typical sticking points, but really struggled with getting the regulator out of the door.
I thought sure I'd find some video that would show how to do it, but no luck.
This page gave me a clue: http://webpages.charter.net/khasting/ ... g/techinfo/windowreg.html

I believe what I showed in the picture is where the gear was attached (likely welded, as far as I can tell) to the frame (but broke apart). So, even though the motor was all the way down, the frame was rising all the way to the top because of the spring. I think that was making it really hard to 'tip' the regulator toward the back of the door.

I pulled the frame down by hand and was finally able to get the regulator out... whew!

I noticed the weather stripping around the window, and the entire door, really, is pretty cracked. In the "while you're at it" category, I should probably replace the weather stripping while I have the door panel off.

Unfortunately, I didn't think about this earlier and didn't order the part in advance. Is weatherstripping a special order item and expensive? Or, can I likely find it somewhere today? (so that I can get the door put back together this weekend)

Are you referring to the rubber weather stripping or the door sweeps for the window?

You can order both from any parts house.

Willcox is the best value overall for weatherstripping. GM is best/softest but won't last over time just like the original. More expensive, as well.

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I'm referring to the rubber weather stripping that goes around the door and up to each end of the window.

Thanks for the pointer toward Wilcox. I'll see if I can hold off putting the trim back on the door for a few days.

Since I bought a used window regulator, I'm thinking it would be best to lube the tracks up a bit, but I'm not sure what kind of grease to use.

Is white grease the way to go?

In looking closer at the old regulator, it looks like the lubricant is gray, which makes me wonder if it's graphite-based.

You can use just about any weather proof grease.

A good wheel bearing grease is a good option. It won't get soft if the temps in the door get high... and one sunny day in the desert could do that to a light duty grease.

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I agree with the "function" of the above grease, but keep one thing in mind. The smell of some products when used in the cabin will be strong not very pleasant.

Joel