Alfa Romeo Forum banner
Cancel

Help with stuck/jammed window on 159

Tags
stuck or jammed window
Jump to Latest Follow
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
M

· Registered
Joined
·
6 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Well window went down fine this morning, then went to put it up and it was making some grating sounds, went back down and is now stuck down.

It will move up about an inch but makes a lot of grating sounds before cutting out.

ive taken it all apart and can't see anything obvious(looks rather complex). but now can't get the door card back on (the top bit) but not too worried about that at the mo.

i really need to get the window back up due to the weather.

does anyone have any ideas?

or am i best giving it to autoglass or the main stealers?

cheers
 
M

· Registered
Joined
·
6 Posts
Discussion Starter · #2 ·
slightly good news, tried it again this morning, it went up halfway with lots of grating, then stopped.

but something has happened, as i can now move the glass up and down manually.

so looks like something had come loose, and off completely now?

anyone any ideas now?

cheers
 
V

· Registered
Joined
·
10 Posts
#6 ·
Y'ouch! was hoping it wasn't going to be the regulator, i imagine its going to be an awkward one to work on. I'm going to tackle it myself today and see if I can even get the window back up manually, until I get the parts.

Thanks for the pointers guys, appreciate it.
 
Alfafamily

· Registered
Joined
·
5,759 Posts
#7 ·
TomTheBomb said:
Y'ouch! was hoping it wasn't going to be the regulator, i imagine its going to be an awkward one to work on. I'm going to tackle it myself today and see if I can even get the window back up manually, until I get the parts.

Thanks for the pointers guys, appreciate it.
Click to expand...
Even that can be awkward. Removing the glass from the regulator and taping in place is often the only option.
It's so surprising how they stop working, one minute fine...then nothing:(
 
V

· Registered
Joined
·
10 Posts
#8 ·
Yep, it turned out to be even more difficult than I had expected! In the end all I managed was to get the window up but I'm very happy with that as there is some windy wet weather in the post! :)

I was unable to access the regulator assembly before darkness beat me! It looks like you need to take the window pane out before you can remove the metal inner door panel to get access to the regulator - any idea if this is correct? However, to get the window pane out, the window pane needs to be aligned with the holes in that metal inner door panel, so that it is possible to loosen the bolts, which hold the window pane in place. However, my window was stuck about 75% open, so I couldn't align it, so I couldn't free the window pane, and so I couldn't remove the inner metal panel! Catch22.

In the end, as a last ditch attempt, I removed the motor and tried tapping the plastic regulator mechanism (as I had read another AO had tried with success) with the rubber handle of a wrench, in the hope it might joggle something inside enough to get the window moving! I re-attached the motor and switch and tried to power it up. At first it didn't budge much but then I lowered it a fraction, pulled the pane while operating the switch and it gradually ground and grated its way up! :D

I'll have a cold beer this eve and tackle again some day when the weather permits. I'm still not sure exactly which part of the assembly/mechanism is toast, but I imagine its going to require the whole new regulator assembly anyway. Thanks again for the pointers.
 
M

· Registered
Joined
·
6 Posts
Discussion Starter · #9 ·
yes it was the regulator (one of the cables had frayed), i got one off ebay for 60 quid.

It wasn't as hard to change as i thought.

basically you need to remove the door card,

then 2 rubber flaps have bolts behind, un do these, then the glass will slide up and out of the door,

then remove the motor and controll box, and loosen all the cables,

then undo the 12? bolts that hold the metal skin on,

then you can remove the old reg,

then refitting is the reverse of removal :)
 
V

· Registered
Joined
·
10 Posts
#10 ·
Thanks for the update and install tips, glad hear you got yours sorted. I'm looking forward to replacing it the next day I get a chance, in the mean time the window is firmly up and the switch duck-taped, just in case!
 
R

· Registered
Joined
·
20 Posts
#12 ·
Alfa 159 window problems

The regulators are are a common failure on the Alfa 159. The craunching noise is the cable that wraps around the drum and it has slipped off the drum and is being wound around other parts and getting damaged. The regulator is the actual part that holds the window and raises or lowers it, you will find good cheap replacement regulators on ebay. the actual motor is a separate and generally reliable part unless the plastic drive cog gets stripped, so check this and if it works ok and is in good nick keep it. You can check it works by removing and running separately to the window. The regulator change is very finnicky but straight forward, you will need to remove door card then inner metal skin which holds the regulator on the inside and the motor on the outside, check the plastic retaining clip that holds the window bottom is not broken (cheap to replace through alfa) as this is the part that can sometimes be he cause of the cable dropping off the drum.
To get the window back up before repair, open door, use palms of both hands as best you can to lift window back up as far as you can, this will help take the load off the motor, run window switch up till you feel the regulator holding it (window) and repeat until fully up. Give up switch one last go to fully hold it in position. You will hear lots of craunching noise as the cable comes up however the regulator is stuffed anyway so it will all be thrown in the bin.
The cause is mainly lack of use and generally effects rear windows as they become stuck at the start of their travel, it is worth it to run a bit of clear lube (wd40 etc) around all top edges of windows once in while.
 
G

· Registered
Joined
·
1 Posts
#13 ·
Suction solved the problem w my 159

Hi all,
A decent suction cup can hold the window up for a while to get past weather, security etc.
Found one that twists on (bathroom tile coat holder from local hardware) and black cup so it's hard to see from the outside.
Lasted me 2 months till I attempted the job.
Ffar out .... Looks like the cable has come off the bottom pulley ....
It' quite the job to get the cable back on, like a country vet, arm inside the panel, doing it by feel to not stretch the cable too much out of alignment.

then it started to rain.

Suction cup back on.

Trying to find a picture or diagram of it.
Will try to take a photo for others, if I can post it.
 
giblets46

· Registered
Joined
·
4,872 Posts
#15 ·
Save Share
Reply Quote
giblets46

· Registered
Joined
·
4,872 Posts
#16 ·
so job done today, not sure it was the right weather for it, all hot and sweaty (better than the depths of winter though). The cable had got manged around the plastic wheel that attaches to the regulator.
Don't even bother trying to repair it you can get the whole mechanism for £20, only one part broke in the process, the plastic clip holding the black triangular trip above the door card!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Topic
Save Share
Reply Quote
giblets46

· Registered
Joined
·
4,872 Posts
#18 ·
ocp said:
Cheers giblets,

I asked a guy who is good in DIY and he managed to do it for me. I installed it today and works great.
Click to expand...
Good stuff, looks like a different part in mine failed, the cable that wraps around the regulator wheel had got all mangled and frayed, the wheel itself was also damaged, so this fixed would not have worked for mine. But sure it would be useful for others, make sure you double check first.
 
Save Share
Reply Quote
Tonebone

· Registered
Joined
·
31 Posts
#20 ·
Managed to open the motor. The lid of the housing on the output shaft side is just a thin plastic cover with a seal attached onto the main body by a circumferential weld.
Work a thin blade screw driver under the edge and then get the blade under the weld. Push the screwdriver around under the complete weld to seperate the cover from the body.
The nylon splined drive shaft is held on by a brass collet which can be shifted by leveraging the shaft up.
The cover will need to be glued back on. I used a two part Epoxy. Make sure it just applied where the weld was around the edge.

Sent from my LG-M200 using Tapatalk
 
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
About this Discussion
19 Replies
10 Participants
Last post:
Tonebone
Alfa Romeo Forum
The friendly Alfa Romeo Club - If you are looking to buy or you are already an Alfa Romeo owner, join alfaowner.com today to get the most from your ownership
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Alfa 147, 156 & GT General Alfa Discussion Alfa 159, Brera & Spider Alfa GTV & 916 Spider Introduce Yourself
Top