Is the window regulator difficult to replace?

I was at a junk yard to get a used regulator for my 99 Venture. The guy at the junk yard wouldn't let me take out the window regulator because he said it was all one piece for $200. All or nothing.

I see I can just replace the regulator itself. Is this an impossible task? I'm a do-it-yourselfer whenever possible.
MARK

I was at a junk yard to get a used regulator for my 99 Venture. The guy at the junk yard wouldn't let me take out the window regulator because he said it was all one piece for $200. All or nothing.

I see I can just replace the regulator itself. Is this an impossible task? I'm a do-it-yourselfer whenever possible.
MARK

How do you know you need a new regulator. Do you have the typical crooked window syndrome where it rocks forward slighlty going either up or down? If so, slraying silicone in the vertical felt tracks cures that after they are thoroughly sprayed/soaked.

I was at a junk yard to get a used regulator for my 99 Venture. The guy at the junk yard wouldn't let me take out the window regulator because he said it was all one piece for $200. All or nothing.

I see I can just replace the regulator itself. Is this an impossible task? I'm a do-it-yourselfer whenever possible.
MARK

How do you know you need a new regulator. Do you have the typical crooked window syndrome where it rocks forward slighlty going either up or down? If so, spraying silicone in the vertical felt tracks cures that after they are thoroughly sprayed/soaked.

Rocks forward slightly??? How about it leans hard forward then gets stuck there. I can take the window and wobble it back and forth. Then it will go up a couple inches then I have to grab it again. I read on here about using the silicone but I just can't believe that's all it would be.

How can I truly verify the regulator is bad? I have had the door panel off. There seems to be a lot of play in the regulator. What's too much play?
MARK

Rocks forward slightly??? How about it leans hard forward then gets stuck there. I can take the window and wobble it back and forth. Then it will go up a couple inches then I have to grab it again. I read on here about using the silicone but I just can't believe that's all it would be.

How can I truly verify the regulator is bad? I have had the door panel off. There seems to be a lot of play in the regulator. What's too much play?
MARK

Try the silicone. I was a doubter until I read the thread on this similar problem on p.4 or 5 under Venture. Mine was very slow as well until it rocks forward and alomost slowed to a halt. Then came the soaking of the felt with silicone in only the vertical felt areas. It has been a week and still, the window flies up and down. What I also did was look down the felt from the outside and looked for the main contacts points of the window when it was going up and down. I then sprayed them with extra silicone. Sure it was messy, but after a number of up and downs, you wipe off the excess both on the inside and out of the windows at the front (6") and the back (20" or so) of the window framing. I believe you will see your problem at least improve, if not correct itself. I also influenced/held/encouraged the window to stay in the correct/non-rocking motion the first few times with my operation. I went ahead and sprayed the PS window frame felt as well and it flies.

How can I truly verify the regulator is bad? I have had the door panel off. There seems to be a lot of play in the regulator. What's too much play?
MARK
I also had a problem with my window. I did the spray lubricant trick too, but before that I took the door panel off and adjusted parts of the window guides. You can read about it at the link below.

Power Window Adjustment (http://www.my-chevy-venture.com/venture-repair-drivers-side-power-window.html)

Take Care,

Okay. I'll give the silicone a try this weekend.
Thanks for the advice.
MARK

...spraying silicone in the vertical felt tracks cures that after they are thoroughly sprayed/soaked.

cjstew4, I humbly bow down before you. I soaked the felts last night (my wife thought I was nuts) and let them sit for about 15 minutes then soaked again. The window went right up with no problems!

I shall never doubt thee again.:shakehead

I'm still going to take the door panel off to check the guides but I think that can wait a little while now.
Thanks!
MARK

cjstew4, I humbly bow down before you. I soaked the felts last night (my wife thought I was nuts) and let them sit for about 15 minutes then soaked again. The window went right up with no problems!

I shall never doubt thee again.:shakehead

I'm still going to take the door panel off to check the guides but I think that can wait a little while now.
Thanks!
MARK

Mark, glad it worked, for now. After a day or two as well, it should work even a little smoother. The trick my friend is to keep an eye out for the window beginning to rock again and get that spray can out. Anyway, I used this LocTite Silicone spray I got at Rite-Aid drug store, but would advise the clear spray since this one was white and slightly foamy. See, you will be ready for that 8/26 Cruise-in you list. I am probably going to be taking my door panels off soon too since someone else mentioned that they did and tightened up a few things as well as lubricated with lithium or some other long-lasting lube some tracks or pivot points. Makes sense though so that we don't have to carry that silicone can with us at all times. Also, one guy replaced the felt as well. I will spray for a while.

Regarding doubting AFs, I was like you until I used their advice a few times. Remember most of the fixes I have received here are not available in those Haynes or other repair manuals, nor from the dealer as well. Lastly, let just get our lists out of the many things we believe our wives were crazy in doing :uhoh: .

cjstew4, I humbly bow down before you. I soaked the felts last night (my wife thought I was nuts) and let them sit for about 15 minutes then soaked again. The window went right up with no problems!

I shall never doubt thee again.:shakehead

I'm still going to take the door panel off to check the guides but I think that can wait a little while now.
Thanks!
MARK

Mark, glad it worked, for now. After a day or two as well, it should work even a little smoother. The trick my friend is to keep an eye out for the window beginning to rock again and get that spray can out. Anyway, I used this LocTite Silicone spray I got at Rite-Aid drug store, but would advise the clear spray since this one was white and slightly foamy. See, you will be ready for that 8/26 Cruise-in you list. I am probably going to be taking my door panels off soon too since someone else mentioned that they did and tightened up a few things as well as lubricated with lithium or some other long-lasting lube some tracks or pivot points. Makes sense though so that we don't have to carry that silicone can with us at all times. Also, one guy replaced the felt as well. I will spray for a while.

Regarding doubting AFs, I was like you until I used their advice a few times. Remember most of the fixes I have received here are not available in those Haynes or other repair manuals, nor from the dealer as well. Lastly, let just get our lists out of the many things we believe our wives were crazy in doing :uhoh: .

I sprayed it with the clear silicone spray. Definitely not as messy.

Yes, now I can go back to prepping my 73 Regal for the car show. I have spent so much time planning and organizing the event that I haven't spent much time at all getting my car ready for it. Oh well, my car won't be judged anyway.

FWIW, when my window wouldn't go up it also tilted forward as soon as the top of the window cleared the bottom of the opening then stopped.

I pulled the door panel off and found the regulator wire rusted off.

Will give the spray a try first to see if that does the trick. Thanks again for the input.

roadrunner2- Please check the date of the last post in the thread, and if that date is longer than 3 months from the current date, the thread is considered inactive and should not be resurrected. This thread has been inactive for almost 2 1/2 years. You may start a new thread to continue the discussion, or if you have new info, and can link to the old thread.