Front Driver Side window loose

[Wellcraft19]

My left driver side window regulator has been actiing up a bit (for a long time). There's been some excessive "play" (about 1/4") for some time. A few days before I had decided to "do something about it", the window feel partly out of its track while going down. This was on Friday. Truck's been parked since then (working on a house remodeling project...).

Today taken the door panel off and I see what the problem is. Regulator is fine, no mechanical issues there, bu the actual window pane seem to be glued to two "u-shaped" channels in white plastic. The front bracket has broken (split) and the "interior" side on the plastic U-channel/bracket has broken and fallen off - resulting in the front of the window only "standing" on top of the remaining part of the bracket and hence "falling down" when slightly dislocated and not resting on top of the remaining part.

A few questions:

• Anyone seen this before?
• How the h-ck do you get the window pane out of the door in order to be able to glue a new plastic "bracket" in place?
• Anyone with suggestions for what glue/caulk that works best to re-attach the plastic liner? I know some caulks will actually burn through plastic liners.
• Best glue to re-attach a new "bracket"?
• Is the part even available (dealer was closed tonight)?

Added a few pictures below (broken off piece, front (broken) bracket, and rear bracket...

 

[Wellcraft19]

Answering my own questions...

OK, easily got the window out. Here you can see the broken and the OK brackets.

Now it's just a matter of glueing part back on - if I can find it - and being able to reach into door and reattach the front bolt...

 

[mobi-arc]

Time to buy a window regulator assembly. The part that broke is not sold separately and it's designed to break away, otherwise th window would shatter.

 

[NMuzj100]

This is relatively common and the part is $$$ since you have to buy the whole window. If this happens to me I'll try and develop a shade tree fix because I'm a cheap bastard. Some others have had success doing so.

mustardfj40 fixes broken window bracket with a Corolla transplant for $2

mrkool's homebrew fix to a broken window bracket

TLCSKULLS' Window problem

Macneil's Window clunk - sometimes just a loose bolt

Good luck. For a Glue I recommend trying the new "Sumo" Glue from Locktite. Great stuff and they are claiming 3x the strength of "Gorilla Glue" which I have also had good luck with. I have done previous repairs to broken Toyota plastic using PVC solvent with success as well. Using PVC solvent you can actually "weld" a new piece of plastic across the repair to strengthen it if the clearances allow.

Glass adhesive - Ok for glass to plastic

Question for the guys who have seen this. Is it just the bracket that failed or the regulator and the bracket did it's job saving the window?

 

[Wellcraft19]

Thanks guys. What I suspected, even though I'd put this part together with the glass and not the regulator?!

Since part is not really that "tricky", I might try to manufacture one out of aluminum or "just" try to fix the plastic that's there. It worked "broken" for likely 5 years and it was not until the glue on the remaining side let go it sort of "failed" totally.

When checking www.partznet.com (CDan is sleeping), a regulator for a '99 LC 100 is "only" $75.72. Knowing car parts prices, it just sounds way too "cheap".

Or, wonder if I should just look for a front window from a totalled LC - if the window survives...

Will update, but still appreciate further comments/feedback. At least it is not raining up here right now (instead recordbreaking heat), but the forecast puts it out for the weekend...

 

[hoser]

Looks to me like the bracket is part of the window.

Green tint window MSRP $221
Bronze tint window MSRP $240

 

[100 TD]

I'll add just one thing here, while everybody is thinking about ways to do a fix, everybody should also be spraying all their window tracks on all their doors with silicone spray or similar to help them slide up and down easily so they have less chance of this happening. (I say less chance) Not sure why this one broke, but if you keep your tracks lubed then there is less load and strain on this part. Just a thought.

 

[Wellcraft19]

If you by "window tracks" mean the "window "guides" I'll take some exception to that, since all type of "lubing" on areas that are exposed to dirt/dust end up being dust collectors and likely worse off than before.

The "guides" on at least the 100 LC is covered in some type of fabric/cloth to reduce friction. I beleive in keeping those as clean as possible.

The window "tracks" (mechanism to lift/lower window) are nicely lubed.

Why this one broke, who knows. It mainly looks like fatigue in the plastic part, but PO could have accidentally hit/dented window one time.

In any case, appreciate everyone's input/comments!

 

[richg]

I second the silicone spray. I have used it on numerous vehicles, including my LC. Spray it on the "rubber" window guides of the window frame that the glass slides within. You can wipe off any excess.

When I first bought my LC 2 years ago with 108K on it, all the windows raised and lowered at different speeds, some very slowly. I sprayed down all the guides of the frame and they have been fine and fast ever since. Never had any issues on any car I did this to with dust or dirt buildup.

rich

 

[Wellcraft19]

Talked to the parts girl. Brackets are part of window, $255.73 - ouch!

Will try to just "fix" it or fabricate a new one out of a piece of aluminum or just sheet metal. Both should work.

And, after sleeping at it and reading mobi-arc comment again;
"it's designed to break away, otherwise the window would shatter",
I thought "I don't care". If the bracket breaks, you've gotta buy a new window anyway...

NMuzj100 added a few links overnight. Thanks! And as noted in "McNeil's Window Clunk", just what my window did, a "clunk".

 

[TXLX470]

What kind of silicone spray did u use. All my windows are going up and down in diffrent speeds two are just sloooooow

 

[100 TD]

I have heard others use graphite powder on there tracks as a dry lube, it's not for me but would work as well.

 

[NMuzj100]

What kind of silicone spray did u use. All my windows are going up and down in different speeds two are just sloooooow

I use this on my antenna, tent zippers ect ... But any brand will do (Napa,CRC)

For the window tracks I like to use Sil-glyde Silicone paste. It's available at Napa or Autozone.

 

[Wellcraft19]

Loose window fixed!

Found a used window bracket at a local glass shop. Took a few with me home and modified the one that seemed to work best. Cost? $0

Tried a number of "ups and downs" with window just "standing" in the slot (i.e. not glued) and it worked just fine. Expected that since it most likely have been very loose, or becoming more and more unglued over the past 4-5 years. Hence, veryl little stress on the front bracket (also evidence in the much beefier design of the rear bracket).

Used silicone to "attach" window pane to new bracket. Actually, put bracket on the regulator first, then put window in, lifted all the way up. Helper (wife) to hold it in up position while I added silicone in the slotted bracket. Carefully lower window, make sure you line up and anchor at rear "lift" point before pushing window all the way down into the glue and front bracket. Doing it this way, you don't have to worry about the actual alignment of the bracket on the window (the bracket BTW is slightly slotted to allow it to move a millimeter or two back and forth - the rear one's fixed).

So, we'll see how long it'll last. Now I at least know how to do it, how easy it is to fix, and I'll keep my eyes out for these small brackets in case the need arise again (cheaper than a new pane...)

Will update with some photos later tonight (dinner time), as well as some photos of inside of door (not many on site). Might help someone down the road.

Only thing now is to re-attach thge plastic door liner (which by the way had some loose spots, but no water damage on inside door panel - even though truck was parked outside one entire (wet) winter a few years ago). Have to find a caulk that does not burn the plastic.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

[cruzerDave]

@Wellcraft19 I'm facing the same thing... did you ever take pics that you might be able to upload? Would be very appreciated

 

[Wellcraft19]

@Wellcraft19 I'm facing the same thing... did you ever take pics that you might be able to upload? Would be very appreciated

It was just during the time I was also putting an addition on the house, so only found a few. New modified bracket to the left, old cracked one (glued together) to the right.

 

[ScubaJon]

I had mine bust too just before I got a windshield replaced. I took it to the glass shop for the windshield with the door panel off and asked if they had any of the attachment brackets to save me a trip to the autoparts store he said he only had generic ones but all they do is hold a bolt to glass so will work fine. He even installed it at no charge with the windshield.