Window regulator permanent fix for stretched cable - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

schoir · 08-09-2010, 08:20 AM

Very, VERY, ingenious!

You should patent this idea!

Thanks for sharing.

Regards, Maurice.

Dave S. · 08-09-2010, 05:50 PM

I can adjust the tension on the window regulator cable now by simply removing my aftermarket door speaker to gain access. Somebody shoulld send this thread to Porsche. Too bad for everyone that they didn't think of it.

gschotland · 08-10-2010, 08:40 PM

Interesting idea, though not terribly convenient. Having to screw around with one adjustment in a rain storm after going through a toll both, for example, would really piss me off. Then again, if I couldn't (or refused to) spring for a new regulator I'd probably be figuring out ways to avoid using toll roads and bridges, because everyone know what a gouge they are.

Dave S. · 08-11-2010, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gschotland

Interesting idea, though not terribly convenient. Having to screw around with one adjustment in a rain storm after going through a toll both, for example, would really piss me off. Then again, if I couldn't (or refused to) spring for a new regulator I'd probably be figuring out ways to avoid using toll roads and bridges, because everyone know what a gouge they are.

The window operates perfectly, like new again. I don't expect to ever have to adjust this again, but just in case, it's now a very easy task. I suspect that if the cable stretches more, I'll have to bite the bullet and replace the regulator. It will be interesting to see how permanent the fix really is. For the time being I'm very happy with the way it worked out. Took less than an hour total time to do it, and I got the adjuster barrel for free from a friend who's into bicycles, so not much of an investment.
Oh, and I'm not poor, just frugal ( - and not crazy frugal or I wouldn't own a Boxster in the first place). I thought I'd pass along this tip because of the huge number of these that fail early in the life of our Boxsters - mine had 20,000 miles on it. Why throw away $140-$200 when you don't need to, only to buy the same crappy part that will fail again in 20,000 miles?

demick · 08-11-2010, 07:34 AM

I think that's a great mod Dave. Very clever and simple. Thanks for posting!

ilikeching · 10-16-2013, 02:38 PM

Thanks Dave S for sharing this tip.
used the bikecycle cable adjustment and it worked out fine, and i'll hope this will stay for a while...

ilikeching · 06-23-2014, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilikeching

Thanks Dave S for sharing this tip.
used the bikecycle cable adjustment and it worked out fine, and i'll hope this will stay for a while...

It still works fine after six month last post.....

ppbon · 08-11-2010, 03:34 PM

... stretch.
There's a plastic guide inside the regulator that breaks (with age) and lets the cable have a bit of slack.
That's why people tend to think that the cable has stretched.
I love your inventiveness.
I had done something similar with a ferrule cut to size, but it was not adjustable and it moved a bit.
Thanks for sharing your solution.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave S.

I suspect that if the cable stretches more, I'll have to bite the bullet and replace the regulator.

Dave S. · 08-11-2010, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppbon

... stretch.
There's a plastic guide inside the regulator that breaks (with age) and lets the cable have a bit of slack.
That's why people tend to think that the cable has stretched.
I love your inventiveness.
I had done something similar with a ferrule cut to size, but it was not adjustable and it moved a bit.
Thanks for sharing your solution.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

Now that makes a lot of sense as it seemed pretty odd to me that the cable would have actually stretched. I have only seen a couple of pictures of the regulator removed from the door. Any chance you might have an illustration where the plastic guide that fails is located? I'd like to learn more about the failure mode.

Dave S. · 09-15-2011, 07:12 PM

I've received a few PMs regarding this mod. Just thought I'd post that a year later (4k miles) it still is working fine. Admittedly I only drive the car on nice days, usually on the weekends, so it doesn't get that much use. My wife is usually with me, so the passenger door gets almost as much use as the driver's door.
I have never been back into the door, so no adjustments have been required and it still works like the day I did this fix.
I think ppbon is correct that the cable never stretched as I orginally thought. His post regarding a plastic guide that breaks causes the excessive slack in the window regulator seems right on the money. I wish I could change the title of this thread to read, "Permanent fix for window not dropping when door opens".

Dave S.

cesarpeji · 05-14-2018, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppbon

... stretch.
There's a plastic guide inside the regulator that breaks (with age) and lets the cable have a bit of slack.
That's why people tend to think that the cable has stretched.
I love your inventiveness.
I had done something similar with a ferrule cut to size, but it was not adjustable and it moved a bit.
Thanks for sharing your solution.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

Hello Pedro - this is out of topic but just have a question and need your input.
I leaving the country for 3 months, I thinking to drain some oil maybe 2 quarts from my boxster so the IMS bearing was not submerged in oil, then When I get it back will add the the oil again. Maybe you have some input. Is it bad for engine to be low on oil when not driving/using it anyway. Just to save the IMS bearing of engine oil/acid that might/will penetrate in there. thank you for your input.

sb01box · 07-24-2013, 06:49 PM

Just did the same on the passenger size window. Great DIY
Thanks
this is what I ended up doing.
when the window was up all the way, the slack in the cable was half an inch or more and the cable can be seen. but all the green end pieces were fine. so the pulley grove must be worn.
by removing the hair clip like pin by the motor drive, I was able to take the green end piece off and take the cable out of the pulley using the notch cut out on the pulley fence. (used photo from member bar10dah's entry in this thread)
purchased a bicycle adjuster with 1/4 inch barrel and similar size thread.
filed off roughly 50% of the thread and with light application of Teflon oil, threaded the adjuster into the green piece.
placed the green end (with the adjuster attached) into the window regulator and while compressing the spring by the motor, routed the cable back onto the pulley.
put back the pin by the motor and then adjusted the adjuster.
I did not have to take the regulator out of the door.
cable tie solution seems to be problematic in that the green piece would no longer sit flat onto the housing and on the motor end, would extend the spring-loaded plunger too far out of the cylinder.

heavyevy · 05-09-2013, 11:07 AM

Maurice,

Nice to know you are still helping 986 owners out. Followed you on Petes forum. My 1998 boxster was in storage for a couple of years. been changing out oil etc. Still have pax window down will not go up switch out drivers with pax switch. No go. 40,000 miles on car now engine lite on changed fuel cap still on.
Can you help out?