Window regulator permanent fix for stretched cable

[Dave S.]

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.]

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.

[Jager]

Yes this does work, I did this to my driver's side regulator cable and it's holding-up fine. Although if I rememeber correctly I used tie wraps on just one end of the cable (one location).

[AndyA6]

Just one more example / reason I love this site so much!!

[jcb986]

Yes, the ties work amazingly. Mine was the one in front of door bottom. Works fine again. I give ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For this .05 cent repair.

[shadrach74]

Dave,

Any idea what the cable size is for this DIY. I suspect it's 8mm, but want to be sure!

Thanks!

[Dave S.]

Originally Posted by shadrach74

Dave,

Any idea what the cable size is for this DIY. I suspect it's 8mm, but want to be sure!

Thanks!

Sorry, I do not know what size it is. I was able to get an assortment of those cable adjusters from a bicycle mechanic friend of mine and I just picked the one that fit best. If you figure out what size works best, please post that in this thread.