Passenger Window Making Strange Noise
 

Out of the blue this just started. The passenger side only is making a hell of a crackling squeal going up and down. I've only lowered and raised twice since it started. I was afraid something is about to break.

Before I take door panel off to diagnose just wondering if this is common.

Yep. Basically it's slack in the cable, seems to happen most commonly on the passenger side. You can either replace it with a new regulator, a used regulator (from Woody, like I did), or use a bicycle cable adjuster to add tension.

If it still opens and closes and especially clears the seal when you pull the handle and it drops two inches the regulator might not be broken but may need some lithium grease on the tracks. Could be worth doing that before you throw money at it.

I have had the cables come off of the pulleys and wedge between the pulley and the frame. It sounds horrid. Don't use it or you will shred the cable. Search for the bike cable adjuster. It is a bit of a job but doable. You need torx bits for a couple of screws. Be careful if you have door airbags.

Underneathe the door are 4 rubber plugs. Take the plugs out and you will see 2 pulleys with a wire going around them. Squirt oil or wd40 at the pulley bearing. Move the window up a bit and repeat. Try to oil or grease anything that moves in there.

I had that horrible grinding scratching and i took apart the door thinking i hD to replace the regulator. Once i saw themechanism was just dry i oiled it and put it back together and it was fine. When the other window started up i just lubricated it from the plugs. 15 minute fix.

I recently had that happen.
The cable had come off the pulley in the window mechanism.

I ended up opening the window motor spool and found that to be the source of the slack.

The cable end swag seemed to have worked its way free of its intended stop and allowed some slack, which resulted in a derailing of the cable.

I restrung the cable on the motor spool and it was all tight again and operational.

Cost, a couple hours of tinkering only.

I like this idea!