Screeching window....please help!!

rgtly · 30th October 2014, 08:46

Hi all,

I am having problems with the drivers door window on my ZTT. It started happening a bit last winter, was fine over the warm summer but now the temperature has dropped a bit it has started again....but worse!!

The window screeches very loudly when it reaches @3/4 of the way up and then often stops. I then have to inch it up with the button while ignoring the dreadful sound (and avoiding the strange looks from anybody within earshot!!). Obviously I am worried about burning the motor out and the window is now getting badly scratched so I really need to sort it out.

I have tried cleaning all around the window runners and applying silicon on the rubber but the area with the scratches is near the rear of the window and I cannot clean this section properly as the window never drops low enough to really get anything in there!

Can anybody give me any pointers on what to do next? Bearing in mind that I am not car savvy so ideally I need a dummies guide with pictures

Many thanks

Heddy · 30th October 2014, 08:49

Living on the coast mine get salt all over them. Silicone worked for me but I removed the door card and cleaned/sprayed quite liberally.

Leyland Worldmaster · 30th October 2014, 08:51

It is caused by swarf; grit and dirt getting between the glass and the stiff rubber seal at the base of the window. I used to get an old toothbrush and thoroughly brush this area out and hose the remainder away with a sprayer. It's not unknown for some windows to be scratched. Also lubricate your window channels with silicone spray. Hope that is of some help!

whitevanman · 30th October 2014, 08:55

Have you run a knife along the inside of the bottom rubber? If not open the window fully take a standard kitchen knife and use it like a scraper along the inside face of the bottom rubber, especially along the front by the mirror.

Better if it's wet as then the crud coming off will stick to the knife and not fall in the door onto the glass, do short 2" bits for the same reason, wiping off the crud..Be gentle at first then do it again not so gentle etc.etc. You'd be amazed at the amount of crud that you'll get out..

Serrated edge knives (Not steak type!!) seemed to work better on ours.

However I would be surprised if the crud is the cause of your opening/closing problem but you never know.

rgtly · 30th October 2014, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitevanman

Have you run a knife along the inside of the bottom rubber? If not open the window fully take a standard kitchen knife and use it like a scraper along the inside face of the bottom rubber, especially along the front by the mirror.

Better if it's wet as then the crud coming off will stick to the knife and not fall in the door onto the glass, do short 2" bits for the same reason, wiping off the crud..Be gentle at first then do it again not so gentle etc.etc. You'd be amazed at the amount of crud that you'll get out..

Serrated edge knives (Not steak type!!) seemed to work better on ours.

However I would be surprised if the crud is the cause of your opening/closing problem but you never know.

I haven't tried this but sounds like a good plan!!

As I said I have previously tried cleaning the channels and tried silicon spray but I wasn't sure how hard to poke/scrub or how liberal to be with the spray. Maybe I was just being too gentle with it

I shall get out with a knife and a little brush this weekend and see if I can finally sort it out. Thank you all so much for your input

Rev Jules · 30th October 2014, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgtly

I haven't tried this but sounds like a good plan!!

As I said I have previously tried cleaning the channels and tried silicon spray but I wasn't sure how hard to poke/scrub or how liberal to be with the spray. Maybe I was just being too gentle with it

I shall get out with a knife and a little brush this weekend and see if I can finally sort it out. Thank you all so much for your input

Have you tried a long thin handled bottle brush.

Julien

rgtly · 30th October 2014, 13:05

Ok, so I managed to get hold of a small nylon brush, ran it along the bottom channel quite a few times and cleared quite a lot of black scum, wiped everything down and now my window comes to a screeching halt approx 1 inch from the top and will no longer close at all

The motor is just refusing to budge it beyond this point.

So now what? Do I just need to keep cleaning and hope that it will eventually come good or is it possible that something else is going on?

Fingers crossed it doesn't rain any time soon!!

mbrenn · 30th October 2014, 13:46

As already mentioned ,get a can of silicon lubricant spray - worked for me, same problem, stopping an inch from the top!

rgtly · 30th October 2014, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbrenn

As already mentioned ,get a can of silicon lubricant spray - worked for me, same problem, stopping an inch from the top!

Thank you

I have a can at home that I have used in the past but maybe I haven't been generous enough with it! I will will give it another clean and a good dowsing of silicon spray tonight. I just hope I can encourage the window to close. Right now it is a no go and sounds dreadful

rgtly · 30th October 2014, 17:41

So I have scrubbed, scraped and siliconed it to death but it is still screeching and I still can't close the window

Am just going to have to hope that we don't get any rain (none forecast!) and that nobody takes advantage of the reduced security overnight and try to get a garage to look at it tomorrow. Really don't know what else to try

Thank you to those that have helped with suggestions

30th October 2014, 08:46	#1
rgtly Loves to post MG ZT-T+ 190 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Eastleigh Posts: 337 Thanks: 50 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Screeching window....please help!! Hi all, I am having problems with the drivers door window on my ZTT. It started happening a bit last winter, was fine over the warm summer but now the temperature has dropped a bit it has started again....but worse!! The window screeches very loudly when it reaches @3/4 of the way up and then often stops. I then have to inch it up with the button while ignoring the dreadful sound (and avoiding the strange looks from anybody within earshot!!). Obviously I am worried about burning the motor out and the window is now getting badly scratched so I really need to sort it out. I have tried cleaning all around the window runners and applying silicon on the rubber but the area with the scratches is near the rear of the window and I cannot clean this section properly as the window never drops low enough to really get anything in there! Can anybody give me any pointers on what to do next? Bearing in mind that I am not car savvy so ideally I need a dummies guide with pictures Many thanks

30th October 2014, 08:51	#3
Leyland Worldmaster This is my second home Audi A2 1.4TDI Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Avec the Penguins! Posts: 11,469 Thanks: 3,355 Thanked 1,622 Times in 1,057 Posts	It is caused by swarf; grit and dirt getting between the glass and the stiff rubber seal at the base of the window. I used to get an old toothbrush and thoroughly brush this area out and hose the remainder away with a sprayer. It's not unknown for some windows to be scratched. Also lubricate your window channels with silicone spray. Hope that is of some help! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] 🏓

30th October 2014, 08:55	#4
whitevanman This is my second home 2001 Connie SE CDT, 2002 2.0Petrol Laguna SportHatch Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Althorne Posts: 3,122 Thanks: 319 Thanked 441 Times in 318 Posts	Have you run a knife along the inside of the bottom rubber? If not open the window fully take a standard kitchen knife and use it like a scraper along the inside face of the bottom rubber, especially along the front by the mirror. Better if it's wet as then the crud coming off will stick to the knife and not fall in the door onto the glass, do short 2" bits for the same reason, wiping off the crud..Be gentle at first then do it again not so gentle etc.etc. You'd be amazed at the amount of crud that you'll get out.. Serrated edge knives (Not steak type!!) seemed to work better on ours. However I would be surprised if the crud is the cause of your opening/closing problem but you never know. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Today the 23rd of April I will mostly be: Kids, bikes, dog, kids, bikes, dog...Seems to be a pattern forming here Car: Connie SE CDT Manual, Mods: O-Rings, Silicon intercooler hose, Stainless EGR Bypass, BMW PCV Mod, 160 Upgrade, DD Unit, Projector Headlights, Powerflex Bottom Mount, Remote Clutch reservoir, SS Compensator; Inline Stat To Come: cat gut (when replacing iffy section). Meteors after refurb..

30th October 2014, 13:05	#7
rgtly Loves to post MG ZT-T+ 190 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Eastleigh Posts: 337 Thanks: 50 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Oh 'eck!! Ok, so I managed to get hold of a small nylon brush, ran it along the bottom channel quite a few times and cleared quite a lot of black scum, wiped everything down and now my window comes to a screeching halt approx 1 inch from the top and will no longer close at all The motor is just refusing to budge it beyond this point. So now what? Do I just need to keep cleaning and hope that it will eventually come good or is it possible that something else is going on? Fingers crossed it doesn't rain any time soon!!

30th October 2014, 08:49	#2
Heddy This is my second home None Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: None Posts: 5,556 Thanks: 465 Thanked 1,161 Times in 924 Posts	Living on the coast mine get salt all over them. Silicone worked for me but I removed the door card and cleaned/sprayed quite liberally.

30th October 2014, 13:46	#8
mbrenn Loves to post Rover 75 Saloons Conn SE 2.0L V6 (2001) & Conn 2.0L CDTi (2003) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dungannon Posts: 489 Thanks: 109 Thanked 110 Times in 100 Posts	As already mentioned ,get a can of silicon lubricant spray - worked for me, same problem, stopping an inch from the top!

30th October 2014, 17:41	#10
rgtly Loves to post MG ZT-T+ 190 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Eastleigh Posts: 337 Thanks: 50 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	So I have scrubbed, scraped and siliconed it to death but it is still screeching and I still can't close the window Am just going to have to hope that we don't get any rain (none forecast!) and that nobody takes advantage of the reduced security overnight and try to get a garage to look at it tomorrow. Really don't know what else to try Thank you to those that have helped with suggestions