Ongoing 'fix-it' stuff. When I got the car the drivers side window was almost impossible to raise or lower and the passenger door would refuse to open from the outer handle often. Also the dome light wasn't working. The drivers window was first priority as I have to physically hand my ID to the Gate Guard here on base when ever I come in. So, I popped the door panel lose enough to get a good shot at the window mechanism with penetrating oil and i also gave the door latch mechanism a dowsing. Window works fine now. Passenger door got the same treatment and I discovered that it is easier to get the panel off if you take the top strip off first . Door handle now opens the door. The dome lite seemed to be more of a challenge. I unscrewed from the roof...only one screw was present...I then took the whole switch assembly inside and cleaned the contacts with rubbing alcohol. The light bulb itself did not appear to be blown but when I tried to remove it it almost disintegrated. A trip to the O'Reillys for a new light bulb and then I reinstalled the housing and added the 3 missing screws. The light now works.
I apologize if this stuff seems simplistic to a lot of you. As a woman with limited mechanical experience and not used to working on cars these 'simple' fixes are really cool to me. Oh...and I did break a nail getting the drivers door panel loose.
good to hear...my drivers side...well all my windows are hell to crank.
so all you done was take loose the panel and spray the regulator and crank assembly with lube and it fixed it?
Listen - we all learn from each other. There are a LOT of mechanically innocent men out there - two of them are my sons-in-law...you wouldn't believe how...
I liked your note about finding how it easier to remove the trim strip first - we have a FSM
I would also clean the clean the channels with denatured alcohol (spend time on this, as there are 25 years-worth of detritus) - then spray with silicone. Also slather the gears and rods with grease.
As long as the panel is off, vac the inside bottom of the door shell and unplug the drain holes. They will be plugged. Use an inspection mirror and flashlight to check - hard to see. Then spray the inside of the shell with silicone until it drips out the bottom.
Something I always enjoy is "I fixed it and it still works!"
Tom M.
T4WD augury?
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit." T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates." Mark Twain
ARCHINSTL wrote:Listen - we all learn from each other. There are a LOT of mechanically innocent men out there - two of them are my sons-in-law...you wouldn't believe how...
I liked your note about finding how it easier to remove the trim strip first - we have a FSM
I would also clean the clean the channels with denatured alcohol (spend time on this, as there are 25 years-worth of detritus) - then spray with silicone. Also slather the gears and rods with grease.
As long as the panel is off, vac the bottom of the door shell and unplug the drain holes. They will be plugged. Use an inspection mirror to check - hard to see. Then spray the inside of the shell with silicone until it drips out the bottom.
Something I always enjoy is "I fixed it and it still works!"
Tom M.
OK, I didn't take the panel completely off. Couldn't see how to take the window crank off so I worked around it and just squirted oil on the window mechanism itself. I guess I have to admit that I think the FSM is written for someone who knows something in the first place. All I see is what looks to me like greek ...take the Oftcranzde and remediate it waftwise towards roblatze until it frunks. Then haveing previously repudiated your fribill, uncork the jabits and crank furiously.
ebayollis wrote:good to hear...my drivers side...well all my windows are hell to crank.
so all you done was take loose the panel and spray the regulator and crank assembly with lube and it fixed it?
Yes, the window required all my strength and I was afraid the handle would break. It now feels almost new. A really simple fix apart from the lost nail.
getting the window crank off
use a thin fabric like a worn out shirt or bed sheet
take a strip of the fabric and use it between the door panel and the crank
it will slip down in behind the crank
pull the fabric around till it snags the protruting ends of the clip
that will pull the clip free
Love those Tercell 4x4 wagons but they sure suffer from road noise.
What he said...
Look at pages BO-3 and 4 of the FSM. Note the position of the clip to the handle - same on all handles - otherwise it can be frustrating.
Use a thin putty knife to work around the panel clips to "pop" them away from the steel - work carefully... Note that there are a couple of screws that can be mighty tight to remove without stripping (or cursing too much). The o/s mirror does NOT have to be removed to remove the panel, though, like the FSM shows.
Tom M.
T4WD augury?
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit." T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates." Mark Twain
Ok, maybe....how hard is it to get the clip back on? You guys and the FSM...I need a guide to car care for idiots. I had one similarly titled for a old subaru that I had and even that got too technical at times. The people that write them assume there is a knowledge level that isn't always in place. Invariably I wind up 'winging it' and sometimes that doesn't work out so well.
[quote="Bluebelles Mom"]Ok, maybe....how hard is it to get the clip back on? =quote]
i think you can install the clip to the handle and pop the handle on with the palm of your hand. (but i have not tried it)
i usually get the clip so its barely on the handle then slide it over the shaft and use a thin screwdriver to push the clip til it snaps in place then push the handle the rest of the way on
Love those Tercell 4x4 wagons but they sure suffer from road noise.
Bluebelles Mom wrote:Ok, maybe....how hard is it to get the clip back on? =quote]
i think you can install the clip to the handle and pop the handle on with the palm of your hand. (but i have not tried it)
i usually get the clip so its barely on the handle then slide it over the shaft and use a thin screwdriver to push the clip til it snaps in place then push the handle the rest of the way on
OK, that sounds do-able. I will take a stab at it if the window starts sticking again, I am sure it probably needs the extra attention described above. Thanks.
Yes you can put the window riser handle back on with the clip completely in place- It makes it easier to put the crank where you want it when the window is closed, so use the crank without the clip while working on the riser assembly, then put the clip back on when you're done, and you 're DONE!
'83 SR5-299K, -tRusty!
'85 SR5-265K--GOLD
'85 SR5-285K-- GOLD-New engine!
'85 SR5-238K -- Teal-Killed by a DD
'58 and '62 Austin-Healey Sprites
BB's mom, don't worry. i totally agree with you about some of the language used in the FSM. once you learn the terms it all makes sense but it takes a while, for sure.
also, i too really enjoy the little fixes. one thing i HATE is burnt out lights. i see so many drivers with brake, running, and indicator lights out, and i wonder how they can be unaware and why they wouldn't fix such a cheap, easy thing that can save you the headache of getting pulled over by the cops or worse, cause an accident.
. Door handle now opens the door. The dome lite seemed to be more of a challenge. I unscrewed from the roof...only one screw was present...I then took the whole switch assembly inside and cleaned the contacts with rubbing alcohol. The light bulb itself did not appear to be blown but when I tried to remove it it almost disintegrated. A trip to the O'Reillys for a new light bulb and then I reinstalled the housing and added the 3 missing screws. The light now works.
I guess I have to admit that I think the FSM is written for someone who knows something in the first place. All I see is what looks to me like greek ...take the Oftcranzde and remediate it waftwise towards roblatze until it frunks. Then haveing previously repudiated your fribill, uncork the jabits and crank furiously.
You guys and the FSM...I need a guide to car care for idiots. I had one similarly titled for a old subaru that I had and even that got too technical at times. The people that write them assume there is a knowledge level that isn't always in place. Invariably I wind up 'winging it' and sometimes that doesn't work out so well.
