rear window regulators

[powder blue baby]

the passenger side rear window regulator broke and was replaced 2 weeks ago

tonight the driver side just broke the same way. window wouldnt close, but i caught it and pushed it close, so at least the car is closed and secure

so the $$ and time to have sent it to the garage 2 weeks ago, i have to do again.

why does it happen like this. i've had the car 3 yrs, and it's a 2003 New Beetle convertible, 90,000 miles, and they both go in the same month.

car runs great. i've replaced timing belt, gearbox valve body, but otherwise nothing expensive in the past 3 yrs.

haha

thanks for reading.

[sandybeach1007]

Hey there, I just read your post and I have the same issue, only so far it's the driver side rear window. It's stuck down. After much research, I am disappointed to have to admit that I should NOT have bought a VW. The windows regulators will repeatedly fail. I suggest if you get it fixed, don't roll them down anymore. I know that sounds ridiculous, but so is the cost of fixing the stupid windows. Since then, my convertible top has also malfunctioned and a rivot has broken in the back right hand side.

[BeetleMyHeart]

Both of our regulators on the rear windows broke under warranty. Apparently the new parts kits for the regulators to fix them include updated parts to keep it from happening again. 2 years late with lots of rolling up and down and they function perfectly. Food for thought.

[Photobug]

Seem that once repaired they are good for a while. I saw many retrofit kits on the web and '' upgrades '' Be nice the read the VW technical bulletin on this issue. I am alos looking to see of any extended warantee as been issued by VW true the APA in Quebec.

The windows on my NBC are good so far. Mind you on my NBC I allways open the door so that the window as a chance to go down a bit before opening it all the way. I was told to do that.

I was wondering what kind of damage or effect this would dhave if opening the door and rubbing against the roof avery time ?

[Photobug]

For what is worth. Found on internet.

Check this:

REF: Window Regulator Suit Settlement - My VW Lemon Bulletin Board

TSB #:6402-03
Date Issued: SEP 02
Problem: Body - Door Window Regulator Inoperative

The site is:
Automotive Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins for 1998 Volkswagen Beetle L4-2.0L (AEG). Provided by ALLDATA

You can also contact VW of America and ask. Their website and contact info can be found at the following link:
http://www.vw.com/VwSFB/index

[its_rosie]

I have a 2003 VW New Beetle Convertible and the regulators fail every few months. I have spent my entire savings on this lemon, and trying to fight VW of America (and Pasadena Volkswagen) is worthless.

[pencilneck]

Design flaw IMHO. The cables are too short and thus under a LOT of tension. There are 3 guides for the glass, the middle one has a stud that sticks up and a diamond shape plastic piece fitted over it. There are 2 cables hooked into the plastic piece and are always trying to pull apart from the plastic piece. Due to the amount of stress on this plastic piece, it will fail sooner or later and that is when the rear window has the issues. At first, VW didn't offer a kit, one had to replace the entire regulator. But now VW does offer just a cable kit to repair the rear window regulators, much cheaper.

There can be a partial failure in which the both of the cables are still hooked into the plastic piece, but the plastic piece gets turned some and no longer is able to move upward without hitting a bracket, binding and causing the pinch protection to activate when the window is about half way up. With this kind of failure, I would only replace the broken plastic piece and reuse the original cables since they will not be damaged.

If you hear the crunching noise when trying to roll the window up or down, then one of the cables has pulled out of the plastic allowing a bunch of slack in the cables, and they would jump out of position on a pulley driven by the motor and chew each other up. With this, you have to use the whole cable kit.

The plastic piece that fails can only be purchased as part of the cable kit.

The class action lawsuit about the mk4 window regulators mentioned above has nothing at all to do with the Convertible Beetle.