Power Window Motor/regulator Replacement

[trygve]

I'm in the process of replacing the power window motor/regulator on my '98 Boxster. I got used replacement parts from a salvage place for less than half the cost of new parts. After taking the door panel off and getting the window glass out, I took out the old machinery and prepared to put the new ones on. The used parts came together -- motor/regulator as one unit.

But it seems like the new regulator is about 6" too short on the cable length. There's just no way I can get the cable to thread around all 4 pulley wheels at the rail ends. Any 3 are OK, but then there's not enough length in the cable to reach the 4th pulley, by quite a bit. I can see that the two springs next to the motor compress an inch or so each, but that's not enough slack.

I figured out how to separate the motor and regulator, and verified that my old motor is fine (plugged it in and ran it), and that it's just that a plastic part on the regulator broke and caused the cabling to get tangled up and damaged inside the cable housing. So fortunately I should be able to just buy a new regulator (without a new motor) if I can't get this regulator cable to reach.

Any suggestions on how to get the cable to reach? I'm thinking maybe there's a trick to it. I looked inside the new regulator's cable housing and it looks pristine and neat, so I don't see how there would be more cable length/slack from it. I guess if you've done this you can picture what I'm talking about, if not then this will make no sense! Anyway, I'm stumped.

Thanks,

Trygve

[TimR]

I am having the same problem with my 1999 Boxster. Shop diagnosed it as a bad window regulator, and wants $580 to repair. Do you have any tips or suggestions for me because I am going to attempt replacing it on my own? I found a DYI on removing the door panel which was excellent.

[pifcat2]

found this: http://www.bombaydigital.com/boxster/projects/window/