[KIQ350]

So the other day I took the Targa out for a drive and *tried* to lower the passenger side window. I say *tried* because it only went down a few inches, even though I could hear the window motor doing it's thing. Crap, I thought, the regulator has probably busted. So I reached over, grabbed the top of the window, and helped it down. Then I tried to raise it using the switch, and it went up just fine.

Today I took the door panel off and got a better look at it. The window had popped out of the horizontal u-shaped track along the bottom of the glass where it is attached to the regulator. I pushed it back into the track and it worked fine (window goes up/window goes down)....but only when the door is open.

With the door closed it goes up fine, but every time I try to lower the window it gets a few inches down and doesn't want to continue, but the regulator keeps on going, pulling itself away from the bottom of the window. It's obvious there's some pressure being put on the window when the door is closed, but it's worked fine since I bought the car last summer. The passenger window has always been very slow to raise/lower. I had always thought that the motor was just getting old. However when the door is open (i.e. no pressure from the door against the car) it works great.

I've tried a couple of things to try and get the glass to stay in the bottom channel....such as using a rubber mallet to hammer down (not too hard!) on the top edge of the window glass, and I tried adding a strip of duct tape to the bottom edge of the glass (thinking the channel would have something better to grip on), but nothing has worked.

What keeps the window in that bottom channel?

[HoodPin]

Possible that hinges have maligned just enough that the upper frame exerts pressure on the glass when door is closed. Maybe the hinges can be adjusted.

[flatsixcrazy]

Originally Posted by KIQ350

I've tried a couple of things to try and get the glass to stay in the bottom channel....such as using a rubber mallet to hammer down (not too hard!) on the top edge of the window glass, and I tried adding a strip of duct tape to the bottom edge of the glass (thinking the channel would have something better to grip on), but nothing has worked.

What keeps the window in that bottom channel?

How about some epoxy adhesive? Duct tape is not going to be enought to keep the glass in the U-channel. If you want it to be easier, buy a good condition used glass and replace the loose one.

[Trak Ratt]

Take the other door panel off a watch how it works. Maybe the is something wrong with the lift mech.

[Porsche tech]

If the car is the one in your picture, then the channel you speak of has a u shaped piece of rubber that fits in the metal channel and glues to the bottom of the glass. It'll go up fine because the motor is pushing the channel against the bottom of the glass. Coming down the glass is undoubtedly dragging on the window seal in the back or the window channel in the front. The only "good" repair is to take the glass out of the door, refix the rubber channel to the bottom of the glass and the glass to the metal channel. Then reinstall the glass to the regulator. This will require removing the regulator from the door mountings so that the cross arm wheels can be reinserted into the metal channel. If the metal channel piece is real rusty it's a good idea to replace it and the rubber channel that goes inside it. With the window out of the car, glue the rubber to the bottom of the glass with yellow 3M weatherstrip adhesive and then using the 3M adhesive as a lubricant, push (and it takes a lotta push!) the glass and rubber into the metal channel. The wet adhesive will aid in sliding it into the channel. The Targa channel has a plastic piece on the rear end of it so the lower rear corner of the glass fits right in there. The coupe channel can go pretty much anywhere along the bottom edge of the glass so it's best to mark it before disassembling and cleaning (if you want the window to be able to roll up and down again). The plastic piece on the back of the channel is what rides up and down in the rear window frame. The leading edge slides in a piece of rubber channel in the front window frame. Make sure that rubber channel isn't boogered up and lube it with silicone spray. Sorry for the wordiness.--Dave

[KIQ350]

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm going to go with gluing it back together.

I removed 2 bolts that hold the regulator in place and removed the U channel from the door. The regulator and U channel look to be in pretty good condition and the rollers still have a light coating of grease.

I also removed the front quarter window (lost a washer in the door...d'oh...got to try and fish it out) and inspected the front channel. It's felt from top to bottom and looks to be in pretty good condition. Is there a way to lubricate felt?

Next I'll remove the rubber from the channel and glue it back on the glass, then slide it all back into the channel (with glue) and let it dry overnight. I am NOT looking forward to re-attaching the channel to the regulator.

[Porsche tech]

Howard,
I would use silicone spray on the felt window channel. I have dropped washers down there too and it's not easy to retrieve them. I usually use a magnet while I'm unscrewing the allens in the front to hang onto them (for next time!). Bear in mind you can hook the window switch back up and operate the regulator cross arms to help with the reinstallation. Pressing the channel back on the glass was the part I always dreaded. Sounds like you've got it handled. Nice going!--Dave

[KIQ350]

Turns out there was rust inside the channel that I didn't notice until after peeling out the rubber. I used a stiff wire brush to get all the loose stuff out. Then used the dremel to remove the rust bubbles and cleaned it up. The glass, rubber and channel all went together pretty easily. I was prepared for a struggle but it was no problem at all.

This afternoon I reinstalled the window and attached it to the regulator (also much easier than I thought it would be). Then the quarter window and trim pieces. Took some time to adjust the height and angle (in/out) and it all appears to be working nicely. Window is also moving faster than before.

Thanks for the help.

[hoophead]

When you start getting (bad) rust in the channel, it won't have the same "pinch" that it used to, and the window will just pop out again. I had that happen on my targa and ended up having to buy a new channel. The channel traps water that is running down the window from the outside and it has nowhere to go.

If you just have a few bubbles you should be ok - mine was rusted all the way through in places.