Convertible window jumping track

[PVRed90]

The driver side window on my 1990 convertible is jumping out its track when the window is rolled down. I have removed the inside door panel and have the window rolled up in the track but cannot see how I can adjust anything. I must pull in on the top of the window as I roll it up to keep it in the track. If I don't the window jumps out of the track and plastic track gets folded over and I surely don't want to break it.

Any ideas what I need to do? I thought a local body shop may be able to adjust the window for an hours labor.

[NCReatta]

If you take a look at the window itself (not the vent glass), you'll see that it has a plastic piece bonded onto it on the inside. This is the piece that holds the window in the track on the vent glass.

If that plastic piece has become slightly unbound from the glass, the window will pop out of the track. Check the bond there, and I'm willing to bet it's coming loose.

You may be able to fix it by using a high strength adhesive, but normally, I just find it better just to replace the window as a whole.

If you do decide to go the window replacing route, I have several good windows ready to ship.

Good luck!

[PVRed90]

The plastic frame piece is still solidly bonded to the window. I ended up taking out the window frame and inserting it back on to the window so the the tab at the bottom of the frame ran in the track. It appears to be working fine. I can't see how the window came out of the track in the first place.

I felt so good about the repair I washed the car and it is now ready to show.

[Barney Eaton]

Good detective work..... if the bottom guide is broken or out of the track....... the top will be in a bind and do what it was doing. Sometimes the window will get out of parallel, bind and not roll all the way up.

[CMJAnew]

The plastic frame piece is still solidly bonded to the window. I ended up taking out the window frame and inserting it back on to the window so the the tab at the bottom of the frame ran in the track. It appears to be working fine. I can't see how the window came out of the track in the first place.

I felt so good about the repair I washed the car and it is now ready to show.

I'm having the exact same issue and the bonded portion seems to be intact. I have the door panel and speaker removed but am at a loss as to the next step.

I see the body bolts at the bottom, and the small screw at the top of the plastic track. Is this what you removed? If so (or even if not) can you give a detailed, step by step, description of the procedure you used to correct the problem

Others are certainly welcome to give input as well

Edited May 27, 2012 by CMJAnew (see edit history)

[PVRed90]

CHJAnew. I would be happy to document the steps for you but I am out of town for the holiday weekend. The car is home in the garage and I really need to look at it while going back through my steps. I will try to send you something later this week. PV

[Ronnie]

CHJAnew. I would be happy to document the steps for you but I am out of town for the holiday weekend. The car is home in the garage and I really need to look at it while going back through my steps. I will try to send you something later this week. PV

Please post the steps here. It will help everyone who needs to do the same.

[CMJAnew]

That will be great. Mine is due for inspection in June anyway. If its over my head, I'll give the instructions to my mechanic.

[PVRed90]

I must say I am not a mechanic so take this for what its is worth. To the best of my recollection these are the steps I followed. Good Luck

The window frame on the convertible is one piece that includes the triangular vent glass with the mirror. I call it a vent window but it really doesn’t open. This assembly is attached to the door in three places. Here are the steps I followed for removing the frame then reinstalling it correctly

Disassemble steps

Step 0. You say you have the door panel off but didn’t say anything about the frame & rubber gasket that runs along the top of the door. The frame is where the door inner door panel slipped. Remove the frame & rubber gasket. This will make it easier to look down inside the door and remove the window frame.

Step 1 Unattach lower of frame from door

It sound like you found the first place which the frame is attached through a hole near the bottom of the door where you removed the speaker. I not only unattached the frame from the door but I also unattached the bracket from the window frame so I could maneuver the frame more easily once it was completely unattached from the door.

Step 2 Unattach right side of frame from door

As you are sitting in the driver seat, with the door open, there are two bolts in the door body holding the far right of the at tip of the triangular vent window. Those two bolts need to be removed. There is also a rubber boot at the far right with two screws through the boot. I removed both screws and the boot.

Step 3 Unattach window frame from door in area of mirror

Before starting this step I suggest you follow the bundle of wires for the side view mirror motor control to the plug and unplug the mirror from the car.

As you are sitting in the driver seat, as you are looking at the door in the area where the side view mirror is mounted on the door, there are bolts holding the window frame to the door. Remove these bolts.

At this point I believe the window frame should be loose so you can take all the way out of the door. You may need to turn it in various directions to get it out.

If you look closely at the frame you just removed you will see at the very bottom of the track that there is a tab in the (female) channel. Then if you look down into the door at bottom of the plastic piece bonded to the window glass you will see how the male piece would slip into the channel and hold it in track. Note: If either the plastic track on the frame or the piece bonded to the window appear broken then they will need to be replaced. In my case both were intact.

Step 4. I my case the channel that the window runs in had become folded over about half way up the frame. Before reinstalling the frame I folded it back as best I could.

Step 5. Slip the frame back into the door. Get the male and female tabs hooked together before lining then up the length of the window.

Step 6: Reattach the frame to the door starting with the lower bracket making sure the window stays in track as you tighten all the bolts.

Step 7: Reinstall the channel and rubber gasket at the top of the door.

Don’t forget to plug in the side view mirror wiring.

Before I reinstalled the speakers and door panel I greased the tracks and rollers inside the door with whit lithium grease.

[CMJAnew]

Thanks.

Now the lawn may have to wait.

[CMJAnew]

When reinstalling the vent frame/tracking, what position did you have the window.

If I put the window into the frame while UP I can't get the frame back into position.

If I put the frame back into the door (without attaching hardware) I can't get the window back in the frame.

I know I'm missing something here -- common sense maybe?

[CMJAnew]

After stepping away for a while.....I was able to get 'back on track'. We are good to go -- for now at least.

Thanks Again for the help.

[PVRed90]

How did it go? Were you successful?

[CMJAnew]

It did work, thank you. I rolled it up and down a few times, but haven't had the car out since the repair.

[CMJAnew]

After about a week my window jumped the track again. This time when I reinstalled it, I also noticed a slight groove in the center stop where the window would come to rest. Also the track seemed 'sharp' at the bottom, as if it was broken. Anyway, I attached a piece of slit open rubber hose to the stop (about 3/16 thick). Its been working fine for about three weeks.