X1997J

I have replaced the driverside window regulator on my 2003 WJ about a year ago and yesterday it broke again as i was rolling the window up. Is there a reason why it broke so soon? I have also had this happen to one of my rear windows to. Thanks.

Noah911

There is probably not any real good reason? I haven't had the problem, but I have heard that Jeep uses crummy window regulators that they just don't hold up in these vehicles. I was warned about it when I first got my WJ by a mechanic friend of mine.

dave1123

First of all, trying to move it when it's frozen in the track is a sure killer. Then there's the tiny roller wheel the cable rides on and the plastic gears in the drive housing. Yeah, it's a cheap unit to begin with. The only one of mine that HASN'T broken is the rear driver's one. I still have a couple of drive motors that are fine.

Somewhere on this forum is a post where some guy replaced that roller wheel with one from a curtain rod unit parts bin in the hardware store!

X1997J

Sounds interesting, I'll have to search for that.

Noah911

You don't have search far. Scroll down.. just below, and click on the thread titled "Has anyone made their own window regulator repair..." Click on that. A few posts in there is a guy who wrote a technical how-to using I believe $1.00 cotter pins. (Post #16)

X1997J

Looks like this is for a XJ not a WJ. Does it matter?

dave1123

Yes. The XJ uses a spiral wound cable to drive the glass up and down. The WJ uses a continuous cable wound around a drum that's geared to the motor. Totally different designs. IDK what the ZJ uses.

X1997J

I'll just have to pull mine out and see if I can save it.

Noah911

Take pictures. That way you can do a write-up on how to successfully save a window regulators life for us!