Power window guide cleaning

[bruscreen]

What's the best way to clean and lubricate the window guides?

I'm working on 5316's windows, new regulators and a new drop glass. I've viewed some excellent how-to videos for both, but I've encountered an issue they didn't cover. Even with no regulator installed, my windows do not move easily on the guides. The driver's side guides are smothered in white grease so thick and so old it seems to be hindering more than it helps. I'm hoping there's a trick to getting access to the tracks to clean them up so I don't have to build a two-foot long cotton swab. Reaching into the door and trying to scrub anything sounds like a recipe for pain.

[Rich]

You have at least two options:

1. Add more white grease (lithium grease) to any part of the tracks above and below the window guide and run the window up and down to work it in. Leave the old dirty grease there.
2. Go in with a rag soaked in WD-40 or kerosene and clean the tracks, then go to Step 1.

In either case you know you need to first wrap the inside edges of the sharp, punched apertures in the inner stainless door panel with duct tape or thick electrical tape before you do anything with your hands in there. And leave it there for the next job.

And don't even think about loosening or removing the tracks (for easier cleaning) unless you are having problems with the drop glass mating to the main glass. When the tracks are in a happy place it's best to leave them alone.

[bruscreen]

Thanks for the warning Rich, I was actually starting to think about taking it apart. Had a friend stop by and look it over with me tonight, and it's not as bad as I remembered it. Actually the bigger problem is that my carriers are worn out- the window will move fine if it's in the right spot but it tilts too much to work without someone holding it. Off to buy new carriers and try again.

[DMCMW Dave]

Thanks for the warning Rich, I was actually starting to think about taking it apart. Had a friend stop by and look it over with me tonight, and it's not as bad as I remembered it. Actually the bigger problem is that my carriers are worn out- the window will move fine if it's in the right spot but it tilts too much to work without someone holding it. Off to buy new carriers and try again.

They are not likely worn out. The more likely problem is tha the glass has shifted in the carrier and it will no longer align. The fix is to unglue the glass from the metal carrier, and re-glue it centered between the match-marks on the glass. It's on the forum here somewhere. Here are the pictures of the alignment marks.

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