Replacing NA window cables - a pig of a job but doable

[Uncle Arthur]

Just completed a job that has needed doing for a couple of years now.

NA window cables can be replaced with the window frame insitu - a pig of a job but doable.

Replacement cables are available as a Mazda part.

Remove door trim.

Remove door latch.

Undo three nut heads holding motor to door.

Cut the existing cable/s somewhere along its length to allow removal of the motor, and then remove the remainder of the cables from within the door.

The new cables can be rewound onto the winder motor spool - the white spool simply pulls out with a little bit of levering with a blade screwdriver. Once you pull it apart it is easy to see how the cables go back in - the new cables have to go through the motor housing before going on the spool - install the spool so that the cables wrap AWAY from where they exit the winder - 2.5 turns each way, and hold them tight outside the motor and reinstall the spool. Grease and replace the cover.

Installation of the cables is a reverse of disassembly. It is possible (but finicky, even with small hands) to reinstall the cable lugs into the winder. Install both cable ends into the winder frame white-plastic-end-thingy together, before trying to reroute the cables. I found it easier to install the wind-down (longer) cable first - the cable wraps around a pulley at the base of the window slider.

The upper cable was a bit tricky - pulling the window up as hard as I could, and using a set of circlip pliers to pull the cable over and around the upper pulley (it makes sense when you see it) gave me just enough slack to get to all fit back home.

The pictures and write up here gave me a better idea of what I was dealing with.

Replacing both driver's side cables cost me $95.00, about 6 hours (including non-destructive trial and error), a little bit of swearing, some black door goop under my fingernails, and best of all - no blood.

[broady]

Out of interest UA, how many kay's on your car? How long till these *should* be replaced?

Mine seem to be fine... What made you think you needed to replace them but not bad enough to leave it for 2 years?

[Uncle Arthur]

Basically - replace them when they break.

I left it for 2 years because:

1. I had heard it is a pig of a job to replace the window cables.

2. I never actually went about going specifically to get the cables either made up (as a custom thing, aparently able to be done through some motor bike shops) or bought from mazda.

3. I grew lazy about 'shimming' the window track, pulling/pushing the window up/down by hand and closing the car door so that friction held in place.

I eventually decided enough was enough when:

1. The window slid all the way down into the door often enough that I got sick of removing the door trim to acces the window to push it back up.

2. The window would never stay up when driving, instead sliding down about 2-3 inches. While this is not a problem with the roof down on a sunny day, it is really annoying when driving in a rain storm, or when the car would be parked in the rain and the window would slide down under gravity - I hate getting a wet arse from sitting in a soggy driver's seat.

3. Driving to training on a winter's morning was annoyingly cold with the chilly morning air streaming in the driver's window as soon as it slid down in its track.

[Guran]

Agreed, you only need to replace the cables if they are broken. So if you can hear the window motor whirring away rapidly when you flick the switch, but the windows doesn't move, it is time to buy yourself some new cables. BTW, I reckon it's an easier job to simply remove the full mechanism from the door and lay it all out on a bench. It's only a fraction more work, but makes it much easier to work with the bits. Oh, and take care when removing the little white plastic guides that sit at the ends of the mechanism -- the tabs are easily broken!

However, if your window is slow to move OR flicking the switch gives no whirring from the window motor, then it's unlikely to be a problem with the cable. You need to look at tidying up the electrical contacts in the switch itself, AND/OR cleaning and lubricating the slide mechanism in the door and rubber seal retaining the leading edge of the window.

BTW, I learnt this the hard way. Replaced the cables and it didn't fix the problem with the windows not working!

[GP]

Yes I pulled out the whole mechanism which made it a much easier job. The end came off my cable, Just had to get another one silver soldered on