Driver's Window Gets Stuck.

CatchyD · Postby **CatchyD** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:22 am

Hey guys,

So my drivers side window gets stuck after going down about 5-10cm.
What could be the possible things to cause this?

I will get time to take the door card off in a few days, but would like to have a list of possible causes to be able to work out the cause quicker when I do go to tackle the issue.

I'm guessing there is something jamming the window rails or possibly the motor?

Any suggestions about the problem are welcome.

David

AntHarmer · Postby **AntHarmer** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:50 am

If the wires running through the door come loose from the plug that holds them to the inner door skin, they can hang down and get caught under the window glass, stopping it from going all the way down. My drivers side did this and would only go down 5-10 cm like yours.

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CatchyD · Postby **CatchyD** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:56 am

AntHarmer wrote:If the wires running through the door come loose from the plug that holds them to the inner door skin, they can hang down and get caught under the window glass, stopping it from going all the way down. My drivers side did this and would only go down 5-10 cm like yours.

Cheers for that, I'll certainly put that down to check in 2 days. Hopefully that's all it is just something blocking it that can be easily moved out of the way.

Snowmotion · Postby **Snowmotion** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 7:25 am

Sounds similar to a problem I had. With the switch it would go down 10cm and stop. If I put weight on the window it would go down all the way.

Turned out that the cable is routed in the door with a few plastic clips that fix in the metal. The one near the top of the door (centre of the door) had broken and come out.
The solution was to drill a second hole and cable tie the cable in position.

Window fixed...

Thanks to MX5Mania for their help with this solution.

Cort500 · Postby **Cort500** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:14 am

Yep, as above, I did mine on the weekend. Once the door card is off the clip that usually goes is about one inch diagonally up from top arm rest mounting screw. I googled it and the miata forum had a thread with pretty pictures and everything. 15 minute fix

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 9:59 am

You say the window gets stuck, but do you mean it stops suddenly at 5-10cm down - as if there is a physical barrier? Or does it just slow down and grind to a halt? Can you lower the window fully by applying a bit of pressure to the window top while pressing the down button? If it's the latter, then I suggest you look at cleaning up the terminals of the window switches. They tend to get a build up of oxide on them, which introduces electrical resistance and drops the power available to operate the windows.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:05 am

Guran wrote:You say the window gets stuck, but do you mean it stops suddenly at 5-10cm down - as if there is a physical barrier? Or does it just slow down and grind to a halt? Can you lower the window fully by applying a bit of pressure to the window top while pressing the down button? If it's the latter, then I suggest you look at cleaning up the terminals of the window switches. They tend to get a build up of oxide on them, which introduces electrical resistance and drops the power available to operate the windows.

I'd also add to that to clean the window guides and give them a re-lube.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:31 am

Have a search through here for some similar situations http://www.miata.net/garage/index.html

Guran wrote:You say the window gets stuck, but do you mean it stops suddenly at 5-10cm down - as if there is a physical barrier? Or does it just slow down and grind to a halt? Can you lower the window fully by applying a bit of pressure to the window top while pressing the down button? If it's the latter, then I suggest you look at cleaning up the terminals of the window switches. They tend to get a build up of oxide on them, which introduces electrical resistance and drops the power available to operate the windows.

Try the Power Window Switch Surgery for Early Miatas - http://www.miata.net/garage/powerwin/index.html

If the window is physicaly stuck then try the Power Window Repair - http://www.miata.net/garage/window.html

smack · Postby **smack** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:29 pm

If it's the silver cable getting caught under the white window stops and depending where the clip broke (mine didn't break as such, just kept popping out), you can thread a nut over the plastic clip to stop it getting pulled out of the hole in the inner panel (instead of drilling extra holes). Used a socket to tighten the nut over the clip. Don't quote me but M8 size (I think) worked perfectly! Also, since the trim is off to reach the clip/cable no harm in re-lubing the guides and rollers - I just greased the guides and went up & down with the window a few times to spread it out :mrgreen:

CatchyD · Postby **CatchyD** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:43 pm

Cheers for all the help guys,
Seems that the possibly causes have been covered now to see what it really is tomorrow.

And to Guran,
It was like a physical stop, and even when applying pressure on top of the window and wiggling it, it still won't go down, and then it takes a bit of wiggling to get it un-jammed and winding back up.

But I will still check that out, cause why not stop a problem before it is a problem?

mazdaz · Postby **mazdaz** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:50 pm

Going to sound a bits strange, but the ignition barrel can effect the window operation. With mine I have the same symptoms as you, pulled the doors apart everything was fine. Had me stumped. I found if I backed of the key in the ignition when running just a smidgen....bam all windows race up and down perfectly. I have a spare barrel just haven't fitted it yet.

By the way what did you buy?

Red Dragon · Postby **Red Dragon** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 10:17 pm

Had the same in my NA, sometimes the windows,wipers and heater fan would not work when everything else did.
Turned the key to off started the engine again all ok. Definitely something to do with ignition barrel.

CatchyD · Postby **CatchyD** » Wed Feb 05, 2014 1:20 am

mazdaz wrote:Going to sound a bits strange, but the ignition barrel can effect the window operation. With mine I have the same symptoms as you, pulled the doors apart everything was fine. Had me stumped. I found if I backed of the key in the ignition when running just a smidgen....bam all windows race up and down perfectly. I have a spare barrel just haven't fitted it yet.

By the way what did you buy?

Cheers for the suggestion, but sadly the sale of this car fell through but now have another one lined up and already have a deposit laid down and now awaiting the owner to get the RWC this week so I can come and purchase it... may or may not be a certain NA6 that some may know of on here ;)

So thankfully I no longer need to work out a window problem, but was interesting to learn different reasons why they can stop.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:40 am

It is a red NA6 that my son used to drive. It will make room for the Fiat X19 project. The X19 has had the factory installed rust removed and the plan is to use it as a CAMS vintage racer since it is 34 yo.

Off topic but Danny (Automotive Plus) had a X19 as a work car many years ago. However Jason has told me never to bring it near his workshop

. Your safe Jason as this will be a mostly DIY including engine, but help will be needed if a roll cage is needed.

On topic - inspection booked for tomorrow. Yellowed plastic window will fail a roadworthy so new window sewn in. Sun visors installed after son took them out. On target for Friday or Saturday. Whatever parts (left over from my build) are not taken I will list on the forum.