Window Regulator

[James Scott]

HEH! I figured out from previous threads that it's the SLEEVE LOCK plastic part I need to hold the window regulator wire (rectangular lug) onto the frame of the lower window. Mine broke yesterday. . . "CRUUUNCCHH"! I've ordered the part from Subaruparts.com, but HASN'T ANYONE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO RIG THIS SO I COULD USE THIS WINDOW WHILE WAITING FOR THE PART (rather than taping my window up with duct or shipping tape - that about ruined my old car with this problem! I never could get the tape goo off afterwards!)

IF ANYONE HAS AN INGENIOUS AND QUICK FIX, LET ME KNOW!!!
[like JB Weld, nylon straps, etc., etc.?]

[lee]

on mine the sleeve lock broke off only the tabs that sit inside the window frame. So what I did was drill two small holes through the part, and put in a couple of nails that had to be driven in, i.e., force fit. The nails were left so about 1/3 was above the part, 1/3 below.

I didn't try to use the window as I wasn't sure how much stress it could take, but the method worked for the 3 or 4 days of driving to work & back - until my parts arrived in the mail.

good luck.

[immortal_suby]

Check my locker for pics of my rig which has held up without problems. Basically pulled out the tab in the window mount and tied the wire around it and then pushed the tab back in place to lock in the wire. Ugly but it works well.

[James Scott]

THANKS! I ended up repairing the broken nylon part (with all four broken tabs) by drilling small holes (about 1/32") in the missing/broken tab areas, in which I placed short (about 3/8") sections of stainless wire (like rebar) to support some JB Weld slopped around these tab replacement areas and also to hold the spacer tab in place.

I'll let you know how it works. It was nice of Subaru to come up with a replacement part after multiple failures (my Isuzu impulse never did - I went thru about 5 regulators!) of this sleeve lock, but I'm afraid it's pretty mickey-mouse! Not only is the material cheap and therefore prone to fail, but the design is OBVIOUSLY flawed! Oh well, I love my "little" SVX anyway!

THANKS AGAIN!

[ensteele]

The post that was here was deleated by me due to inflamitory comments.

[svxxx26]

Just a word of experience on the sleeve lock regulator - make sure when you replace it that you put the open side of the channel in toward the door.
I read something about this in another regulator thread AFTER replacing mine. It does make a difference, the little nut on the cable eventually works its way out. Fortunately it didn't break it and I was able to do it correctly the second time.

[STORMINORMAN]

What a GREAT product!

"Did you know that a woman in Eastern Nebraska fixed the...?"

Seriously, some JB Weld repairs are 100% stronger than the original! I've seen the surrounding metal break before the JB Weld bond broke in certain circumstances.

As far as the regulator tab is concerned, mine lasted almost 11 years on the driver's window and we used the window a lot more than the A/C in that period. Pretty good service in my humble opinion...

A pretty cheap & simple fix, too! Good to get in there every once and awhile as far as lube'n the window tracks, etc. is concerned.

Cheers!