Honda Car Forum

The window regulator failed on my 93 Nissan Sentra, probably because I
cleaned the driver's window channel (2-dr) so well that the glass bound
up and the cable failed.

I think I can install a new regulator, but what do I lube the channel
with to prevent another problem? The passenger window is almost never
used, but probably needs help too.

I'm posting this to several NGs because a.a.nissan is a really slow
group these days.

Thanks,
Jm

"DemoDisk" <packrat@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:WJKdnVT5T5IFWQvWnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@yournetplus. com...
>
> The window regulator failed on my 93 Nissan Sentra, probably because I
> cleaned the driver's window channel (2-dr) so well that the glass bound
> up and the cable failed.
>
> I think I can install a new regulator, but what do I lube the channel
> with to prevent another problem? The passenger window is almost never
> used, but probably needs help too.
>
> I'm posting this to several NGs because a.a.nissan is a really slow
> group these days.
>
> Thanks,
> Jm


If you are talking about the channel in the window frame, I'd use a silicone
lubricant because the silicone doesn't cause the rubber to deteriorate more
quickly.

The channel in the door itself could be lubricated with lithium grease if it
is not lined with rubber.

--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Ray O" <rokigawa@NOSPAMtristarassociates.com> wrote in message
news:hn6j8t$lb4$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>
> "DemoDisk" <packrat@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:WJKdnVT5T5IFWQvWnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@yournetplus. com...
> >
> > The window regulator failed on my 93 Nissan Sentra, probably because
I
> > cleaned the driver's window channel (2-dr) so well that the glass
bound
> > up and the cable failed.
> >
> > I think I can install a new regulator, but what do I lube the
channel
> > with to prevent another problem? The passenger window is almost
never
> > used, but probably needs help too.
> >
> > I'm posting this to several NGs because a.a.nissan is a really slow
> > group these days.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jm
>
>
> If you are talking about the channel in the window frame, I'd use a
silicone
> lubricant because the silicone doesn't cause the rubber to deteriorate
more
> quickly.
>
> The channel in the door itself could be lubricated with lithium grease
if it
> is not lined with rubber.
>

Thanks, Ray

DemoDisk wrote:

> The window regulator failed on my 93 Nissan Sentra, probably because I
> cleaned the driver's window channel (2-dr) so well that the glass bound
> up and the cable failed.
>
> I think I can install a new regulator, but what do I lube the channel
> with to prevent another problem? The passenger window is almost never
> used, but probably needs help too.

Been there with my old Honda - it was an expensive lesson.
Spray silicone works well. It tends to flush some of the gunk from the
channel, while making the rubber much more 'slidey.'

"Greg" <nospam@null.net> wrote in message
news:FEAln.23016$wr5.17546@newsfe22.iad...
> DemoDisk wrote:
>
> > The window regulator failed on my 93 Nissan Sentra, probably because
I
> > cleaned the driver's window channel (2-dr) so well that the glass
bound
> > up and the cable failed.
> >
> > I think I can install a new regulator, but what do I lube the
channel
> > with to prevent another problem? The passenger window is almost
never
> > used, but probably needs help too.
>
> Been there with my old Honda - it was an expensive lesson.
> Spray silicone works well. It tends to flush some of the gunk from
the
> channel, while making the rubber much more 'slidey.'

Thanks, Greg. Sorry you had a similar experience. I thought cleaning
that channel was such a great thing; turns out, I was removing any
lubricant it had! : (

"DemoDisk" <packrat@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:0JednSFvv69uSwvWnZ2dnUVZ_uudnZ2d@yournetplus. com...
>
> "Ray O" <rokigawa@NOSPAMtristarassociates.com> wrote in message
> news:hn6j8t$lb4$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>
>> "DemoDisk" <packrat@nospam.com> wrote in message
>> news:WJKdnVT5T5IFWQvWnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@yournetplus. com...
>> >
>> > The window regulator failed on my 93 Nissan Sentra, probably because
> I
>> > cleaned the driver's window channel (2-dr) so well that the glass
> bound
>> > up and the cable failed.
>> >
>> > I think I can install a new regulator, but what do I lube the
> channel
>> > with to prevent another problem? The passenger window is almost
> never
>> > used, but probably needs help too.
>> >
>> > I'm posting this to several NGs because a.a.nissan is a really slow
>> > group these days.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Jm
>>
>>
>> If you are talking about the channel in the window frame, I'd use a
> silicone
>> lubricant because the silicone doesn't cause the rubber to deteriorate
> more
>> quickly.
>>
>> The channel in the door itself could be lubricated with lithium grease
> if it
>> is not lined with rubber.
>>
>
> Thanks, Ray
>

You're welcome. By the way, the silicone lubricant does not last very long,
so you may have to re-apply once or twice a year. If you want something
that lasts longer but is pretty messy, you can use soap-based brake caliper
grease.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"DemoDisk" <packrat@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:WJKdnVT5T5IFWQvWnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@yournetplus. com...
>
> The window regulator failed on my 93 Nissan Sentra, probably because I
> cleaned the driver's window channel (2-dr) so well that the glass bound
> up and the cable failed.
>
> I think I can install a new regulator, but what do I lube the channel
> with to prevent another problem? The passenger window is almost never
> used, but probably needs help too.
>
> I'm posting this to several NGs because a.a.nissan is a really slow
> group these days.
>
> Thanks,
> Jm
>
>

The channel that the glass slides in is not lubricated. The various channels
of the regulator itself are lubricated, but not the chanel for the glass.
This needs to be clean,

My guess is that your 1993 Sentra window regulator simply wore out.

A typical construction is that there is a stirng of balls that is pushed and
pulled through a guide and is connected to the window. As the motor pushes
and pulls the balls, the window goes up and down. The string of balls will
break over time. There are variants that involve scissor mechanism to raise
and lower the window, but these are generally found in older cars.

In any case, the glass should slide freely in a clean track.

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlrjeff@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:hn8h2l$93i$3@news.eternal-september.org...
>
> "DemoDisk" <packrat@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:WJKdnVT5T5IFWQvWnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@yournetplus. com...
>>
>> The window regulator failed on my 93 Nissan Sentra, probably because I
>> cleaned the driver's window channel (2-dr) so well that the glass bound
>> up and the cable failed.
>>
>> I think I can install a new regulator, but what do I lube the channel
>> with to prevent another problem? The passenger window is almost never
>> used, but probably needs help too.
>>
>> I'm posting this to several NGs because a.a.nissan is a really slow
>> group these days.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jm
>>
>>
>
> The channel that the glass slides in is not lubricated. The various
> channels of the regulator itself are lubricated, but not the chanel for
> the glass. This needs to be clean,
>
> My guess is that your 1993 Sentra window regulator simply wore out.
>
> A typical construction is that there is a stirng of balls that is pushed
> and pulled through a guide and is connected to the window. As the motor
> pushes and pulls the balls, the window goes up and down. The string of
> balls will break over time. There are variants that involve scissor
> mechanism to raise and lower the window, but these are generally found in
> older cars.
>
> In any case, the glass should slide freely in a clean track.
>

I'd bet that the OP's car's setup doesn't have the string of balls setup.
The more common setup is having the motor mounted directly to the regulator
instead of having a weak link in between, or a cable that pushes and pulls
on the regulator like the old fashioned remote mirrors.


--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On Tue, 9 Mar 2010 16:00:31 -0600, "DemoDisk" <packrat@nospam.com>
wrote:

>
>The window regulator failed on my 93 Nissan Sentra, probably because I
>cleaned the driver's window channel (2-dr) so well that the glass bound
>up and the cable failed.

I had a 93 Nissan Maxima for 5 or 6 years and in that time I replaced
3 window regulators. The regulator uses an electric motor which drives
a wire rope pulley system which runs the window up and down. The
regulators failed because the plastic pulleys, which the wire rope
runs on, hardened over time and broke off. There's a good chance your
same year Sentra has a similar problem but I don't know for sure.
I used to order replacement regulators online at
http://www.courtesyparts.com/
good prices, fast service.

Al Moodie.

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlrjeff@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:hn8h2l$93i$3@news.eternal-september.org...
>
> "DemoDisk" <packrat@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:WJKdnVT5T5IFWQvWnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@yournetplus. com...
> >
> > The window regulator failed on my 93 Nissan Sentra, probably because
I
> > cleaned the driver's window channel (2-dr) so well that the glass
bound
> > up and the cable failed.
> >
> > I think I can install a new regulator, but what do I lube the
channel
> > with to prevent another problem? The passenger window is almost
never
> > used, but probably needs help too.
> >
> > I'm posting this to several NGs because a.a.nissan is a really slow
> > group these days.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jm
> >
> >
>
> The channel that the glass slides in is not lubricated. The various
channels
> of the regulator itself are lubricated, but not the chanel for the
glass.
> This needs to be clean,
>
> My guess is that your 1993 Sentra window regulator simply wore out.
>
> A typical construction is that there is a stirng of balls that is
pushed and
> pulled through a guide and is connected to the window. As the motor
pushes
> and pulls the balls, the window goes up and down. The string of balls
will
> break over time. There are variants that involve scissor mechanism to
raise
> and lower the window, but these are generally found in older cars.
>
> In any case, the glass should slide freely in a clean track.

No motor in this one; it's manual. Replacement parts online show a
cable.

But no lubrication? That's interesting. Thanks for your help, Jeff.