Window Won't Go Up + Crunching Sound

[needmovies]

The past couple days when I move my window up/down I hear this crunching/grinding noise. I thought there was a rock or something that got stuck so I took it apart using this DIY. So there's nothing stuck in there and from a quick glance everything seems fine. I didn't try it out since I'm not sure it would be a good idea to hook up all the wires and close the window while it's disassembled so I'm not sure what the problem is at this point.

Before I put it back together, any ideas on what else I can try to fix the issue? Should I just go ahead and replace the window regulator (which from what I read is a common issue with Audis)?

Thanks



Edit: if it was the window regulator, does the brand matter? Here's a cheap one I found from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Drivers-Windo...art/B007TYPH26

[Willënskraft]

I went with eBay ones and had to replace them twice, but from reading other reviews. It looks like OEM is the way to go.

[Fast4esT]

Just buy used oem ones, good deals, and usually they have lot of life left. Lots of cars being parted out

But yeah, sounds like the cable for the window regulator might have snapped or the plastic clip at the bottom of the glass broke/ came off the glass.

[diagnosticator]

Grit and dirt in the window channel can be deep in the channel and not really visible. If the window has ever been broken, there is almost certainly some glass chips in the channel. You can carefully probe the door channels to loosen impacted grit, and use a garden hose sprayed into the channels to remove dirt and grit. Clean and lubricate the window regulator. Replace the regulator with new OEM if there is any visible wear or damage to the regulator mechanism. OEM regulators are not expensive.

Noisy windows are almost always caused by dirt and grit or glass shards in the window channels compared to the noise from the regulator is not as noticeable.

Cheapest does not necessarily mean most economical.

[chad99]

Since you removed the window it should be easy to find the cause of the problem, if you have any slack at all on any part of the cable, you have something wrong, either broken clip or cable unspooled from the gear that the motor turns

Usually it's just the plastic clips on the bottom of the window that cracks in half allowing one end of the metal cables to pop out of the clip.

[MacFady]

I've replaced 3 on mine and it has never been a clip, always something related to the wire spool.

[needmovies]

thanks guys. I looked at it a bit more yesterday and I found a plastic piece that broke near the wire spool. I went ahead and ordered an OEM replacement

[chad99]

I've replaced 3 on mine and it has never been a clip, always something related to the wire spool.

I only fixed 2 of them so far but both of mine were the clip. If I remember correctly even the guy that runs that website regulator fix .com or something like that said most failures are related to the clips first, and I think someone from ECS chimed in on the famous DIY saying the same thing.

The clip fails first, removing all tension on the cable allowing the spool to unwind, then you keep trying to roll the window up, this then causes the cable to get all jammed up near the motor, then you continue to keep playing with the window up down switches because you refuse to believe you need to fix it or are upset that the damm car is breaking AGAIN, all this playing around with the switches then destroys the cable or plastic spool.

This is assuming you have a OEM regulator, if aftermarket then the whole thing sucks and you need to replace it completely.

[MacFady]

... you refuse to believe you need to fix it or are upset that the damm car is breaking AGAIN...This is assuming you have a OEM regulator, if aftermarket then the whole thing sucks and you need to replace it completely.

Yes, 'bout sums it up.