Power window sticks and makes popping/cracking noises

[Toshiro]

Hey, I have a 97 GST with power windows, and when I roll the passenger window up or down past the halfway point it pauses for a split second like it's sticking, then pops and makes a violent cracking noise and continues on its way. The window shifts outward when it does this. Also, when the window is open a little bit (but not past the sticking point) and I drive over a hard bump the window shifts outward and rattles. I haven't made any changes to the window or door, it just started one day.

Thanks.

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

I think from what you're describing, the window is hitting the door check. Is your door check damaged/bent from opening the door too hard? I think it's the combination of a bent door check and loose window that is causing the noise. The loose window is a common problem on the 2G. The front bolt that holds the window glass tends to fall off and that causes the rattling glass. There is a write-up in Tech Articles on how to fix it.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57412

If your door check is bent, replace it at the same time while you have the door panel off.

 

[Toshiro]

Awesome link, thanks. Which piece is the door check, and how would I check to see if it's bent?

 

[Toshiro]

Well, tonight I pulled the door panel and the speaker, and tightened that little slider piece in the link you mentioned. I had to roll the window down to reach it, and after I put it back on, the window wouldn't roll back up. Every time the window reaches the point where it sticks, the middle section of the door bulges out (towards the inside of the car). I'm thinking it's some kind of bent track or something but I don't know how to get to them without just unbolting every random bolt on the inside of the door. I'm very close to giving up and paying a shop to fix it, something I've never done before.

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

OK, something is definitely out of alignment then. Was the door recently opened so hard that you bent the door check? The door check is the sliding piece that attaches from the door to the frame, in between the two hinges. It's what keeps the door from opening too far out. What I suspect is that the door was opened past its limit and the door check got bent. In the process, it bent the window track and now the glass binds at that point. Then bent track put pressure on that front bolt, causing it to loosen. I know the room down in there is tight to work with. You'll have to get a flashlight and take a good look as to what is going on in there while putting the window up and down. If it's a bent track, you can try to bend it back. Can you remember if the door was ever opened so hard recently, that it went past its limit?

 

[Toshiro]

Well, I forgot to mention when I took the door panel off I found 2 bolts lying in the door. My shop teacher helped me find their homes, and turns out the top bolt holding in the middle gear the window travels up on fell out, so the gear thing had all kinds of play in it, and was jamming the window. We were able to get that bolt in, but we had to take out a bottom bolt to align it... then we couldn't get the bottom one back in. However, the window mechanisms seem stable enough, and the window works OK. Good day. *phew*

 

[Attack Eagle]

My window quit working altogether tonight just as I went to roll it up, it had been sticking briefly on the roll down and had been slightly slower than the other window in rolling up.

As sson as I removed the door pannel and pulled back the plastic, 2 bolts fell on the ground and a third (of 4) had come completely loose but had not fallen yet.

Messed up my tint too.

Better beleive that if you hear your window rattle when you close the door that you need to check all 4.

ANd it is a pain in the butt to get them in once they come out, as you have to hold the window, pull the bracket back flush with the door, and put in the bolt. wait thats 3 hand s and I only have 2

You can use a small screwdriver to help you align things whiile a freind holds the window so it will line up.

 

[Toshiro]

Yes, my friend and I had quite a time wrestling the bracket into place and putting the bolts in at the same time. Well, it's been a month and my window hasn't re-broken yet. So far so good.