Window Regulators

[Eurythmian]

I purchased my LS on 6.22.09 with 25K on it from CarMax.
Made the first payment last week.
Sunday as I was lowing the passenger side front window it made a snapping sound and fell to the bottom of the door with a horrible crashing sound. Great - Just Fuc%ing Great!!!

I purchased the CarMax MaxCare extended warranty - good for 75K for an extra 3K. Kind of feel I got screwed on this one!

I have been told the plastic clips which the glass sits in and connects to the regulator bars is actually part of the glass and not the regulator. The warranty covers the regulator - I am responsible for the glass.

I thought this sounded like BULLSH*T! but it turns out to be true. I checked it out on a FORD parts website.

After an hour of fighting with CarMax about how soon this problem happened after my initial purchase, they decided to cover the work. (it pays to be persistent!)

My question is this - Is this going to be a reacquiring problem? Am I going to have my windows falling out every time I press the button to lower them?

It makes me a bit nervous to use the freaking windows... I have owned FORDs and Lincolns all my life... so have my parents - and we have never had a window do this. This makes my third Lincoln... I love the way the car looks but I don't want it to become a money pit. Is this or things like this going to keep happening?

 

[Garbone]

I purchased my LS on 6.22.09 with 25K on it from CarMax.
Made the first payment last week.
Sunday as I was lowing the passenger side front window it made a snapping sound and fell to the bottom of the door with a horrible crashing sound. Great - Just Fuc%ing Great!!!

I purchased the CarMax MaxCare extended warranty - good for 75K for an extra 3K. Kind of feel I got screwed on this one!

I have been told the plastic clips which the glass sits in and connects to the regulator bars is actually part of the glass and not the regulator. The warranty covers the regulator - I am responsible for the glass.

I thought this sounded like BULLSH*T! but it turns out to be true. I checked it out on a FORD parts website.

After an hour of fighting with CarMax about how soon this problem happened after my initial purchase, they decided to cover the work. (it pays to be persistent!

My question is this - Is this going to be a reacquiring problem? Am I going to have my windows falling out every time I press the button to lower them?

It makes me a bit nervous to use the freaking windows... I have owned FORDs and Lincolns all my life... so have my parents - and we have never had a window do this. This makes my third Lincoln... I love the way the car looks but I don't want it to become a money pit. Is this or things like this going to keep happening?

This is a problem most LS owners encounter. It is actually a pretty simple fix to change out the regulator, but I havent heard of the plastic clips failing. That's a new one on me.

Good luck!

 

[Eurythmian]

I took the door apart before taking it up to CarMax.. and looked at it. The plastic clips are what failed and there is a cable that keeps clicking and slapping the glass if you touch the window button.

They told me the regulator needed to be replaced and they would cover it as long as I paid my deductible.

You said it's an easy repair... once I had the panel and the foam cover off the door it looked like I still needed to remove the inner metal structure. Didn't look so simple to me. I guess I'm glad the glass didn't shatter. I would be paying for a new window and window tint.

For those of us who have experienced this type of thing, how often does it happen? Should I avoid using the windows if I can?

 

[rainjacks]

Yeah, it happens. Just do a search and you can read all about it. The plastic clips are a part of the regulator, not the window. Otherwise we would all be purchasing new windows when the part breaks. I've only had one of mine break. The fix is simple just follow the great instructions (with pictures) in one of the other threads. I wouldn't worry about using the windows, but expect that you might get to replace another regulator eventually.

 

[LeaSr77]

Done replaced three regulators in my car. Two of them myself and one by the dealer after I bought it. Trust me, it takes about 30 minutes to do one if that. That plastic piece that you are talking about is part of the regulator just like the above poster said. The glass just sit in between the clips and you tighten down on the clips and that's what holds the glass in place.

 

[Dacket]

I just replaced my front passenger regulator not to long ago. I think it took me about 20 minutes? It was easy to rip the broken one out... when I replaced it, there were no plastic clips built into the window... unless this is different on the 2nd gen LS's. I just had to loosen a bolt that clamps the window into the holders. It was a bit more difficult to install the new one. Mostly just aligning the bolts to the holes in the door... that's it. Only cost me ~$75.

 

[Eurythmian]

Thanks for the info... I will do a search for the post with pics.
I wanna see how easy this is.