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Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.
In this video, we're going to show you how to replace a window regulator on this 2008 Chevy Equinox. We're going to show you the driver's front door, which is basically the same as the passenger's front, as well as a similar process for the rears. This also works for 2005 to 2009 Pontiac Torrent. When your window regulator goes bad, usually you hear a popping and then a grinding noise, and when you press a switch you can still hear the window motor trying to do something but your window, obviously, doesn't move. Usually, when your window regulator is broken, you can grab a hold of your window and move it up and down. Obviously, the window motor does not control that. The tools you'll need include a flat blade screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, 10mm socket and ratchet with extension, a door panel clip tool or a putty knife, a hammer and punch, a drill with 1/4 and 1/2 inch drill bits you do have to drill out a couple of rivets to get the old one out and then a T30 Torx driver.
If you look in behind your door handle, there's a Phillips screw. Start by removing that. Then the front, you just pry a little bit with a screwdriver, it unclips, and then pull it off. Then, carefully, with screwdriver, start in the back on this piece of trim here and pull out. You just work your way, eventually pop the clips loose and one last one right up closer to the front here. Then that comes out. Right inside here, there's two 10mm bolts. Remove those. Right up here, if you get your finger underneath or use a screwdriver, pull out on this panel, and then it connects to a little speaker, just pull that connection apart. Put that down.
Now, the panel is in by a series of clips. The door panel clip tool is the right tool. If you only have a putty knife, you can actually see the first one, pull the panel out a little bit, get right down next to that clip you can see right down in there, pull with the knife and the panel at the same time. I popped two out there on that one. Keep going down so you feel the next clip, same thing, and go all the way around. Just speed it up here as I work my way around with all the clips. Once you released the panel around the edges, just grab the top firm, pull, and it comes out. Next, you're going to remove your sound and water shield. This is in fast motion. I actually take about five or six minutes to get this off. You want to pull it off carefully, you don't want to ripe it because you do want to be able to put it back on and have it do its job of keeping water out of the vehicle as well as reducing noise.
These regulators are actuated by a cable, and what happens a lot is the cable breaks, and you know if the cable is broken because you'll hear probably you'll hear a popping sound and then some grinding. Then you can still hear the motor running but it's not moving the window. Generally, when that happens, you'll be able to grab your window and move it up and down. What you want to do is the window is held on by a little tab here, so you're going to use a screwdriver and push on this little tab right here. While I'm pushing my screwdriver on this tab, you put some pretty decent force, and then I'm going to pull up on my window. Just look down here and actually the window is unlocked, and now I can pull my window right up and it's separate from the regulator.
I secured the window up with some painter's tape. I just don't want it to fall down in there while I'm working. My regulator for the original car is somewhat a part of this whole panel. It's actually attached here with a small rivet and then this goes right through. My new regulator from 1A Auto comes with a mounting bolt for that lower position, and then the upper wheel goes right through with a nut on it. This will be easy to drill out. I'm going to punch it with a punch first and then drill it. I want to put my punch right in the center where I've got a good divot to work with.
Now, I'm going to use a drill and drill those rivets out. Now, I've gone to my largest and this is a half inch bit, this is just going to shave the things right off. Just be careful of my motor here. My window motor is held on by three T30 Torx screws, I'll remove those. Now my motor comes out and disconnects right there. I got most of the rivet here, I just got a little bit of the side left over. I see it moving pretty well at least. I use a 10mm socket and remove this bolt down here. That comes off there and then you push. You grab on my transmission here, push it through there, and you bring your old regulator out, and obviously this one's fine, yours isn't going to look quite like this. It's going to be a little mass full of wires.
This is the new one from 1A Auto. Open it up. When you open it up, you want to have two things ready: a 10mm socket and ratchet to take this bolt out here, easy enough. Put this aside and the nut off here, carefully. Put that right there. Now, I'm going to clip this, but I'm going to hold my wheel in position here. Put this in, and I'm going to put this right into place, and I need to be able to line everything up here. What I'm doing here is lining that transmission up with the plate, and then pushing it onto the plate. That attaches in and now up here, I have to push this in because the window's right there, get that stud through there, and put that on. I'm also going to put the bottom bolt in here. It looks like this one is right here.
As you tighten those up, make sure you tighten them up nice and firm, but you don't have to over tighten them. Now, you may have to turn your window motor a little bit just to get it to go in. Speed it up here again as I thread those in and then use the T30 Torx driver to tighten them up. Connect that. Now take the tape off of your window, slide your window down into place, and it clips right in. Run a quick test. It works great. Now, we're just going to speed through putting the water shield back on and the door panel back on. If you need to this in regular speed, just check out our other videos for the Equinox door panel.
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