How to Replace Window Regulator 2003-11 Saab 9-3

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In this video, we're going to show you how to remove and reinstall or replace a broken window regulator. We do the front driver's side, the front passenger's side is basically the same procedure. This is a 2004 -3; the procedure is basically the same for any '03 to '11 9-3, although there might be slight differences in how you remove the door panel in some of the later years. Tools you'll need are T30 Torx bit with a ratchet and extension, as well as a 10mm socket, door panel clip tool, putty knife or screwdriver and a small flat blade screwdriver.

So, you don't run your battery down, start underneath, there's two clips that hold the battery protector. Take that up and off then use a 10mm socket with your ratchet, loosen up the negative battery cable, which is the one in front and disconnect the negative battery cable.

To remove your door panel, you are going to start here, pull up on the back of this panel and then keep working your fingers underneath and pull right out on it. That comes off. Now inside, there are two T30 Torx screws. Okay, here's a T30 Torx bit with an extension and a ratchet. I'm going to fast forward here. I just take my bit with the ratchet and extension, get it in there and once you get those bolts loosened up, they pretty much come out just by hand. If they don't come out, they will fall out as you pull the door panel off, just watch to make sure you see them when they drop and don't lose them. Now that those screws are out, use a door panel clip tool, or even a household putty knife would work; slip this in behind the clips, pry out and pull with your hand at the same time. As this panel comes out, first thing is there's a white connector on your door latch cable here, pull that. Then, pull your door latch cable up and out. Now you see you got three connectors, there's the smallest black one down here, there are two tabs on each side. I'm using a little screwdriver, push it on one tab and pull up and then on the other side, push in on the other tab and pull that out. Here's the two tabs. Then you have this one, you have to reach under and there's a little grey lever actually, that, I can't really show it to you because it's hard to see but you pry the lever down and then you pull down on the connector as you pry the lever out. Here's the connector, this is the little lever. When it's connected the lever's like that, so you have to actually, get in there. Get this, you have to get in there, get this lever started down and then you pull this down, as you flip that lever out. Then the last connector is right here. I just press right here where the locking tooth is and then work the connector right out and then your door panel is off. You want to slowly and carefully take your water shield off. I am going in fast motion here. The stuff that adheres it to the door is kind of funny and in places it will be stuck on there really hard and you've got to work at it and then in other places it will just come off nice and easy. Try and do this carefully as possible so you don't rip that water shield and move it out of your way.
These regulators are cable actuated. I'm just going to reach in behind, you can feel the cable. Usually what happens is the cable breaks or part of the mechanism inside goes bad. You can usually, when you go to activate the window you can hear the motor try to work but you hear either a grinding noise or you don't really hear anything at all and the motor doesn't do anything. When the cable is broken, you can usually just grab onto your window, move it up and down. My regulator is just working 100% in this car, I'm just doing this to show you. What you would want to do is take you window move it by hand, if you have a helper, hold it in this position and you would want to loosen this bolt here and then this bolt right here. These are the bolts that hold the clamps that hold the window to the regulator. Fast forward again here and these are 10mm bolts. Again, just loosen them. What you want to do is rotate your window forward and bring it up and out.

Now you've got four bolts that hold the regulator rails or actually four nuts. There's one there, one down here, one right in there and then one right down there. Additionally, there's another 10mm bolt that holds the motor bracket. You'll want to disconnect your lead, just use a screwdriver, and put it in there. I'll fast forward here as I use my 10mm socket with ratchet and extension and remove the four nuts and the one bolt that hold the regulator and the motor bracket. Just use a little bit of faster motion up here, you pull the rails back away from the door and then slide them down and out. Keep in mind, somewhat near the door lock button there, reach inside and there is a clip that holds one of the cables at the top of the door. Release that clip and then your regulator, both rails come out.

To switch your motor over to your new regulator, you want to take your T30 Torx driver and there's three bolts that hold the motor to the regulator. I'll fast forward as I remove those three bolts. We do sell the regulator a couple of different ways, we sell them without the motor so if your motor is good, you'll want to switch your original motor from the vehicle onto your new regulator. When you get the new regulator, it will probably have wire tie that holds the pulley onto the regulator, you'll need to cut that wire tie, just make sure that you hold that pulley or the spool in place and then put the motor down on it and then reinstall the T30 Torx bolts and tighten them up nice and firm.

We'll keep the fast forward going here. You want to get the regulator up into place. It's a little bit of a puzzle getting it at the right angle . puzzle is kind of a tough word. You just got to make sure you get in there at the right angle, get it into place and then once you have one of the rails in place, start one of nuts. Then start the rest of the nuts and as well as start the bolt that holds the window motor bracket in place and then tighten those up nice and firm. Once you've got it tightened up and in place, put the lead back on, push it all in, push up on the lock, pop it into place. Also reach up in here and there's a little clip, make sure you put the cable back into the clip up there. Slide your window down in, make sure it's in these clips here and then tighten them up. Fast forward again here as we put that water shield back into place, do it as carefully as you can and make sure you put the door latch cable, the lock button and harnesses up through the correct holes in the water shield and secure it into place as well as you can.

To put your door panel back on, connect the mustard colored one first, pull it up into place. This one next, you want to get it into place correctly and as you're pushing it up, pull that lever and lock it. Then finally, this one connects here. Bring our door latch cable up, put that right down in and you need to line this up. It goes into a little groove here; this goes in front and latch it on. Make sure you put your door lock button in place, push the top of your panel against the window and bring it down. Okay, now you've got to look back in and see the little buttons. Fast forward here again as I take those two T30 screws, it's kind of easier if you put them onto the bit and then guide them right into the door panel, tighten them up by hand first and then tighten them up nice and firm. Once you have those bolts on there tightened up, remember to put that trim panel back on, reconnect your battery, put the battery cover back on and you should be all set.

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How to Replace Window Regulator 2003-11 Saab 9-3

step 1 :Disconnecting the Battery

step 2 :Removing the Door Panel

step 3 :Removing the Window Regulator

step 4 :Connecting the Motor to the New Regulator

step 5 :Installing the New Regulator

step 6 :Reattaching the Door Panel

step 7 :Reconnecting the Battery

Tools needed

How To Replace Power Window Regulator 2005-09 Chevy Equinox

Same Day Shipping

Guaranteed To Fit

USA Customer Support

Instructional Video Library

How to Replace Window Regulator 2003-11 Saab 9-3

step 1 :Disconnecting the Battery 0:51

step 2 :Removing the Door Panel 1:09

step 3 :Removing the Window Regulator 4:57

step 4 :Connecting the Motor to the New Regulator 7:30

step 5 :Installing the New Regulator 8:25

step 6 :Reattaching the Door Panel 10:26

step 7 :Reconnecting the Battery 12:49

Tools needed

How To Replace Power Window Regulator 2005-09 Chevy Equinox

Same Day Shipping

Guaranteed To Fit

USA Customer Support

Instructional Video Library

step 1 :Disconnecting the Battery

step 2 :Removing the Door Panel

step 3 :Removing the Window Regulator

step 4 :Connecting the Motor to the New Regulator

step 5 :Installing the New Regulator

step 6 :Reattaching the Door Panel

step 7 :Reconnecting the Battery