HOW TO; VW Passat electric window fixed.

My tired out old Passat (270000 miles) was treated to a new door window regulator at the weekend and I thought I would bring you all along for the ride.
If your electric windows have stopped working or are making a horrible noise as the cable breaks down then this is how to fix it.
If you do tackle the job, take your time and keep note of how things come apart. Obviously this video is a sped up representation of a job that took around an hour and a half.
Please dont hold me responsible if you attempt the job yourself and break something.
Thanks for watching,
Dave.
#VWPassatB5 #ElectricWindowRepairs #VolkswagenPassat #DoItYourself #CarRepairs #PowerWindows #Howto

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

If you found this video helpfull and it saved you spending a lot of money at a main dealer or garage then I would be really grateful if you could drop me a wee donation using the super thanks button and help me make more of these videos. Thank you all, Dave.

[@leonardsmith4469]

This guy deserves support. Great video, humorous, entertaining and 100% helpful for quite a daunting task.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thanks Leonard. For a moment I thought you were saying I needed support in a psychological sense 😄

[@kenmisterfish8717]

Brilliant video Dave, love the nonchalant way you approach your work, made me laugh when you kicked the used duct tape away, and the idea of holding the glass in place with the tape is pure genius.

[@websterchinyenze9914]

professional mechanic, professional camera man and professional editor = professional video

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thanks but I am definitely an amateur at all 3. :-)

[@rogerdiamond4928]

Job done, but it did take me 3 hours. But, your easy to understand video spurred me on to do it, saving £££. Now all I've got to do is find the annoying squeak from the top of the nearside rear seat belt. (266 miles) Thanks again.

[@danielhall6938]

Thanks mate, in the states with my wagon. So many videos until I found yours that actually removed the regulator itself, not just buying a whole new panel and transferring motor and speaker. Have just finished one inch spacers for the 17" Audi wheels, finish regulator in the morning. Thanks

[@macmac9265]

dude,I've never laughed so much, you sir are a LEGEND.

[@johne6081]

Entertaining, non-distracting use of humor is key to a good lecture presentation. BTJ is hits on all cylinders.

[@markhannay1669]

Took me longer than 15 mins... 3 hours to be precise but I'm an absolute amateur at this sort of thing. I had a few different bits to disconnect as mine was on a drivers door for a Highline but otherwise I couldn't have done it without this video. Many thanks 👍

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Really glad you found the guide helpful and I only achieved it in 15 minutes thanks to editing.

[@johne6081]

I don't know what the official repair "shop time" allocation is, but since the dealerships charge $450, I assume it must take the pros between 2 and 3 hours. I think the Audi A4 regulator took my son and me about 3 hours, working slowly and doing it for the first time.

[@hanyewooldridge6646]

Just fixed mine today. Thank you for the tutorial, all working perfectly now!

[@johne6081]

Timesaver tip for viewers: capture frame 6:11, which shows how far down the window needs to positioned for access to the glass retaining clips. Thank you, BTJ! Position your window here first, if possible, before disconnecting electricals.

[@johne6081]

I did this sort or repair on my 1996 Audi A4, which uses a similar, but not identical, window regulator system. I had to replace the cable on the driver's side, but just the clips on the passenger side. I am ready to tackle passenger (right for us, left for you) front on my 2001 Passat, and your video is the best I have seen on this topic. I'll be certain when I get inside, but I strongly believe only the front plastic clip is broken, so I'll likely be replacing just the two plastic clips. On the Audi A4 there was an Audi A6 parts upgrade with very minor modifications which presumably enabled a more robust repair. For the Passat, I have not heard of such an option, so I'll just be replacing the regular clips, which did hold up for 22 years (car was made in Emden Germany in Sep. 2000), so I can't complain (too much :) ). Thanks again for a very nicely-done video. (I am in the education biz. myself -- university lecturer.)

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thank you for all the kind words John. It seems on KZbin it is easier to be snide and comment "that took longer than 15 mins" or "why did you do it like that" than it is to say "thank you" so I really appreciate it when somebody takes the time to acknowledge that I am only trying to help people fix their car. A few years ago I helped a work mate fix the regulator on his 2002ish A4 so I knew roughly what to expect and with VW Audi cars sharing the same basic features a lot of the components can be swapped over where needed. If your windows are not making that horrible crunchy, grindy noise then it is probably the retaining clip. My climate here and the lack of outside window rubbers in places meant the rain got in and destroyed the cables. Good luck with the job and keep that Passat running. I would have kept mine forever but it was starting to need rust repairs and I dont have anywhere to weld anymore so I sold it on.

[@johne6081]

@@AstonishingGlasgow Absolutely yes -- I plan to keep my Passat wagon running as long as I can. Here in the US, it is getting increasingly difficult to find a wagon (my other car is a 2016 Golf Sportwagen). My wife and I bought the car new at the end of January 2001 and have kept it in our garage when not in use. Other than a bit of sag in the roof headliner, it looks great and runs well, although it has needed the usual series of B5 Passat repairs over the years, most recently replacing a carbon-gunked combi valve for the SAIP system.

[@andypleming139]

Thanks for making a painful exercise so clear and with 3 LOLs in the first 3 minutes!

[@demsherfamily6665]

love how you throw stuff around. Just like us normal folk. Hope you enjoyed a pint after this one

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Who says Im not normal folk? :-D They must know me. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@alansawyer9996]

Very helpful thank you. Only thing to say is to get that last clip for the cabling out (you can't really see what you do in the video) is to use a screw driver to push down on the far side of the clip and pull down. It doesn't just pull out. And then when anyone buys a new regulator -- they come with the metal fixings or just as the cable and clips. Get the whole unit. The cable and clips on their own are hard work! Thanks again.

[@bizjakboris]

Yes. This one at 07:04 I couldn't figure out. When I played it at half speed I saw it.

[@markennyee]

Hi again done mine today (well half) went well although the blots that are fitted to ne new cable were a bit short used nylock nuts which were much better there was also some rubber type washers that I assume went between the new runner and the old panel ? reason I couldn't finish it today was the seal on the panel was awful broke up when i took it off so ordered some sealing cord because i think its important to have a good seal and I don't want to have to do it again especially when its minus 1 here haha minus 3 tomorrow grrr thanks for your great vid again ( 1998 B5 Passat 20v 1.8t sport owned for nearly 17 years and still love it) 😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Its great to know it went well and if you love the car its right to do it correctly while you are there.

[@rogerdiamond4928]

This is the way to make a car repair video. Excellent!

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Wow, thanks!

[@johne6081]

One of the best I have seen, as well.

[@gogaurab]

best video ever, presentation is great :)

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thank you! 😃

[@FaithisKey792]

That’s so funny. The window message. Classic🤪

[@FaithisKey792]

Well done. Thank you for sharing.

[@MrFatjonable]

Now I know what Zlatan does on his free time!

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

I had to Google who that is. Bet he can afford a newer car than a 20 year old passat😃

[@realeyes444]

Thank you sir for a good thorough video helped me a ton 👍🏻 cheers!

[@EHughes0658]

Awesome vid and nice to find a British one ;) Just had the entire panel and regulator arrive and deciding whether to strip off the actual regulator off the new panel, or just remove the old entirely and fit the new. Just need to drill out the speaker; why the hell did VW feel the need to rivet on the speaker!? Total amateur to this, but paid £37 for the panel/regulator together and will likely pay a lot more in labour for the garage to fit. No brainer really. Cheers Dave I'm sure your vid will be a great help :)

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Im really glad you found the video useful. If you decide to strip the regulator off be careful not to let the cable unspool from the drum. There are down sides to both ways, take off regulator and risk the cable tangling or swap the speaker and possibly get a rattle if you cant secure it totally. My gut would say swap the speaker. and bolt it back together with rubber washers to avoid it vibrating together. Hope it goes OK, Dave.

[@eryrirunner7426]

@@AstonishingGlasgow cheers Dave. Going to replace whole panel, tap/drill out speaker. Having trouble removing the connection at 7:00 in the vid. Can't see where I need to pry...

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

That was a bugger to separate. It pulls down from memory and the locking part is on the lower plug, you can just about see the purple release when it emerges from the door panel.

[@eryrirunner7426]

@@AstonishingGlasgow yes I managed to release it after about 10 mins of trying! Used a micro-screwdriver. I replaced like for like in the end; whole panel and just swapped the motor. Thanks to you and your video I have a fully working, non-taped up, non-wedged in window now that works a treat :-)

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Fantastic news, so glad my video helped and thanks for letting me know it went well. All the best, Dave.

[@bluesky-dd3sh]

Bravo!!!! (From Italy))

[@markennyee]

Great vid I have a rare VW 20vt sport that I need to do this on one question it looked like the runners had to be drilled out ? so I'm assuming the new cable with its runners have a threaded hole to fix onto the metal panel ? many thanks 😁😁👍👍

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thanks and yes, the kit i bought had threaded holes and the hardware to bolt them on in the same location as the rivets.

[@markennyee]

thanks for the knowledge I'm doing mine next week your a star 👍👍👍👍

[@Siiilent]

Super!!!

[@FaithisKey792]

Great job

[@benchato1974]

Good work dude.

[@scotty_boy_93]

Great vid. Do you have to take exterior door handle and lock off ? Or naaaa

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thanks. I didn't take off the lock or the handle.

[@alials7570]

Well done

[@23hublock1]

Did you only get two bolts with your ebay kit? Should need 4 bolts but I only saw 2 bolts in your vid? Very helpful guide / liked :)

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

I did fit 4 bolts but may have shortened the sequence for the video.

[@Anja802]

Hi! I have an old passat just like yours. This morning i found both front windows fully open after last night's heavy rain. Luckily they must've opened sometimes this early morning after the rain stopped so nothing was wet, but im very concerned as this hadn't happened before. The car was locked and i checked a couple of times for any opened windows, but all were closed. Do you have any idea what might have caused it? Windows are closed now and they work great... Thanks!

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Is there any chance you pressed the key button when it was in your pocket and activated the total open function? I know I got out of my car once and loading something out of the boot the box pressed on my pocket and held down the button on my key and activated the total open and all windows went down.

[@v1ncend]

Very nice vidéo, i will do the same next week, thank you mister !

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thank you and I hope you found the video useful.

[@v1ncend]

@@AstonishingGlasgow verry useful, i will follow your tutorial, second by second, i have watch other tutorial but yours is best

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thank you and all the best with the fix.

[@robertwilliams9364]

@@AstonishingGlasgow lost you comments re vw passat faulty door lock mec. Openned up the panels but cant get the door open from looks through countless videos. One says cut open the lock to rip the motor out and flick the dead lock back. Another says drill in a certain spot to unsure the mechanism inside? I have a drill so dont fancy forking out for a dremel tool. Any help? This video helped me massively in changing over my door panel and motor to fix the window regulator! Saved me time and money!

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

I have not replaced the lock on the Passat, only the Polo but I imagine there will be similarities. Best bet would be to buy the replacement lock module and with the new part in front of you the part to remove and where to drill the door should be clearer. In the case of the Polo I only had to unscrew one part to disable the deadlock.

[@blakat99]

Excellent video! Just wondering, I seen another guy who took the whole door lock assembly apart also. Do u not need to do that for the passenger door?

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

There is no need to remove the lock module to replace the window regulator. The only part of the door lock that you need to deal with is the cable for the interior door handle and that just unhooks.

[@blakat99]

@@AstonishingGlasgow thank you

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

No worries, hope you get it swapped.

[@johne6081]

@@AstonishingGlasgow Confirmed. I did both front doors on my 1996 A4 and never touched a lock cylinder or outer door latch, just unhooked the cable, as you did.

[@Naz-em7zr]

@06:35 zlatan ibrahimovic knows his stuff

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

I will take that :-D I had to google that as I dont follow football. Fairly certain he wont be fixing his own knackered passat.

[@staffanfogelberg6816]

Well done m8. I'm a Swedish B5 owner......I know Zlatan is not driving an old Passat. That's for sure. ...😉

[@999carpediem]

Thanks for the video. What drill bit is it that you use? And do you remember which socket sizes?

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

It was a while ago but being a VW the sockets will almost certainly be 10mm or 13mm. Drill bit was whatever size I had that wasnt blunt and big enough to remove the rivet.

[@999carpediem]

@@AstonishingGlasgow thanks pal

[@danieldooling6756]

Great video! Can I be arsed to do the 3 that need doing on mine, 45 minutes at least😂

[@bristolfashion4421]

I'm only guessing but I think the "fifteen" refers to the length of the video, not the time taken to effect the repair... :-D

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Spot on. A lot of folk seem to have difficulty working that out for some reason.

[@johne6081]

@@AstonishingGlasgow They experience what we call "time dilation" in relativistic physics. :)

[@poodown82]

Do you get four nut and bolts in this kit ..as my window runer arm has poped one of the rivets out ...

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

The kit I had came with the nuts and bolts but they were nothing special, just short M10's.

[@stephenmurray3721]

Wait, this is only good if your regulator motor still moves the window at all, so you can move brackets holding glass up in line with those holes...! Mine doesn’t move at all when I try that... so how do I do the exchange of regulators then..? 😙

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

You may have missed the chance to fix it when it was noisy and now it is stuck. I suggest trying to pull the glass up manually but you will need to work out how as I fixed mine before it broke completely.

[@Sidonio5]

I dont know if you still need this but, when the motor is stuck and do a "click" noise you can try to open the black box and shake the board or hit the black component. I think is a relay and sometimes get stuck. It worked for me.

[@stephenmurray3721]

You replied to other guy that if you unbolt the motor the window should move, but the bolts for motor seem to be on inside of the door panel... quite inaccesible

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

The gearbox for the regulator is bolted from the inside but the motor is bolted onto the gearbox from the outside with 4 screws..... quite accessible.

[@stephenmurray3721]

First, let me thank you much, for not only responding to my comment, but also for doing so so soon. I really appreciate it. Your attention to detail, your planning and execution, your humour, in your very excellent vid is tremendously helpful and entertaining. Huge appreciation from me. 👏 I went out to try to do something with my knackered passenger door window, in a lull in today’s wild rain... Ended up having to smash the widow regulator motor off the door panel, to see if that would indeed allow the glass to move up, as a mechanic friend said... though I’m sure he said to disconnect it.. or unbolt it... ☺️that wasn’t possible, as it’s not bolts, it’s screws, which are halfway down door inside the door, facing the glass, so not possible to get onto end of screw... not with tools I had to hand anyway...so... I chopped away plastic around screws, and prised regulator off of the door panel, and was able to start trying to pull glass skyward... I had just managed to pull the glass up into position, both hands jammed inside door in the very tight space below window, where I’d cut the cable to the window mechanism, when the skies opened again..! 😮💦💦Argh!! I jammed window up in place with a little sliver of wood wedge, pushed toolbox under car, jumped in car, and put clear STIXALL all along the edge of glass inside, where it sits in groove in door... !😂 It’ll do for now! I should say, this is a 2003 Passat Estate Tdi, with 206,000 miles on clock, a terrific workhorse, which, I only paid £300 for, over three years ago, and which, I regularly walk or clamber up on, and stand on roof, or bonnet, for various work-related reasons... In short, having to smash things off to make window be able to be moved, isn’t a big deal... I’ve now got both front windows stuck in the closed position, which isn’t really a major problem for me, yet. Cheers mate..!

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Glad you got sorted. Mine was a 2000 car with about the same number of miles. I bought it for £450 with a year MOT to ship scrap and car parts out of my old garage and it came with the regulator parts or I wouldnt have spent the money on it. Passed 2 MOT's without needing anything and sold it on for £450. Cant say better than that and its probably still on the road now.

[@stephenmurray3721]

@@AstonishingGlasgow, no, doesn’t get any better than that, well done. Mine has gone through three MOTs, but with more than cost of car spent one time... 🙄 People ask me: “don’t you get pulled over?” Or “you need a van!” In regards to the amount of gear inside car, and also on roof rack... I’m famous for having multiple ladders atop car, and perhaps the weight of two or more blokes inside at all times... I drive to Tillicoultry now and then, from Whitley Bay, and even fully laden, and with a Turbo that only kicks in once in a Blue Moon, car runs great, except on long hills... lol.. where it loses speed embarrassingly... It probably is near enough time to acquire something a bit newer, but I tend to keep a vehicle until it stops working... or until the upkeep costs just get silly... Thanks again mate. I’m looking forward to checking out your many and varied topics other KZbin videos. Onward and upward.

[@mervwilldo2924]

Just like that , thanks

[@alisongrundy9977]

Is the drivers door identical in procedure to the passenger door for repair

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Pretty much. Some differences with the switch connections as there are a few more on a RHD drivers door but the window regulator is the same.

[@ianedwards6981]

Where did you buy the new regulator from?

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

It actually came with the car when I bought it, artistic licence was used in the video but they are readily available on ebay or motor factors.

[@Sidonio5]

12:05 I exchanged for a new kit and I have this problem, if you notice the window does not go down completely.

[@Sidonio5]

and now make noises.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

I would strip it back down and make sure your cables are routed correctly and wound around the drum without tangles.

[@LK-87]

how pull up window if they is down? ant not lift up? how unscrew two bolts

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

If you unbolt the motor you should be able to lift the window glass.

[@LK-87]

@@AstonishingGlasgow thankss

[@adamsilver4568]

8:01 how do you remove those bolts?

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

They are rivets and they need to be drilled out. The kit I had came with M10 nuts and bolts to fix the new regulator in place.

[@adamsilver4568]

@@AstonishingGlasgow managed to do it. Best instructions videos. Thank you

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thanks Adam. I am really glad the video helped and you got it sorted.

[@richiec9077]

No fucking way you swapped the reg within 15 min😂

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Correct. There is no way to swap it in 15 minutes but look at the length of the video.

[@dimiturgeorgiev6840]

Hi. If my window stop in the middle, how i can move it up?

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

If the motor has failed and the bolts that fix the glass to the regulator are not accessible you may have to try and remove the motor and wind the glass up manually. If the regulator cables have failed you may be able to raise the window by lifting the glass manually. You will either way need to lock the glass in place until you can repair the motor/regulator.

[@lebooker9361]

What pays for you buy...part #s etc....

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

The parts I swapped cast around £25 on ebay.

[@zorakjones340]

You're distracting me with your кино

[@lordbenny]

15 minutes!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Yes. The video shows me fixing the window and it lasts 15 minutes. At no point do I say the job will take 15 minutes and I didn't think that would need explained.

[@lucasroyal5626]

Dude , way too much work And way too hard So much easier paying a mechanic $150

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

No way, Im far too tight to be paying somebody to do something I can do myself.

[@markennyee]

my sentiment exactly why give someone silly money when you can then spend that money on things you want or need 😁😁

[@dumitrulungu2454]

More like a day, not even close to 15 minutes.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

This again?. You do realise that the 15 minutes refers to the length of the video and not how long the job took? I thought that would be pretty obvious but there you go. 🙄

[@bradmoss966]

If that would take you a day I'd give up on the idea of home spannering mate 🤣

[@johne6081]

@@AstonishingGlasgow Maybe he wanted to watch a real-time video. :) You did a great job with the time-editing, hitting just the critical moments your viewers actually needed. Nicely done.

[@benkilbane3292]

Shame about the video quality-Pixels ruining the Video

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Really? You must be watching it on a 120" TV 'cos it looks OK to me. Give me a few days to order in the Imax camera and I will remake it for you.

[@johne6081]

It looks great to me. Very clear, easy to see every step.