XM electric window failure (cable tangled up)

Citroen XM electric front window - common problems and how to power it up out of the car;
• Citroen XM electric wi...
New video: XM electric window fault-finding - Outer cable guides
• XM electric window fau...
Electric windows fall into three basic types - motor powered cable drum with rigid slide unit, motor powered cable and semi rigid cable guides and motor powered quadrant/scissor lift.
Manufacturers have gone over to motor-cable drum units to save weight, cost and reduce assembly time however these cable units do tend to suffer from cable issues such as rusting, seizing, snapping or tangling up. The older direct geared quadrant/scissor lift type are robust, bulky and also heavier which is why they're rarely found on modern cars now. Ironically these old scissor lift types are the most reliable.
The Citroen XM and other models in the Peugeot-Citroen family and also in other makes uses a motor powered cable drum unit which winds in or out a bowden steel cable which is attached to a plastic 'carriage' which in turn is clipped to the window pane. Failure of an electric window can be caused by electrical fault such as failed motor, failure of the power supply, switch or relay pack (rarely all three) or mechanical - such as snapped bowden cable, rusty, seized or tangled cable, failure of glass support carriage and guides or if a scissor lift/quadrant type - missing teeth on the quadrant which wont engage with the motor drive cog. Also worth noting that there are two basic cable window lifts - one with just two flexible cable runs and guides where the guides are mounted in the door, and the type in my video where the metal slide/guide runner is part of the mechanism and is removed as one along with the cables. In my example, the failure was due to the cable drum cover plate securing screw vibrating loose, falling out thus allowing the cover plate to release which in turn allowed the cable to unspool off the drum making a right mess. As the motor was running the tangled cable ends bent sharply thus preventing it being reused.
I sourced a replacement cable made from thinner, stronger stainless steel bowden cable from a kit sold on Ebay. The repair kit is much cheaper than buying a new window lift unit and as second hand units are probably already worn out, it makes more sense to replace the cable. I warn you - removing the motor and cable unit from inside the XM door is a bit of a challenge as you have to manipulate the unit in several different directions. Could'nt show you on video as there just isn't anything to see as both hands are up in the door and you really can't get a camera inside to actually see anything. I will be inspecting the unit in the passenger door when the weather warms up so will try and film that process as and when it happens.
To keep your electric windows running smoothly, ensure the guides and slides are lubed and if your unit is starting to creak or take ages to cycle up or down, you really need to strip it down and see if the cable drum is at fault.
/ tk42138
howtomaintainyourcar.blogspot....

[@inkyspider1]

Hi chum, smooth, informative and to the point, great. The small camera is working a treat for these kind of quick vid's Keep up the good work

[@rctcjc28]

great help, thank you.

[@buffaloweddingvideos]

thanks 4 posting.

[@miguellopez1931]

Where's the second video

[@kadandowning8071]

thank you so much

[@antoinetteloveslife7835]

BEST VIDEO SOFAR

[@philcose5388]

A tip I haven't tried as yet, is if the cable is no good or shredding. one could use a thick "E" string from a guitar to replace it.

[@TK42138]

Not sure how flexible an E string would be. Bicycle brake cable can also be used.

[@philcose5388]

The E string is no different to a brake cable re flexibility

[@TK42138]

@@philcose5388 Good to know. I ended up using bowden control cable from an aircraft spares supplier. So there's an XM being driven around with Cessna part on it 😆

[@philcose5388]

I bet it flies up and down now.!!@@TK42138

[@TK42138]

@@philcose5388 😆

[@yisraeleliyahu7495]

Oh so the steel cable may be good but it is slipping because my motor is working fine as far as i hear it, but the windows does not move, since i live in argentina, for me the best option is to replace with analog turn handle, is it possible for peugeot 207?

[@TK42138]

If the motor can be heard working and if the steel cable is still winding in and out of the drum without tangling then the fault is at the window slide clips that the cable attaches to at the window. If they've broken or detached, the glass won't move. If you can remove the door trim and use a torch while pressing the button you may be able to see what is moving or not moving. Just don't put hand or fingers into the door interior while operating the motor as there is risk of injury.

[@mew2latias]

How did you get the spool out?

[@TK42138]

You have to drill out rivet that holds the cover on. Then once new cable is loaded onto the cable drum, the drum axle which the cover was riveted to has a thread put in so a short bolt and washer can be used to retain the cover.

[@marcbrasse747]

Any tips on removing the door trim?

[@TK42138]

On an XM?

[@marcbrasse747]

Yep. I've got an XM with a series 2 interior. The roundish one, although the door trim is stil the same if I remember correctly. The trim of my right front door does not sit well and thus regularly partly comes loose at the bottom, especially during warm weather. The partly loose panel is then actaully keeping the door from opening properly by catching on the raised sill trim. I have already bought some new "mushrooms" to try and push the trim back but replacing them did not fix the problem. Probably somebody once did a bit of work in the door but bodged up the panel refitment. I'd apreciate any tips you have.

[@marcbrasse747]

Oops. Silly question. I've actaully got the full Haynes manual and thus a full description. Still any extra tips would be apreciated.

[@TK42138]

+Marc Brassé Bit tricky to fit, the XM door cards because they not only clip in using fragile push clips, but the top of the card sits over the top of the inner door structure. I had to use a torch to see exactly where the lower fixings align with the holes, otherwise they move and it's easy to miss them thus causing a loose door trim. Sometimes the horizontal window weather strip where top of door trim meets window will loosen and prevent correct positioning of door trim.

[@marcbrasse747]

Ah, very interesting. So it would be possible that this top weather strip was not entirely in place when the card was repositioned, leading to the "timebomb" I described. Thank you very much! Exactly the sort of tip I was hoping for. I'll pay extra attention to this. The car has to get MOT'd soon so I can't postpone this much longer anyway. I'll keep you posted about the results.

[@NarutoSSj6]

happend me... we fixed it by fixing the window inplace with a wooden piece. Hope just the window doesn´t break untill we find a new old car.

[@TK42138]

Had to do the same few months back for a rear passenger window on a Ford Galaxy until a 2nd hand motor/lifter unit can be found.

[@ladybugsarah6671]

But you didn't fix it 👎😔

[@TK42138]

Sarah Abrahamsen Could have sworn I'd actually done a repair video. I ended up having to rebuild the cable guides using aircraft parts since XM electric window lifts are hard to find in good condition. My other video discusses these problems. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6OZZ3ijjtalp7c

[@Dwelly70]

wasted my time.. i was here to see how you respooled that cable. wow.

[@TK42138]

The clue is in the title.

[@MikeM2000]

what a waste of time!! Exactly what did you do????????????

[@TK42138]

Michael Moore It's a demo of what goes wrong on the XM electric window cable drum.

[@miroslavpastuovic5122]

Michael Moore lada kalinaa119 pobizaci stakla

[@miroslavpastuovic5122]

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