[toneman]

my driver's side rear window fell a few months ago and i finally found some time to try to fix it. i essentially followed these instructions with new plastic dowels:
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87363

an hour and a half later, i still get the new dowel in place! can't figure out what i'm doing wrong.

-i bought the replacement dowels from ECS
-i put the smaller one inside the larger one
-i tried to put the dowel in the window hole with the window up and off the plastic platform and i can't push the dowel assy through the hole
-i tried to seat the window in the platform first and then push the dowel through the access hole and i can't push it through that way either

no matter how hard i try, i can't get the dowel through the damn hole! is there an easier way? is there a different part i should be using?

thanks in advance for any help!

 

[davenay67]

I had the same problem last summer and cant remember all too well how annoying a job this is to do.

Anyway, the write up you are using is comprehensive, but for this job you don't need to remove the inner metal panel. There is a large circular access hole that you can go through to access the mechanism that holds the window glass to the plastic platform using the plastic dowel pin. Wind the window mechanism down (almost all the way to the bottom) until you can see (and align) the hole in the window glass with the home in the white plastic window platform. Then simply press the dowel home firmly and carefully.

You are correct to place the small inner dowel into the larger outer dowel first; I was not doing this and that was the cause of all my problems. Once I did it the correct way the job was totally easy.


Dave.

 

[i5mast]

-i tried to put the dowel in the window hole with the window up and off the plastic platform and i can't push the dowel assy through the hole

So you're stuck at pushing dowel assembly into the hole on a window glass? I had my window glass off the car when I did it. It was not easy but not terribly hard. You may have to twist the dowel into the hole.

 

[toneman]

So you're stuck at pushing dowel assembly into the hole on a window glass? I had my window glass off the car when I did it. It was not easy but not terribly hard. You may have to twist the dowel into the hole.

yes, totally stuck at this part. i've tried both through the access hole and by going behind the metal panel and sliding it into the hole before dropping the window down. i simply cannot get the pin through. maybe it's too cold outside (mid 50's) and the plastic is too stiff, i don't know. i can get the outer piece in by itself, but with the inner piece inside of it, it's basically a super interference fit. aack. any other ideas?

thanks.

 

[i5mast]

I can just suggest to take the glass out of the door and then push the dowel into the hole

 

[JayTheSnork]

iirc, both dowels are hollow. find a small torx bit/driver that just fits inside the smaller dowel, place the smaller dowel into the larger dowel, then rpess it home with the torx.

if my memory is incorrect and the inner dowel is solid, you can still use this approximate method by a partial insertion of the smaller dowel into the larger dowel, and still use the torx driver.

 

[crash893]

pictures please

 

[toneman]

jay's right, both dowels are hollow. i tried the torx driver method and even hit it with a hammer to get it through. it didn't budge and i stopped for fear of breaking the window. i think channel locks will be my next attempt, as soon as i find time and a warm day.

 

[toneman]

and here's the offending part

 

[VanDan]

I've done this twice, and my recollection is that I needed to squeeze (compress) the outer plastic pin in order to make it fit into the hole. So, start with the larger pin, compress it slightly and get it started into the hole. Before you've gone too far in get the smaller one started within the the larger pin. I believe I found it helpful to have something on the backside of the window hole to keep the pins from falling out the other side, and as someone said before try to use something like a torx driver or small screwdriver on the side you are pushing from to drive it all home...not too far though!! Good luck...it is a tough, tight fit.

dan

 

[Electron Man]

... So, start with the larger pin, compress it slightly and get it started into the hole. Before you've gone too far in get the smaller pin started within the larger pin. I believe I found it helpful to have something* on the backside of the window hole to keep the pins from falling out the other side...

dan

This is essentially what I did, except with the power regulator panel removed. The body shop had "fixed" it twice, but the pin/dowel parts kept coming out due to not being centered.

*A hand on the backside of the glass is the best thing to get the parts centered in the pane.

 

[toneman]

if i remember right, once i put the large dowel in the hole by itself, it looked compressed all the way -- there was no "slit" visible anymore. so cramming the smaller one inside it seemed (& felt) impossible. i will definitely try again.

 

[Junoon]

this little crappy piece is so difficult to put. After trying so many times, it finally got it in, stayed there for two months and fell off again. Will give another shot in spring, it's fine for winters. I think there was a suggestion to use closet knob. Sounds like that would be more reliable.

 

[wheresjim]

IIRC the dealer told me to put the dowels in so that the outer dowel had the slit facing upwards and the inner dowel with the slit facing downwards. He claimed that somehow prevents them from falling out later

 

[Grip Grip]

Instead of using the recommended fixes, I just used a heavy duty zip tie threaded through the hole and it's worked well for months now. Just an FYI in case you give up on the dowel.

 

[VanDan]

if i remember right, once i put the large dowel in the hole by itself, it looked compressed all the way -- there was no "slit" visible anymore.

The key (i think) is to not put it in very far... you might also want to check the bevels at either end and see if one is more tapered than another. Start with the smallest end. Also try Wheresjim suggestion of cross-lining up the slits (might try that myself the next time I have to do this!)

dan