By Scott A. Keen (Scottkeen) on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - 09:31 am: Edit

Just came back from the dealer with the replacement window regulator part for my 1997 Disco.

In case anybody needs it, the part they gave me was:

Land Rover # CUH 102300, Passenger/Front Regulator

It looks a lot different than the one I'm pulling out. The parts guy said that LR had changed the design (hopefully an improvement -- shouldn't this be a recall if they fixed the design?)

Scott
97 Disco SD7

By Scott A. Keen (Scottkeen) on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 05:27 pm: Edit

Just to follow up on this...

I just finished installing the window regulator. It was a little puzzling how to get it out but eventually you say "a-HA!" and then it comes out.

Anyway, I wanted to say that the design of this piece of equipment is horrible. Those little plastic wheels stand no chance to that honking powerful electric motor. That motor is so powerful it had mangled and twisted the regulator beyond recognition. Those little plastic wheels don't stand a chance.

I think I have a good idea why the plastic wheels keep busting on us and maybe how to stop it.

In the UP position of the window, you'll notice that by pushing the up button even at the top of the window, the motor strains to push a little more and the door panel actually buckles! Imagine what kind of incredible pressure is being put on those little plastic wheels -- let's see big powerful 12v motor plus metal door and steel bolts vs wimpy little plastic wafer-thin wheel. Hmmm, something is going to give.

I believe that continued pushing the window in the UP position even when it's at the top, is the main cause of the plastic wheels busting.

So, IMO the resolution is to not push the UP button any more than it needs to at the top. Don't "lock" it at the highest point, where the door panel starts to buckle. If you push UP too far, then back it down with one short down-click.

Bad design. What a pain in the ass.