How to Remove a Window Regulator from a Volkswagen

Applies to: VW GOLF GTI (1999-2005) R32 (2004) NEW BEETLE (1998-2010) JETTA (1999-2005) GOLF (1999-2005) PASSAT (1998-2005)

 

Check out our helpful video detailing the instructions for removing a VW window regulator on a variety of Volkswagen models, including the Passat and Jetta. We have listed out a step-by-step guide as part of our Volkswagen window regulator removal instructions. You can print these instructions at home before you visit the yard.

This guide applies to VW Jetta (1999-2005), VW New Beetle (1998-2010), VW Golf (1999-2006), VW GTI (1999-2005), and VW Passat (1998-2005) models.

Pull Tip: Before you can remove the window regulator, you first need to remove the door trim panel and the door glass.

Estimated Pull Time: 15 minutes

Recommended Tools

  • image of needed socket pull tool at Pull-A-Part 10mm Socket
  • Use a ratchet to make your repair with help from Pull-A-Part. Ratchet

Instructions

  • 1

    Start by removing the ten 10mm bolts.

  • 2

    Pull the window regulator away from the door but do not rip it off the door because you still need to remove the wire loom

  • 3

    Once it is loose from the door, come in from behind and press the trim clips to remove them without breaking them

  • 4

    Disconnect the window motor and pull the two connectors off of the clips

  • 5

    Switch to the backside of the door and pull the grommet out and undo the trim clip.

  • 6

    Disconnect the speaker

  • 7

    Swing the door carrier down just enough to gain access to the connector for the door latch inside the door. Reach in and disconnect the electrical connector for the door latch.

  • 8

    Pull the wiring harness through the carrier and lay it off to the side.

  • 9

    Push the grommet for the lock rod back through and well as the cable. Make sure that you do not pull the carrier straight out. You run the risk of breaking the lock rod. Lift it up and over the lock rod and feed the cable through

Hey, everybody. Charles for HumbleMechanic.com back with another DIY and Drive tutorial with Pull-A-Part Used Auto Parts.
Today, I'm going to show you how to take the front window regulator out of a Volkswagen. Before you get to this point, you're going to have to remove the door trim panel, as well as the window glass. And you can heck out two other videos I did on how to remove those parts. Next, we're going to take out the 10 10-millimeter bolts. Then we're going to pull the window regulator away from the door. But you don't want to just rip it off the door, because we're going to need to remove this wire loom. Once it's loose from the door, we can actually come in behind and press the trim clips to remove them without breaking them. You can use a trim clip removal tool on these, but I really prefer to take the extra couple of minutes and undo them from the back side so that when you reinstall it, you can secure the wiring harness so that it doesn't rattle. Next, we're going to disconnect the window motor. We're going to pull these two connectors off of the clips. And we're going to come over to the back side of the door, pull the grommet out, and undo this trim clip. Normally, you would have to disconnect the speaker, as well, but because this vehicle has aftermarket speakers, we don't need to worry about that. Next, we're going to swing the door carrier down just enough to gain access to the connector for the door latch inside the door. We're going to reach in and disconnect the electrical connector for the door latch. We're going to pull the wiring harness through the carrier, and lay that off to the side. We're going to push the grommet for the lock rod back through, as well as the cable. And then what you don't want to do is pull this carrier straight out this way. You're going to run the risk of breaking the lock rod. You want to come up over the lock rod and then feed the cable through.
All right, guys. This is Charles for HumbleMechanic.com. Thanks for watching, and I will see you next time.

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