Other than a paint job, this, and my AC issue, are the last things to repair.

The drivers side front and rear window will not roll up or down.
I have to push the front window up and down manually and the back window makes a clunking sound when I try to roll it down.

Am I looking at control arm issues here? Is there any easy fix. What is causing this to happen?

I had the non-operational front window problem on my 300td. I searched the archives and found that a common culprit was sheared rivets at the junction between the gear and the arm. Some tack welds will do the trick.

For the rear, my 300td clunks because of a distorted aluminum casting that holds the motor's gear against the large gear. The mesh is bad, so the gear teeth will slip past each other and make a clunking. Junkyard cars appear to have the problem as well, so it looks to be a design deficiency.

I've also found that loose nuts can cause clunking.

You really have to get inside the door yourself to see if any of these situations describe what is happening with your windows.

What car?

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83 SD

84 CD

That would help.

1981 300D

On the SD's a typical problem when you can hear the motor trying, is a broken "slider", don't know about the 123's on that issue.

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83 SD

84 CD

I'm becoming a window regulator pro, and you will too! Good DIY articles here, and the hardest part is pulling the door panel nicely.

What year?

In my 81 300D the problem with the windows was as explained earlier by Shawn D.

The rivets that held one of the arms to a gear turned by the motor had sheared off.
A little welding solved that problem.

The clunking sound was caused by the motor/gear housing being warped.
I banged and bent one of mine back into a working condition, but another needed to be replaced.

Your first time disassembling the door will be the hardest.
I took pictures with a digital camera as I took things apart,
so I would have them to help with reassembly.

Its not really hard work, just takes some time and fiddling with.

Have Fun
RichC

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When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix

Thanks guys. I have the front door panel off. Do you know where I could find some pictures of the rivets you're talking about?.

Also the rear window is all the way up and the clunking sound occurs when I try and roll it down. Is this still the motor /gear housing that is bent?

Thanks again

again, WHAT CAR? what year, what body? is this a mercedes? is it a toyota? come on, give us a hint...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Here is a picture of the regulator from the driver's front window of my 1985 300D Turbo California W123 sedan. I tried replacing the broken rivets with a repair rivet but the soft metal sheared after a few weeks. If I could weld or had a friend who did, I would have gone that route. My (commercial) machine shop-welder said that, given what he would have to charge me, I would be better off buying a new regulator and swapping in my motor, which I did.

On the other hand, in my W124 car, the regulator and motor cannot be purchased separately, unless you find a used source that is willing to sell the parts separately. However, when I replaced the left rear in my '87 with a used one, I had to buy the whole thing -- the used parts place sold them that way only.

But we still don't know what kind of car you have. If you add it to your signature, as many of us have, we won't have to bug you.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

VSTECH

I'll give you a huge hint. Look up in the post where I state 1981 300D. Go ahead and guess what make.

Everyone else thanks fo rthe help; it is truly appreciated

No offense meant on the car hint. Jeremy 5848 I'll take your advice and add it to my sig block. I'm still a little new to this. Thanks again

Since you have the panel off try jumping the motor at each door so you can watch. The front window sounds like it could be the switch or broken wires at the door hinge (I had that problem) so if it works jumping it direct to a power source then check those. If you can jump the back window motor with the panel off then maybe something will show it self.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

Ok I finally got the entire regulator & motor out of the car. The problem does in fact result from the rivets being sheared off. I don't have direct access to a welder so what would be another suitable solution?

Hye thee to a wrecking yard.

Sixto
87 300D