marinemom

got the door panel off. The cable is all messed up. Are there any pictures out there that show the 'correct' way the cable should be on the pulley? THere were some other items that weren't connected, but the messed up cable most likely pulled them out.

I feel if I fix the cable, then I will get the darn thing working.

Susan

dloudy

The cable is supposed to wrap around the motor pulley, and lie in the grooves nice and neatly....flat, and taught. As in my case, it's off the pulley and kinked and twisted in about 100 different directions.

marinemom

found a picture on another site, but of course they have a different type door, where you can reach everything easily. Mine is behind a metal panel, so that you have to be double jointed and a contortionist.
Just have to figure a way to get the messed up cable off the pulley and make it "pretty". It is stuck a few times between the metal and the rounded part. Sorry, it would be easier if you saw it.

Thank goodness for Indian summers or I would be freezing my butt off about now.

dloudy

I feel your pain. Thank goodness I have a garage to work in....and park the truck in out of the weather. My driver's side looks like a bomb has exploded....parts everywhere....

I am not having much luck finding a replacement part on the web, either.

marinemom

it is official - - I GAVE UP!

I discovered that I am not a contortionist or nor double jointed. Have all the parts in the truck, window held up with a pair of vise grips. Will make a phone call to the dealer and make an appointment to get it to fix it. Out of warrenty....UGH! It is going to hurt, but have to get it fixed before the crappy weather starts.

Thanks for all the help. Wished I could have come back with a story of success...maybe next time.

dloudy

Don't give up. I am trying to locate a window regulator assembly for mine.....and I can keep you posted on the part number when I find mine. I think I've located one....but have to make a phone call first. From what I see, it'd save us about half, or more, if we put them in ourselves.

Wicked FX4

I just replaced my regulator/motor assembly on my 04. removed the regulator assembly and found the cable messed up. i have done about 20 of these at my dealership and have found that it is best to replace the regulator and motor at the same time. it comes assembled and you just removed the old one and install the new one as easy as pie. if anyone has any questions on replacing it just write me and i will give you detailed instructions

04SilverF150

Had something similiar happen to my '04 F150 a few months back... I had rolled my front drivers window down, and when I rolled it back up, I heard a pop, and the window no longer rolled up. Took the door panel off and got to the window.

The motor still ran, but didn't drive the cable mechanism used to lift the actual window. In my case, the cable was still intact....

I did the following.
-Carefully pulled the clear plastic back so I could access all the bolts.
-Unbolted the glass from the clamps. used an stick inserted 'crosswise' to keep the window up
-unbolted the track and the motor and carefully removed from the door. (turns out the little plastic cog on the motor that engages the actual cable drive mechanism had snapped)
-got a new unit (sold as a single complete unit containing the lift and the motor) and installed in reverse order

Things that I learned:
-remove the bolts behind the grab handle prior to pulling the door panel off (I didn't get them all off the first time)
-remove the lower speaker nuts that the speaker screws attach to so you can lift off the door panel.
-go slow and have a beer.

To answer your specific questions

I bought my parts at the Ford Dealership in Tacoma ($180)
I wasn't able to see exactly what was broken til I had it out.
I have a 2004 F150 Supercab, new body style

marinemom

Called the dealer this morning and taking it in this afternoon.
As for the clamps that hold the glass, hubby tried to take the screw out, but it was too tight for him and he was afraid of stripping it. He (we) both gave up after 3 hours of fighting with the cable and bolts. Getting the door panel off only took 20 minutes, after the consultation with my son who is a mechanic.
After all this experience, I do have a question - - -

Is getting a book (Haynes or Chilton) worth it? I have over 100,000 miles on my '04. This is the first thing that has ever gone wrong, which seems to have been a common problem to others with this year truck. My husband really isn't too thrilled working on it with all the electronics and all. I am not sure how much work on it will get done by me or my husband. I am thinking it is not since I have all you guys!

Good old Bill

Susan (Marinemon), am glad you stuck with it instead of throwing in the towell like that one guy said to do. I know I'm joining the fun a little late. Personnally, always have had more trouble with the hidden fasteners than the works inside. Again, congrats for staying with it, sorry you ended up going to the dealership. Haynes or Chiltons, never had that much success with either. Like I would ask the wrong questions for their answers, Hope your Marine is doing well.