January 29, 2017: Replacing the RR window regulator . . .
Read MoreI was lowering the roof on the XK8 one day and heard a strange but very brief unfamiliar noise. I didn't think too much about it until I got to work and saw that my right rear quarter window wasn't all the way down like it should be. The noise I was hearing was the impending doom of a cable-operated window regulator. Well this is an awesome way to begin the new year !
I've been turning wrenches for 17 years as of this writing. My experience with shop manuals is that the manufacturer has to be overly cautious when it comes to directions. The last thing anyone wants is for the customer's car to be damaged during an "official" repair procedure. So the "Remove convertible top" step in the procedure may be aimed at reducing the likelihood of collateral damage from the repair, but may not be absolutely necessary to complete the task. My thinking was that I could remove the three bolts that hold the metal block in place and pry the block inboard just enough to get that mounting tab out of the way and remove the regulator assembly.
I had to get creative with the installation process. The old regulator was broken, meaning the window moved freely along the regulator track. I could raise and lower it by hand whenever the situation dictated. I couldn't do that with the new regulator. So I had to make a few adjustments with the regulator fasteners. But everything worked out fine in the end. With the new regulator installed, I raised the top and made a series of final adjustments and put the interior back together.