Hi all

I have a freelander 1 and yesterday the front passenger electric window steel cable snapped and the window was in the down position. I looked in the book and online and removed the trim, took the glass out and the motor unit and sliders and I could see there was the broken steel cable (looks like a bike break cable) Has anyone successfully replaced the cable without buying the whole regulator kit before (about 90 quid arghh) and if so can anyone recommend a part ?

Meanwhile I have put the sliders back in place and a piece of timber to hold the window up - hmmm not good.

Any advice peeps please ??
 
I've had the same problem, the first two cable kits i got were missing the springs so i knackered both, the third cable kit from a different supplier on ebay came with the springs and worked ok for a couple of months then went again.

I repaired it for a fourth time with a good cable from the first kit, lasted anoher couple of months, they just don't seem to be a lasting repair.

I ended up getting a replacement from a breakers for 35 quid and so far it's ok, i'd get one from a scrappers, i wouldn't get a cable kit again unless you want to do the repair and don't use that window again.
 
I've fitted cable repair kits and not had a problem with them after.

I apply white ptfe lube to the cables.
 
Thanks for the replies guys - I have read a lot of good and bad reviews about replacing the cables and there is a good you tube video of how to do fit them - I have put the sliders back in and the glass with a piece of timber to hold the glass up for the time being - I am going to have a look online at prices too for regulator (does that come with motor) and cables.

regards

Dave
 
Thanks for the replies guys - I have read a lot of good and bad reviews about replacing the cables and there is a good you tube video of how to do fit them - I have put the sliders back in and the glass with a piece of timber to hold the glass up for the time being - I am going to have a look online at prices too for regulator (does that come with motor) and cables.

regards

Dave

yes
 
I have had no problems with the cable repair kits APART from the one where you get a coil of wire cable, loose end fittings which you have to glue on...they are a waste of time :eek:
The others where you get the pre assembled cable etc. are o.k. I have repaired the rear windows and tailgate regulators over the past couple of years without any problems. Just make sure that the cable is threaded and wound correctly on the spool and there is no slack present.
Very rarely do the motors fail...its usually the cables/fittings.
Always grease the cables well when fitting.
 
Some time back someone did a big write up and pics on how to change the cables. I think he comes from Holland, try searching you should be able to find it.
 
I have replaced all the cables on 4 doors up to now and the back 2 lasted around 12 months each, in fact they failed within a week of each other. Must have failed in sympathy. Kits cost around £18 each on ebay and are not easy to fit, nor is getting the old off and the new on. However this time fitted the whole assembly job lot, geniune part off ebay £38 delivered in 2 days and a whole lot easier and also look much stronger than when I have just replaced cables. Time will tell.
 
Well the kit I bought came with loose cable, I fitted it using a you tube video but couldn't get the riser bits to align properly - having fitted it, within a few hours it had jammed again - I wont be using a loose cable kit again :-(
 
I fitted three cable kits in Jan ( tailgate, rear door, front door) very fiddly, took all day, had problems with missing/ incorrect parts. So when the inevitable happened and one snapped a few months later I spent the extra 20 quid and got a full reg. fitted in a fraction of the time and no plasters needed.

I don't think anyone disputes that it is possible to do a good repair with a cable kit - the problem is the quality and consistency of supply, from what I have read around 50% of people have problems with missing/incorrect parts or badly made cables.....
 
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I had a few bit missing in my kitt too but essentially it was only one cable that need replacing - I kinda always doubted the kit but thought it would be an experience trying to fix it lol

Ah well - new part on order already - gotta love the landy eh
 
I get my kits from windowregshop on eBay. The inner cables are stainless and the outers have liners. I have had one problem from them being the wrong hand supplied but the quality of the kits makes up for it. 6 successful window repairs (on 3 different hippos) with these in the realitivly short time I have been freelandering. I made the
Mistake of buying cheaper kits before and ended up re-repairing the windows!
 
After havingr a go myself the other day as soon as I tried operating the motor the whole thing sounded like it was grinding and chewing the cable up. After taking it apart again it had done just that. One cable was salvaged from the original regulator and I straightened up the other best I could (both feeding into the motor).

When I refitted I made sure the longest cable was wound first before the lower one. The key here is to use the cams which guide the cable back onto the pulley system ( they allow a bit of play in the mechanism before pulling down on the window clamps to pull round the pulleys).

I've not seen anyone mention this so thought it worth pointing out to help anyone else that may fall foul of this. Made it so much quicker to get back together - still a pig of a job though if your ham fisted like myself.
 

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