[MR2] Moving power window with no battery

[Dennis McFayden]

Bill,
 
The last car we had painted was my daughter's '89 SC. We removed everything that was removable including the bumpers and all exterior lights. Of course that also included all of the trim. I mean we stripped the car down the bone. 
 
I believe the total cost was a little more than $2000. The painter stripped the car down to the metal and then built it up to the final paint job. Ya it was a lot of work but worth the effort. We have  now done this to four MK1s. One is no longer is service since getting wiped out but that Fedex truck. 
 
I have one additional '89 SC that will also be going through this procedure after the complete mechanical restoration. 
 
Dennis

--- On Sat, 11/15/08, William Brandt <wbrandt1 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

From: William Brandt <wbrandt1 at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Moving power window with no battery
To: mr2garage at yahoo.com
Cc: "MR2 Email" <mr2 at mr2.com>
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008, 9:19 PM





Hi Dennis - well, I went out there and got it. Like many trips to the P&P, I discovered that there were either tools that I didn't have (long handled combi wrench for one), or wished I had (battery with jumper cables to move the window). 
 
Being rapidly an OF of course I removed the handles last time the car was painted 10 years ago but forgot what a PITA it is...
 
This is what I (re) learned: 
 
It is easiest to remove with the window up - one window was left up; the other down. 
 
With the window up, you don't have to mess with trying to snake behind the glass to get to the 2 10mm bolts. They are still in an awkward position but you have most of the glass out of the way. 
 
Oh, and in all this search insisting that I get MR2 door handles I look at these things and they were on a ton of Toyotas through a range of years. I wonder what percentage of parts are interchangeable on the AW-11 - probably a good percentage. 
 
It took me almost an hour of getting one side off (I'll bet you can guess which position the window was in ;-) )
 
There are 2 plastic clips that attach to steel rods on the assembly; one for the door lock and one for the door latch. Those are relatively easy to undo. 
 
One thing with the windows - while it is easier to remove the handle with the window up, once you have done so I imagine if the door closes you would have a hard time opening the thing other than the inside. 
 
Probably you could grab the steel rod inside the door (where the handle was) and with some needle nose eventually pull it to open - but it would probably be smart to lower the window - at least on one side - before taking the car to the painter. 
 
Most of you have been there - like a golfer determine the best angle for entry - you have a tiny combi wrench (my 10mm is probably 4") - take the open end side and trying not to drop the thing down the door move the bolt about .25 mm each time, flipping the wrench each cycle and praying that you don't drop it ;-) 
 
The car has a nice rubber spoiler - heck I already have 2 extra so I couldn't see getting really silly - it is that nice green and gold combination we talked about a few months ago. There was even a nice sunroof cover (gray) that some cretin had left in the dirt trying to get what he wanted - I put it in the car - with a little cleaning...(these seem to get lost as the car ages - people who sell them don't seem to include it)
 
Both fiberglass side skirts are fine too. 
 
For a car with 97,000 miles it was in pretty bad shape - the paint was half gone; the exhaust manifold had the common crack in #4 (someone took the engine last week) - meaning the car hadn't had good care. 
 
But I got what I wanted - 
 
For you all in the Sacramento area (any??) I have found this yard on Antelope in Roseville - U-Pull-It - to have a lot better prices than the chain Pick N Pulls - last week I pulled the radio (didn't need it but they are getting hard to find) - radio and igniter/coil assembly for $20 total - at the Pick N Pull these would have been ~ $60.00 
 
The one downside is that the cars are all scattered by models and makes - so you have to look through everything to see if they have something you want. 
 
The 2 door handles were $14...
 
I got these door handles to keep when I get the car painted - 
 
Earlier in its life (when I had given it to my Girl Friend) she took it to a cheap paint place and they sprayed the door handles - which would be fine except some of the paint on the original handles is now coming off...
 
What does your shop charge you for a paint job Dennis? I do want to go though the whole mess of taking off all the trim - spoiler, molding, handles, etc...Maybe in January when they should be hungry. Even removed the back window - about 20-30 hours work. I remember the task was such that I don't look forward to doing it again but I am sure I would save at least $1000. 
 
Bill

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Dennis McFayden 
To: wbrandt1 at sbcglobal.net 
Cc: MR2 Email 
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2008 8:31 PM
Subject: Re: Moving power window with no battery






Bill,
 
The outside door handle can be removed without removing the glass. I have done this several times before taking one of our cars to the painter. From what I remember there are two bolts that hold the door handle in place. One of the access holes is covered with a round piece of tape. Remove the tape to get to one of the bolts. From what I remember the other bolt can be removed from other openings. The bolt head is 10 mm. 
 
You do have to remove the linkage that attaches to the handle. The linkage is held in place with plastic retaining devices. They can be removed by slipping the latch part from the rod. 
 
I'm sorry I don't remember the steps in detail. The painter I usually go to always has me remove stuff like the door handles. That way he can paint the handles and mask that small chorme piece where the key goes. Of course that is only for '88 and '89 MK1s. The earlier ones are always black. 
 
Dennis
 
 
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:09:12 -0800
From: "William Brandt" <wbrandt1 at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: [MR2] Moving power window with no battery
To: "MR2 List" <mr2 at mr2.com>
Message-ID: <B062ED10E44E480A838CBB3EECE1A2B0 at brandthome>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
    reply-type=original

I am going out tomorrow to grab some door handles at a p&P - and it would 
seem that the window has to be removed to get to the 2 bolts holding the 
handle inside - anyone know how to move the window when there is no crank - 
a power switch and no battery?

Thanks

Bill