HELP: 1993 Saturn SL1 Window Regulator - READ THIS!!!

Ok Saturn guru's... I'm hoping someone can help out with this weird thing.

I have a 1993 Saturn SL1 (4dr/Manual). The driver's side window regulator
went, so I went to Saturn to buy the part and have a local mechanic install
it. I bought the part and brought it to the mechanic. He said that the
part didn't fit properly. He said that it was short about an inch and a
half. Ok, so I called Saturn and had them double check the part number --
Yep! It's the "right" part.

Well, I brought it to the Saturn dealer and had them install it. A few
hours later, I was brought to the counter and explained that the part was,
indeed, too short. The old regulator's channel was 15 1/2 inches, yet the
"new" OEM part was 14 1/4 inches. Therefore, the window wouldn't roll up
all the way. The Saturn mechanics called other dealerships to have them
check their inventory -- they all were 14 1/4 inches.

Saturn told me that they called the engineers and the corporate office to
inform them of this and so far have had no response. I was given a rental,
but was told it needed to be returned tomorrow even if my car wasn't fixed
(i.e. they'd put it back together and call me when they found something).

I don't care about the rental car, but I've never heard of this! My local
Saturn told me that manufacturers were different and the parts must have
been made to different specs, but they have no idea why they'd be this
short.

So, my question is, what do I do now? I haven't looked into junk yards yet
to see if there's a part I can grab from something else, but am I just out
of luck? I thought that Saturn had their stuff together. Other than this,
the car is decent, so I'm not junking it just because of that.

Any ideas on where to find a proper regulator to fit this?

Thanks in advance -- remove the "NOSPAM" in my name to reply: duckie74 at
yahoo dot com

 

And you think that is funny, I went to the dealer for a Idler Pulley
and tensioner and the parts were bigger than what we took off.
The parts guy went in the back and found one of the older ones and he
measurer the diameter of the wheel and it was indeed larger on the
newer part then on the old. He said to buy a bigger belt. The mechanic
told him he was an idiot.

There are I am sure other parts that were changed in the car but the
manufacturer should have the like or same part on hand.
Can you imagine a short staff window?

Elector

 

Replaced one on a 1991 SL2 about two years ago. Bought the part from
a Salvage Yard for $45. Took about 4 hours to repair. Most of the
time spent was trying to drill out the "spin rivits" used to hold the
regulator in place.

Today I just finished replacing the regulator on my wife's 1993 SC1
(coupe) 192,000 miles. This time I bought the part NEW from Saturn.
It cost $97. The part for the SC is different from the regulator used
by the sedan (SL). This time I only spent 3 hours on the repair,
because I had learned how to quickly drill the "spin rivits" out!
Also, had to use a BLUE TIP WRENCH for a few seconds to break the seal
on the screw on disks used to hold the window glass to regulator
bracket. The SATURN OEM PART fit perfectly !!!

The regulator repair is alot of work, and I do not recommend that a
"beginning" repair person try this. It takes some skill.

 

Hi Paul,

Yep. I definitely didn't do this by myself -- no mechanical skill
whatsoever. So far, Saturn still hasn't heard back from their engineers as
to what the problem is with the part being manufactured too short. I think
I was able to locate a junk yard part, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks for the reply!