C5 X7 Driver's Window

[GiveMeABreak]

So I was in the multi-storey this afternoon already with ticket in hand to exit the barrier and crunch sound and no window movement.

Felt a bit of a t*t having to move the car back and forward until I could open the car door to shove the ticket in! Couldn't of happened at a better time!

So is this the rusty cables, water ingress issue? I'll be ringing up the dealer on Monday after I've consulted my warranty bible!
Have any of you had this fail on your X7, and what exactly was it?
TIA

[Lighty]

These fail regularly on the X7, usually corroded cables. Not replaced one for a little while, but always sourced them from Citroen. Maybe someone else provides a cheaper alternative by now.

[GiveMeABreak]

Thanks Lighty - is this the regulator cables only as opposed to anything else like the motor? Is there anything that can be done to prevent re-occurrence of this once replaced - i.e. greasing of cables - or is it simply something we can't prevent due to poor design? I've never had a regulator cable go in any of my cars - and am concerned on the X7, because I never drive with windows open and rarely ever open them - or is that the problem, in that they are not used enough and seize up?

[vborovic]

They're a factory error, much like the first gen steering rack for the X7 ... a design flaw, that's just waits for the right moment to act up ...

[Lighty]

Yes it's the reg cables that tend to corrode, guess some spray grease once in a while would help.

[vborovic]

guess some spray grease once in a while would help

If they actually put some backdoor in the door card panel, that'd be nice ... ... but pulling the entire panel off just for this hardly makes sense, even if it does actually prolong the issue happening (unless you do some modifications once the door card is off, i.e. change the speakers, add electrochromed mirrors or just sound dampen the door)

[Lighty]

Here you go, obviously common, as there are loads available
https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/121632401148

[GiveMeABreak]

OK - I see there is a replacement regulator from 9222 FX to 9675898980 for the right hand one - is this the replacement to cure the problem?

[GiveMeABreak]

guess some spray grease once in a while would help

If they actually put some backdoor in the door card panel, that'd be nice ... ... but pulling the entire panel off just for this hardly makes sense, even if it does actually prolong the issue happening (unless you do some modifications once the door card is off, i.e. change the speakers, add electrochromed mirrors or just sound dampen the door)

That was my thought exactly - I mean drilling out the rivets and getting that door trim off without loosing too many bits is a job in itself - and makes any regular or preventative maintenance extremely difficult - by design no doubt.

Thanks both, I'll ask the mechs to ensure they grease it up big time when they do it - I won't have the patience to attempt as it was bad enough getting the plastic door handle trim inserts off to paint without cracking the tips, yet alone the door card

[Richard_C]

I worry about this.

Do they always fail "window up" - inconvenient but at least you stay mobile - or can it fail when it is open?

(On my old BX the aluminium section came unglued from the glass one night and the glass dropped, I managed to pull it most of the way up and wedge it but I had a memorably cold, noisy 200 mile trip home).

[Bob L'eponge]

They're a factory error, much like the first gen steering rack for the X7 ... a design flaw, that's just waits for the right moment to act up ...

To be fair, the same design, and probably the same supplier, is used by most manufacturers these days. Follow the eBay link for the C5 repair kit and you will see that the VW Passat has just the same issue, with the supplier having sold 287 kits for the passenger side window alone.

[GiveMeABreak]

The Citroen one for 9675898980 (the X7 replacement Part for the original) is £100 on ebay (Peugeot / Citroen franchise no doubt) so I hope that's the improved part.
@Richard C - I guess I was lucky it failed on opening and gave up - so my window is actually tightly shut, but I wouldn't like to say if it's more likely to fail going up or down!

[GiveMeABreak]

Well job nearly done, the dealer found no rust or corrosion, but they are replacing the whole unit (motor and regulator etc.) under warranty.

[jgra1]

That warranty is useful

[GiveMeABreak]

Only just renewed it for second year by invitation; has paid for itself 10 times over already, literally!