It was felt that early aftermarket alternatives were notoriously frustrating to fit and this is a perception that has resonated amongst many technicians. Whilst it is true that some aftermarket versions will look visibly different to the part being replaced; high quality products like those available from Lucas, fit perfectly using existing mounts, despite any difference in appearance.
1.68 million window regulators were replaced outside of warranty in the UK during 2013, a figure that is rising by approximately 1.5% year on year. Lucas believes that this figure is growing not only as a result of the increasing number of cars on our roads, but also due to the fact that manufacturers are building lower profile, lighter weight window regulators to meet the needs of modern vehicles. Regulators are simply not as heavy duty as they once were.
OE alternative
As a result of the increasing figures, several aftermarket brands such as Lucas Electrical have introduced new window regulator ranges to the market. Quality aftermarket brands offer the garage a real alternative to OE components and an opportunity to save costs and remain competitive without compromising quality.
1 Remove the visible screws holding the door panel in place.
2. Identify and remove further fixing screws that secure the door panel. In the case of the Mégane, the door handle, window controls, corner cover, door storage compartment and speaker pod will all need to be removed.
TIP: Look carefully for door panel fixing points; in this case there is a last fixing tucked away behind a lift-up flap in the centre of the panel.
3 Remove the door panel, taking care to disconnect any electrical components still attached.
4 Ensure that the window glass is supported and then remove the old window regulator, taking note of the existing mounting points.
TIP: Retain any existing fasteners in case they are needed to install the new part.
5 Unbox the new Lucas window regulator and read the enclosed fitting instructions. There may be some visual differences between the original part and the Lucas version but this will not affect the operation.
6 Fit the new Lucas window regulator. As illustrated in the instructions, the new regulator uses the same mounting points but the cabling now slides neatly behind the front panel for a cleaner fit.
TIP: Do not be concerned if some existing fixing points are no longer required.
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7 Position the glass onto the lifting brackets.
8 Reattach the window controls and turn on the ignition to provide power.
TIP: Some Lucas window regulators may have a tab to keep tensioned or coiled components in position during fitting. If so, this will be clearly noted in the instructions and it will need to be removed in order for the new regulator to operate.
9 The Mégane has an auto-up function and anti-pinch safety feature. In order for the vehicle to recalibrate, simply press the window up control and hold for three seconds as detailed in the enclosed instructions. The vehicle then cleverly performs a pattern of window up and down manoeuvres until the new parameters are learned.
TIP: Ensure glass is free from obstruction before entering recalibration mode.
10 Once the vehicle has recalibrated any advanced functionality, ensure that all controls are working as expected before reassembling the door panel.
