My drivers side window on my 1.8 A4 has had a mind of its own for some time. If you take the window down half way then try to raise it again it'll go down a couple of inches instead. You have to keep attempting to raise it and eventually it'll go in the right direction but VERY slowly.

Now it just dropped down, I have taken the panel off and the green window guide has broken.

So my question is; should I get a whole new window reg with frame from the local breakers yard, or should I just get a new guide and fix the mis-behaving window another way?

Any help gratefully received!!

 

Dude, this just happened to me last night! I went to order some food and then when I went to put them up the windows sounded like there was something scratching or rubbing against the windows.

 

Your window regulators have failed. The cable drive system has jumped the track due to the plastic pulley falling apart. This same thing happened to me on my 2000 S4.
The system recognizes too much resistance and reverses the window (It thinks there is a kid's head in the window).

The regulator is fairly cheap and about 1.5 hours to install.

You will need to drill out the rivets in the broken unit and bolt in the new one.

I suggest you use stainless fasteners

 

Man, I wish you could have told me this earlier. I went to Currys Auto Repair here in Vienna VA. They are supposedly ver reputable and they charged me $518 to get the job done. With you telling me that its only 1.5 hours to install they charged me $330 for the labor and $165 for the part and about 24 bucks for some cable lube and rivets. SOB! I feel raped. I could have done this myself.