The 1st generation Audi TT, available in both 2+2 coupe and roadster formats, was nominated for the North American Car of the Year in 2000 and listed by Car and Driver as one of the ten best cars in both 2000 and 2001. With a run that lasted from 1998 to 2006, the 1st generation TT remains one of the most recognizable two-door sports cars on the road. Some owners experience problems with the window regulators.
Both the driver side and the passenger side window on the TT are run by window regulators: small motor and cable assemblies that work together to raise and lower the window smoothly. When something within this assembly breaks or malfunctions, car owners will likely experience one or both windows jamming halfway up the track, often accompanied by a grinding noise. Any movement from the window is slow and irregular, and once jammed, there is little hope of getting the window unstuck.
One possible malfunctioning part is the motor itself. Due to excessive door slamming or just general wear and tear the regulator motor can get to the point where it needs to be replaced. Slightly more common is that the main cable that lifts the window up and down has either snapped or frayed, causing it to become jammed inside of the pulley system. Discovering which of these two issues might be plaguing your vehicle requires the entire door panel to be removed, a tricky operation that non-professionals should not attempt unless they’re willing to risk smashing a window.
The window regulator system is complex and sensitive, and a failure along any of its parts can lead to some serious problems with the window’s operation. Rather than assume the problem will sort itself out, and rather than intensify the issue by trying to tackle it yourself, make an appointment with a specialized Audi repair specialist who can carefully take apart your doors, fix the problem, and put everything back together in perfect working order.
Search for a local, independent Audi repair shop with Audi mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the expense.