Vaseline and electric windows

[vernon.taylor]

Salut

I was having a bit of trouble with the electric window of my everyday family car - it was going down slowly and coming up crooked and getting stuck, requiring me to pull it true before continuing; so I took it apart and the only slight adjustment available did nothing. It seemed to be sticking a bit on one side so out of desperation I greased the rubber window channel with vaseline - and now it's perfect !

Have I re-invented the wheel ? Any reason why I shouldn't do the same on my +2 with its reticent passenger window ?

@+

Vernon

[Keith Scarfe]

I have used a silicone spray bought here in the UK from Halfords. Works great at making the windows slide freely but if you are too liberal with it it gets on the glass and makes the windows a bit smeary. A bit of a pain in that I have to clean them every time they go down/up. I guess any sort of lubricant would do this too so yes it works but use the minimum.

[theelanman]

I have used a silicone spray

I agree....did this on mine too......

[cliveyboy]

The rubber seals tends to harden and get dirty, so spraying with some silicone spray softens and cleans it.
Be careful using Vasaline its petroleum based and can attack rubber.
Silicone grease is a better choice.
Clive

[RichardHawkins]

Vernon,

I agree with Clive. Take care as you do not know how the lubricant will react with the seal.

Lotus recommend "Krytox" for elise window seal lubrication. I think Krytox is a DuPont trade name for a particular synthetic lubricant.

Richard Hawkins

[chrisban]

Mine were slow as buggery on my +2 until I cleaned up the main earth point that connects through the rear of the chassis, now they fly up and down quicker than my scenic.

[richardcox_lotus]

Krytox is what VW recommend I use on the roof seals of my Eos. It's very expensive.

[Galwaylotus]

I, too, tend to stay away from petroleum-based products with rubber materials. The exception is oil filter seals where there is really no other choice - and they shouldn't be on there long enough to harden too much!!
The silicone spray works a treat on window seals and the like.

[Gordon Sauer]

Sailkote is a lubricant I have used that goes on as a spray but it's dry and so does not collect junk. I have not specifically used it on the window seals but on linkages where concern about gunk is an issueI would think the fact that it doesn't pick up things would be beneficial and I don't believe it's petroleum based but more like Teflon. Gordon Sauer

[vernon.taylor]

Salut

Oh dear - I'll clean off what I can when I get back from holiday - at least I didn't do the Plus 2 !

Gordon - Sailkote looks interesting - as does Hullkote for polishing.

@+

Vernon

[twincamman]

Another use for K Y
jelly ..Ed