What is this peice I found in my door?

[lfot]

I found this rattling around in my driver's side door. Everything is still working properly, but I imagine this might be essential to the operation of something. edit: It's metal.

Anyone know what this is? (Sorry about the pic, all I had was my cell phone.)

[MattKellett]

Not sure exactly what it is, but i had same piece laying in my door too. I think there was an earlier post, maybe even Wayne's 959 with same problem and I think it was part of power windows, something to do with limit of travel.

Of course I could be totally wrong as it's been a long time since i read the thread. Anyway, my windows seems to be working fine without it !!!

[gregg911]

I am going to guess that it attaches to your window at the base where it sits in the rail that makes it go up and down. It probably shrunk with time and heat and got loose.

Just a guess.

[JohnJL]

It looks like the door latch lever retaining clip. AFAIK it was plastic in most cars and all the ones I've seen but it looks very similar to that part. If it is what I think it might be, it keeps the door release rod in the door release lever...

Like This?

[lfot]

Originally Posted by JohnJL

It looks like the door latch lever retaining clip. AFAIK it was plastic in most cars and all the ones I've seen but it looks very similar to that part. If it is what I think it might be, it keeps the door release rod in the door release lever...

Like This?

Nope, that part of my door is fine. This piece is metal and much bigger. If it helps, when the window is up all the way, there is a slight rattle coming from the door. If I nudge it down just a tick (still sealed), the rattle goes away.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by lfot

I found this rattling around in my driver's side door. Everything is still working properly, but I imagine this might be essential to the operation of something. edit: It's metal.

Anyone know what this is? (Sorry about the pic, all I had was my cell phone.)

Derek,

That metal piece is the broken section of a window regulator pivot mechanism. I had one piece like that when mine broke. The window regulator control spring sits right on it. HTH.

Tony

[lfot]

Thanks Tony,

So what does that mean? Am I looking at pending disaster?

[KFC911]

Tony is spot on. Here's a link to a thread from several years ago (which also contains other links). It's been several years since I remove that "annoying rattle piece", and I haven't had any issues since.

Can someone identify this window/door part?

[lfot]

Originally Posted by KC911

Tony is spot on. Here's a link to a thread from several years ago (which also contains other links). It's been several years since I remove that "annoying rattle piece", and I haven't had any issues since.

Can someone identify this window/door part?

Good to know. Thanks guys!

[nameisbauer]

"when the window is up all the way, there is a slight rattle coming from the door. If I nudge it down just a tick (still sealed), the rattle goes away."

Mine has been like that since I bought it.

[nameisbauer]

I read both threads, and I see that that if everything works, its fine(been fixed). Then what is the rattle sound when the window is at max height that goes away when a "tick" down with power windows?

[lfot]

Originally Posted by nameisbauer

I read both threads, and I see that that if everything works, its fine(been fixed). Then what is the rattle sound when the window is at max height that goes away when a "tick" down with power windows?

And why did I misspell piece in my original post?

[nameisbauer]

I wasn't going to call you out for spelling. Glad you did. ha

[911s55]

It appears to be what is left of a pivot bolt, could have been replaced by previous owner and never fished out of the bottom of the door?

[Gogar]

You're in the "What is this thing in my door" club!

It's a "pivot spring retainer." Inside the door there's a big "clock spring" looking thing for the power windows. That part is mounted to the door sheet metal; it sits in the center of the spring and holds the spring tension. The original design didn't work out very well, and it's a frequent point of failure.

Jim is right, apparently many times if a tech fixes it and can't find the old one that fell off, it stays in the door and you find it years later.

here you go:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/POR_911M_INTpnl_pg2.htm#item10

[dfink]

Had it also..... It must be bad luck to remove it from door so it just gets left in there. I would put it back in and stick it in place with some of the black goo that holds the wires out of the way.

[rattlsnak]

We replace them all the time. It installs into the regulator and the new part must be welded on. Its basically there to keep tension on the window so it wont 'slide down' and if yours is broken, the big spring will come apart sooner or later.

[moneymanager]

Often this piece is the first clue your Porsche is in need of major work. Wouldn't surprise me to find you needed valve guides, Time Certs in the case, maybe line boring and blue printing or possibly a new transmission.

[burgermeister]

You can get an appropriately sized axle or shoulder bolt at the hardware store, and in <30 minutes of work with a cutoff wheel, manufacture a close facsimile. Then just tack it into your window regulator with a welder. After removing the regulator, it will seem like a breeze ...

If your window goes up and down at normal speed, the pivot spring probably caught on something else and is still doing most of its job.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

Often this piece is the first clue your Porsche is in need of major work. Wouldn't surprise me to find you needed valve guides, Time Certs in the case, maybe line boring and blue printing or possibly a new transmission.

Many times, a 3.6 upgrade is the only way to fix that rattle . In my case, 4-5 years after fishing that piece out of my door bottom, my window still work just fine. I have to assume the PO "fixed" the regulator, but I can't seem to locate the 3.6 so I think it was a hack job repair...