Electric windows....fitting of

One 'gripe' i've always had with my Duetto is unfortunately the original owner at new must have been a bit of a 'tight wad' and didn't shell out the extra for electric windows. Maybe some would consider them a luxury but for me, single driver alone, they are a damn useful item to have. Getting hold of the necessary door cards, switches, motor/winders and looms is pretty difficult as any that come on to the market get snapped up in an instant. Eventually I managed to get hold of some....even complete with electric mirrors.

So......has anyone on the forum done the job of changing wind up windows over to electric on the Mk5 Transit?

Be interested to hear how you went on as just removing the damn stupid winder handle is proving difficult!!

Bulletguy wrote: just removing the damn stupid winder handle is proving difficult!!

My Duetto-like SWB Mk5 had electric windows fitted by the original owners, who seemed to go for every option available, so I don't know the Mk5 manual winders. But usually on Fords you push on the finisher behind the winder until you can see enough of the bar that it fits onto to see a pin, which you push out to release the handle. In my experience the pin then drops into the gutter below and disappears into the heap of leaves and other muck - so be prepared!

-mojo- wrote:

Bulletguy wrote: just removing the damn stupid winder handle is proving difficult!!

My Duetto-like SWB Mk5 had electric windows fitted by the original owners, who seemed to go for every option available, so I don't know the Mk5 manual winders. But usually on Fords you push on the finisher behind the winder until you can see enough of the bar that it fits onto to see a pin, which you push out to release the handle. In my experience the pin then drops into the gutter below and disappears into the heap of leaves and other muck - so be prepared!

BIB Mojo......I know how they are supposed to come off but the bib, particularly the underlined, is just one problem already discovered. Whilst I can see the bar....I cannot for the life of me see the damn stupid clip pin!!

It's another stupid Ford 'improvement'!!

What on earth was so 'wrong' with the previous straight forward screw in method of fitting the handle I will never know. As for 'cost'......Ford must have billions of screws!!

This is what I cannot see!!! (despite pushing the door card back as far as possible)

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I hope I'm wrong, but what sometimes happens is that someone hamfisted removes the handle by brute force and the fixing clip drops off without them seeing that it has. They then decide to glue the handle back on with superglue or (if you're really unlucky) epoxy.

Good luck!

-mojo- wrote:I hope I'm wrong, but what sometimes happens is that someone hamfisted removes the handle by brute force and the fixing clip drops off without them seeing that it has. They then decide to glue the handle back on with superglue or (if you're really unlucky) epoxy.

Good luck!

As I won't need the winder handles again, this is what my final resort is!

It just infuriates me to the bone that Ford (and for that matter other vehicle manufacturers) unnecessarily complicate and frustrate what previously was a ten second job and turn it into a Chinese puzzle which become hours.

During my days of 'tinkering with cars' I came across a variety of so called 'improvements' which are always found on later models of the same vehicle.

Madness.

Hi Bullet,
I dont know of anyone on the forum who has done it on a Transit, but Modelman has done it on his Talisman. Here is the link.

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Brian2

PS it supprises me how many people do not check the search box before starting a new thread.

I've fitted them to mine as well Brian, but like Modelman, I used a kit off Ebay. Bulletguy is using pukka Ford bits.

Frank

murph wrote: Hi Bullet,
I dont know of anyone on the forum who has done it on a Transit, but Modelman has done it on his Talisman. Here is the link.

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Thanks.

murph wrote: PS it suprises me how many people do not check the search box before starting a new thread.

So people like you can tell me there's a thread!

boxerman wrote:I've fitted them to mine as well Brian, but like Modelman, I used a kit off Ebay. Bulletguy is using pukka Ford bits.

Frank

Only 'the best' Boxer.

It's a proposed winter project though as yet i'm finding it warmer staying indoors! My days of 'messing around' with cars are long gone!

Not saying how much I got 'em for though in case I decide not to bother fitting because I can easily flog 'em for double what I paid.

The duetto le came with windup windows and non-alloys as standard issue.

You did get £700 worth of Heki roof light in compensation & if you were like me, the body will have been fully treated to keep mr rust at bay.

To fit electric windows you need to first check you've got the connectors on the vehicle loom, which can be done by pulling out that round plug to the right of the steering wheel underneath the rear de-mister & for lights etc.

The next part (and the hardest) is trying to source some door cards with the electric window switches/holes cut and the electric window mechanism. The duetto is based on the ford tourneo minibus. I've often thought about picking one up from scrap and Cannibalising the bits.

I was annoyed I didn't have electric windows at first, but, now it doesn't bother me, neither does the tape player as I've adapted it to take my iPod.

You can find lots of info on electric windows on the transit forum.

scovell001 wrote:The duetto le came with windup windows and non-alloys as standard issue.

You did get £700 worth of Heki roof light in compensation & if you were like me, the body will have been fully treated to keep mr rust at bay.

To fit electric windows you need to first check you've got the connectors on the vehicle loom, which can be done by pulling out that round plug to the right of the steering wheel underneath the rear de-mister & for lights etc.

The next part (and the hardest) is trying to source some door cards with the electric window switches/holes cut and the electric window mechanism. The duetto is based on the ford tourneo minibus. I've often thought about picking one up from scrap and Cannibalising the bits.

I was annoyed I didn't have electric windows at first, but, now it doesn't bother me, neither does the tape player as I've adapted it to take my iPod.

You can find lots of info on electric windows on the transit forum.

BIB is interesting as my mates is a '97 Duetto.

When comparing mine with his we came to the conclusion the original owner at new must have been a bit of a cheapskate as my mates is fitted with both 'leccy' windows and alloys.....and according to him all Duetto's were fitted with alloys, so that was always a bit of a puzzle! Now I know, I will tell him! As you probably noticed the steel wheels are larger than the alloys too. Interesting you mention about the rust treatment as that was the first thing which stood out when I went to view my van. Condition is mint with no sign of rust on any of the wheel arches and the MOT guy commented on the underside too which in his opinion was "the best Transit i've seen in a long time." Rear door bottoms need slight attention along with both front doors just between the quarter light where the rain drips down and causes the paint to crack and rust (a common rust spot area on all Mk5 Transits). Had a reputable body guy look at it and he's quoted me £200 - 250 to sort it which includes removing the quarter lights and taking the affected area back to bare metal. Done bodywork for me before and he's the 'dogs wotsits' when it comes to bodywork!

I wasn't bothered about the alloy wheels though....the lack of 'leccy' windows bothered me more as for me, a single person driving solo, it's a very useful accessory.

Yes mine does have the large Heki 2 rooflight which really is a big 'plus' as during the time I was away, every time I camped up I had the thing slung wide open as the weather was roasting. If on a site i'd leave it open all night too. Also as an LE model my van does have a bit more 'up market' sink and oven fittings than my mates.

As for the 'leccy' windows.....I have all the bits you could imagine inc. door cards, switches, motors, even three electric mirrors! But I doubt I will be doing the job as my fingers/hands just aren't what they used to be (arthritic probs), so will be looking to see if I can find someone in the new year.

If you know anyone who is reliable and knows what they are doing etc.....appreciate a nod!

We've got 2 excellent companies here on the island, AB Cooke in cowes who are a body shop specialist & love anything to do with cars, & Tim at Island Motorhomes who is probably one of the most amazing people you'll meet, no job to big etc etc.

The Duetto LE is a slightly funny one , as I like you have the more modern sink & cooker. But, there are LE models out there with the old style units, which I've seen on a v plate. Mine is an x reg & must be one of, if not 'the' very last one they made.

Back on topic, (I haven't done this yet) you should check the wiring is there on the loom before taking your van in to have the leccy windows fitted as it'll be so much quicker/ easier if it has. I would like to think it probably has.

scovell001 wrote:We've got 2 excellent companies here on the island, AB Cooke in cowes who are a body shop specialist & love anything to do with cars, & Tim at Island Motorhomes who is probably one of the most amazing people you'll meet, no job to big etc etc.

The Duetto LE is a slightly funny one , as I like you have the more modern sink & cooker. But, there are LE models out there with the old style units, which I've seen on a v plate. Mine is an x reg & must be one of, if not 'the' very last one they made.

Back on topic, (I haven't done this yet) you should check the wiring is there on the loom before taking your van in to have the leccy windows fitted as it'll be so much quicker/ easier if it has. I would like to think it probably has.

Weird that. Mine is 'W' reg May 2000.....green sink unit with gold mixer tap and green coloured oven with tinted glass top lid.

Yes I have to check this wiring in my van before anything else. My local MOT place has some pretty handy guys not averse to doing 'oddball jobs' so i'm going to ask there.......alternately I could be taking a holiday on the Isle of Wight! Last time I was there was almost 50 years ago as young teenage lad!!

Ah, well nought has really changed in the last 50 years.

We were thinking about organising a Duetto rally at grange chine (best iow campsite) next summer, there's some food for thought.