Manual Window Cranks

[TomFrank]

I grew up with manual windows, so that is no big deal. Kind of retro-cool, actually. However, that doesn't necessarily make them bullet-proof. The '80s Chevy Citation comes to mind. They used a tape type of regulator that broke over time and then the window dropped into the door. I'm hoping that's not the regulator type being proposed in the Slate. What made me think of the Citation regulators is that from the limited videos I've seen of the Slate manual windows in action, they operate backwards, just like in the Citation. That is, on the driver's side counter-clockwise lowers the window and clockwise raises it. It should be the opposite. Honestly, that would drive me crazy and make me opt for the power option. I've only seen one other mention of this backwards design. Has anyone heard anything about Slate addressing this?

 

[Trace26]

I grew up with manual windows, so that is no big deal. Kind of retro-cool, actually. However, that doesn't necessarily make them bullet-proof. The '80s Chevy Citation comes to mind. They used a tape type of regulator that broke over time and then the window dropped into the door. I'm hoping that's not the regulator type being proposed in the Slate. What made me think of the Citation regulators is that from the limited videos I've seen of the Slate manual windows in action, they operate backwards, just like in the Citation. That is, on the driver's side counter-clockwise lowers the window and clockwise raises it. It should be the opposite. Honestly, that would drive me crazy and make me opt for the power option. I've only seen one other mention of this backwards design. Has anyone heard anything about Slate addressing this?

From the pictures of the doors with the power option added it looks like they just add a motor to the manual crank. So maybe the direction has to do with the motor direction?
My whole comment is just guesses.

 

[Adam W]

I really hope they get flipped around to a CW down, CCW up orientation. The trucks we've seen recently have windows that only seem to go partially down too, so it seems things still need work.

Barman stated that they had to source cranks from Brazil because nobody else makes them. Maybe thats just how they are down there? Now there's a new 50% tariff on Brazillian goods, I wonder if that changes the math.

 

[adele]

oh that would suck if the windows were bad. i love crank windows so much, but I would hate to be that friend who has to tell every passenger "yeah sorry my shit windows don't work". Slate cannot fuck this up when those windows are part of their brand.

 

[B1050]

Maybe they use the same crank mechanism on both sides to save money making one backwards.

 

[GaRailroader]

Maybe they use the same crank mechanism on both sides to save money making one backwards.

I’d bet you are right. Typically rotating crank forward lowers window and rotating backwards raises windows. If they are going to use same regulator in both doors they should standardize on drivers side regulators. Drivers side window will be operated the most by a large margin.

 

[mikell]

Might just save some lives too. People drown when their electrical systems fail under water. Doors locked and windows up. Something automakers don't talk about.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

It will take a little muscle memory to get it cranking in the right direction though...I grew up in the 1970's....cranks are all I knew.

My original plan was to stick with the crank handles...one less thing to fuss with when I take the doors off!

 

[atx_ev]

in many parts of the world (e.g. china and south america) manual windows are still made in high volumes for lower end cars. They are still considered more reliable.

Im definitely taking manual windows. The only time I open my windows is to manually pay tolls (pretty much never) or to order from a drive through. I never open my windows just to enjoy the outside air.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

in many parts of the world (e.g. china and south america) manual windows are still made in high volumes for lower end cars. They are still considered more reliable.

Im definitely taking manual windows. The only time I open my windows is to manually pay tolls (pretty much never) or to order from a drive through. I never open my windows just to enjoy the outside air.

Agree...I'll either have the windows up or the doors OFF!

 

[E90400K]

Might just save some lives too. People drown when their electrical systems fail under water. Doors locked and windows up. Something automakers don't talk about.

There is a fix for that... don't drive underwater.

 

[hbuck]

I grew up with manual windows, so that is no big deal. Kind of retro-cool, actually. However, that doesn't necessarily make them bullet-proof. The '80s Chevy Citation comes to mind. They used a tape type of regulator that broke over time and then the window dropped into the door. I'm hoping that's not the regulator type being proposed in the Slate. What made me think of the Citation regulators is that from the limited videos I've seen of the Slate manual windows in action, they operate backwards, just like in the Citation. That is, on the driver's side counter-clockwise lowers the window and clockwise raises it. It should be the opposite. Honestly, that would drive me crazy and make me opt for the power option. I've only seen one other mention of this backwards design. Has anyone heard anything about Slate addressing this?

All of my jeeps have had crank windows. No issues at all. I even have to put a key in the door lock to unlock k the jeep. No issues at all.

 

[sodamo]

All of my jeeps have had crank windows. No issues at all. I even have to put a key in the door lock to unlock k the jeep. No issues at all.

My Wrangler had zipper windows.

 

[E90400K]

My Wrangler had zipper windows.

I was going to say the same thing, zippers. No bother locking the old YJs. Though I still had some buttwipe cut the window.

My Bronco is a hard top.

 

[atreis]

Might just save some lives too. People drown when their electrical systems fail under water. Doors locked and windows up. Something automakers don't talk about.

All cars with electronic door locks on the front doors are required to have mechanical overrides that can be used to open the front doors if there's a power failure. One needs to know where they are and how to operate them (and to not panic).

In most cars, the rear door interior latches may or may not be usable because all can be disabled as a child safety feature, and many mechanical latches don't have a way to override that from the interior (those that engage by flipping a switch on the rear door jamb). Some cars with rear electronic latches do have a way to override, but they're difficult to get at for child safety reasons. More people have kids that pull on things for no good reason than drive their cars into lakes...

If you're under water with the doors closed and windows up, and air in the cabin, you're not opening the doors or windows regardless of mechanism. The hydrostatic pressure is tremendous - way more than any human or normal mechanical system can overcome, until the car has nearly filled with water so that the pressures are closer to equal.



Not panicking while the car fills with water would be the hard part...