Patient is a 2002 C2 Coupe.

When opening driver's door this morning, the window did not drop the 1/4" and then raise again when shut. Passenger door is fine. Tried multiple times, no improvement. Ended up lowering it with the switch a bit before closing the door and then raising it to seal it from inside.

Then I tried to cycle the window all the way down and back up several times. After cycling it and then trying the door latch it now makes a sound like it WANTS to move as Ferry intended it to and the rear part (nearest the door latch) actually moves down a bit but the front part (nearest the door hinge stays in position. I can manually push the front down as long as I keep the door handle open/pulled. As soon as I release the handle EVEN WITH THE DOOR OPEN it moves back up.

At first I thought it was a microswitch, then I searched the archives and maybe it's a regulator. Then I came across a post that indicated maybe the battery.

My battery is at least 5 years old, and it starts the car just fine, even when it sits for a while. This time it sat for a couple of weeks I am sad to say since I last drove it. It fired right up except for the window issue. So the battery seems strong but I've confused myself with all the possibilities.

Has anybody had this same circumstance?

 

Is there play in the window? ie when its all the way up, can you push it down the 1/2 inch?
is it both door handles that wont drop or just the exterior? if its both then its the regulator I believe.
with passenger door working fine I think you've eliminated the battery theory.
ive replaced both micro switches and now im down to the regulator. im at this point now given that the window WILL go up the 1/2 inch after I have manually pushed it down. so it appears that the cable in the regulator of mine is stretched too much and needs to be replaced.

winter project #3 for me this year. seems to be kinda a pita given that its really not that big of a nuisance to me anyway

 

I agree that it isn't the battery. It might be the latch. Any other symptoms? Does the central locking switch go insane and lock automatically? Do the windows open/close all the way when you keep the key in the door lock turned? Whether the door handle microswitches, the latch or the regulator, you'll need to take apart the door. You can test the microswitches with a multimeter.

Instructions on door disassembly are here.

 

To answer the questions:

1. No play in the window, can only push it down when I am folding either the inside or the outside door handle open. It tries to pull the back edge down by itself, but not the front edge. And goes up as soon as I release the handle even when the door is still open.

2. Both door handles, inside and out. But only the driver door, passenger is fine in all respects.

3. Central locking switch is fine.

4. Both windows go up and down normally when the key is turned in the driver's door lock cylinder and held either way.

Thanks for the disassembly instructions, I guess I need to order a regulator judging by the responses/symptoms. At least I can figure out the slight grease mark on the window at the same time...