How Can I Fix My Car Window That Fell Down

Later on owning a car for long enough, you're sure to run into different bug. One of the smallest but most annoying problems is a auto window that keeps sliding downwardly. You might have tried a few small fixes, but nothing seems to be working.

You can implement some short-term fixes to keep your car window from sliding downwardly. These options include using duct tape to keep it up, wedging something in the base of the window to forbid information technology from falling or sealing the open window with clear plastic. In terms of permanent solutions, the best pick is to take apart your door frame, troubleshoot, and correct the event causing your window to slide downwardly (I have an in-depth guide later in this commodity for this choice).

If y'all desire to know how to keep a automobile window from sliding downwardly, keep reading. I put together a step-past-step DIY guide that will completely fix your problem for you for less than 20 bucks. I'll also talk about your car windows a lot so you can improve understand and troubleshoot what's causing the problem.

How a Machine Window Works

A lot of people tin can't capeesh the beauty of a operation car window until theirs breaks. All the mechanisms are hidden within the door, but it'due south a pretty interesting setup.

With a modern window, there's a simple caster system decision-making everything. A motor will air current or unwind a spool of cable that will, in turn, drive your window up or down.

This motion is actuated with the button you printing to raise or lower your windows.

Car window regulator

Former school cars utilize manually operated windows. This is the tried-and-true mitt-crank system that kids these days can't relate to. In this system, a set up of arms will move the window down or up as you physically crank an arm clockwise or counterclockwise, respectively.

Regardless of how your window is driven, the theory is the same: A runway will guide your window up and down. There is a sealing aspect beneath your window that will forbid it from falling back downward after it's raised.

Why Your Window Is Sliding Down

When in that location's a problem within your window associates, yous'll notice that your window will randomly slide downwards.

For some people, the window will completely slide downwards. Others will notice a slight sag at the superlative of their window that lowers it less than an inch.

The nigh mutual problem is a window that falls down a few inches over time while yous bulldoze.

Why is it sliding downwardly? Information technology all has to do with the window associates. There's a rail at the bottom of the pane of drinking glass. The track is a long slice of metallic with a slot cut out of the middle forth the length.

In a perfect assembly, your window volition sit in this slot with some sort of adhesive, sealing your window to the rails firmly.

Equally the rail is raised and lowered, your window is moved every bit well. Since your window isn't properly seated in this track, so it will but sag and lower over time.

There are a few other culprits for why your window is sliding down (which I'll cover later), but this is the biggest and about common.

The Importance of Keeping Your Window Upward

It might not be super obvious why your window sliding downwardly is a bad thing. Well, in that location are a few negatives associated with windows that slide down:

• Poor aesthetics. Peradventure it's not a big deal to some people, but a sagging window will hurt the aesthetics of your machine. For one, passengers will see your window dropping more than as you keep driving. In improver, some of the temporary fixes are real eyesores.
• Vehicle safety issue. A sagging window looks like a neon "Open" sign to a criminal. They tin can hands pause into your car and rob you. If your vehicle is older, they can also hotwire it and steal your automobile.
• Rain can come in. Rain entering your car is more than than only a nuisance. It will damage your interior and can dramatically subtract the value of your car.
• Pests tin come in. Having mice in your motorcar is never a fun experience. They can chew at wiring, brand your automobile stink, and destroy your engine. An open window is a very inviting thing for pests of all sizes.

Practise Yous Desire a Temporary or Permanent Solution?

Before continuing, we have to determine what kind of solution you're looking for. Do you just desire some temporary fixes that will keep your window upwardly for a little chip?

I'd suggest this for anyone who is planning on doing a repair or taking information technology to a mechanic in the time to come, they simply need a footling time, outset.

The big downside is that about of the temporary solutions look really bad. On height of that, yous won't be able to use your windows until you truly repair them.

The other option is a permanent solution. This will mechanically set up your window, so it operates similar normal moving frontwards. If you take a spare weekend, I would highly suggest opting for repairing the window on your own as a inexpensive, permanent solution instead of sticking with a temporary i. I'll evidence y'all exactly how to practice this afterward.

Temporary Solutions to Keep Your Window Up

If you just want a quick Band-aid for your window problem earlier you have the time to fix your window, this section is for you.

Realistically, some of these solutions can exist used forever, they just take their ain downsides (specifically, y'all won't be able to roll up and downwardly your window traditionally).

A Little Duct Tape

Duct tape is one of those materials that can fix anything. In this case, the same story is truthful.

How you apply the duct tape is up to you lot — feel free to get a little creative with it. The tape can either exist used at the top of the window or at the base where the window meets the condom seal.

1 large downside with using duct tape is that your window will be left with tape balance on information technology. Later on removing the tape, apply some acetal alcohol (nail polish remover) and a brush to become rid of the residue.

Use Junk Mail

I not bad utilize for junk mail service is to keep your window from sliding down. Push the window upward until it'southward fully rolled upwardly and stuff junk mail into the slot at the base of the window.

This will act equally a wedge and pry your window closed at all times.

You tin can use magazines, letters, or thick envelopes to achieve this.

Use a Command Strip

A clever solution that I plant online was to utilise a Command Strip. Yous commonly find these used in apartments where nails can't be driven through walls.

They are plastic hooks with an adhesive backing. More than chiefly, the adhesive is designed to exist removed quickly by pulling a tab.

This means that the strips can be removable. Yous can keep them on only as long every bit you demand them.

You should apply the Command Strip to the inside of your window at the base.

Effort a Suction Cup

An alternative to the Control Strip is a suction cup. Yous can braze it to the within of your window at the base (afterward fully rolling up your window). Or, you can hang a hooked suction cup at the tiptop of your window and employ a small string, rope, or bungee cord to connect the cup to something on your automobile'southward ceiling.

A proficient instance of this is to use the handhold bar on your car'south ceiling and necktie a rope to it with a loop on the other cease. Use the loop to hook to the suction loving cup to keep your window up but nevertheless have the pick to lower it slightly as needed.

Record Plastic Over the Window

If your window completely falls downwards and won't stay up, then y'all tin can just tape some see-through plastic over your window opening.

This should be used every bit a very temporary solution until yous take time to ready the motorcar.

Permanent Solutions to Keep Your Window Upwards

My preferred method is a permanent solution. This will return your windows to their former glory and permit them to roll upward and downwards by using the hand crank or switch by the window.

Take it to a Mechanic

If yous don't take the time, patience, or mechanical prowess to prepare the window on your own, you're meliorate off taking it to a mechanic.

They'll deal with all the troubleshooting and repair work. All you take to do is expect a few days for them to complete the project.

The downside of this option is that information technology'due south much more expensive than it should exist. Realistically, this could be a $10 repair, just they'll charge you lot hundreds due to the time it takes them to consummate the repair.

Make sure your mechanic is honest before giving them your automobile.

Slam Your Door (the Nearly Fun Option)

Sometimes, there'southward something that jiggled loose inside your door frame. This causes the window to sag a little and "slide downwards."

To set this problem, it could exist as easy as slamming the door. This is also the most fun option past far since you have permission to slam a door without anyone getting mad.

The process is really straightforward: roll up your window every bit far upward equally it goes and turn off your car. Step outside of the vehicle and slam the door shut as difficult every bit you can. Spotter your fingers during this and make sure zippo is in the door jamb.

Plow on your motorcar and test the window switch to run into if it drives your window upward or down.

If information technology still doesn't role or the window still slides down, echo this stride 3 or 4 more times. After the 5th time, telephone call information technology quits and move to another method of fixing your window.

Fix it Yourself

I would highly suggest simply fixing the window yourself.

In a later post-obit department, I'll give you lot an in-depth guide to prepare information technology yourself. In most cases, there are no new parts that go into the repair, simply some lube and agglutinative.

If nothing else, it'south cool to see what your window mechanism looks like in person.

Some Troubleshooting to Try

If yous are deciding to fix the window on your own, start with this section. These are some of the mutual troubleshooting tricks to try. Hopefully, information technology helps you to pinpoint the problem then y'all know what to fix in the side by side step.

Cheque the Fuse

As I mentioned in another article, your motorcar's fuses can suspension down over time. These fuses are the sacrificial pieces of different electrical connections throughout your car.

When a fuse blows or gets broken, then the corresponding electric components won't work until the fuse is replaced.

All of your cars' windows take a fuse that controls the electric motor that drives the windows.

Check your owner's transmission for a schematic of the fuses in your car. Alternatively, check well-nigh the fuse box and run across if there are labeled instructions.

Be sure to disconnect your battery earlier touching any of the fuses.

Find the fuse responsible for your window and come across if it'due south blown. If the fuse is no skillful, then supplant it, fire up your car, and endeavor the window over again.

Check the Window Motor for Power

Another function that could exist cleaved is the bodily motor for your window. If you hit the push button on your door to curl up your window and you hear nothing or you hear a struggling mechanical noise, your motor could be at fault.

Car power window motor

This can also be checked during step 4 of the step-by-step instructions in the next section.

Bank check the Window Switch

Another electric piece to check is the window switch. This is responsible for passing the indicate to the window'southward motor to start moving.

When yous press the switch, in that location is a mixture of a mechanical and electric procedure going on.

A quick mode to troubleshoot a faulty switch will work on any window except for the driver's window. Use the switch on the rider's window (if that'south the one that's sliding). If it doesn't work, then hop into the driver's seat and use the passenger's switch located on the driver's door.

If the switch here works, then something's wrong with the switch on the passenger's door.

If you lot press the window button on your door and hear zero, it'due south either the motor, fuse, or switch.

Check for Dirt, Adhesives, or Obstructions on Window

Finally, it could but be a matter of something obstructing your window's ability to stay upward. This is usually not the case if a window keeps sliding downwards, only it tin definitely exist blamed for a window that doesn't roll all the style downward.

Illustration of how a window is controlled

Anything tin can prevent your window from moving — dirt, agglutinative remnants (I'm looking at you, duct tape), a tint, ice, or bird poo tin can block your window's path of travel.

In one case you find something obstructing the window, be sure to quickly clean it off.

How to Prepare a Window That Slides Down Footstep-By-Step DIY Guide

Now it'southward time to talk about a solution that actually works: fixing the window on your own. This step-by-footstep DIY guide volition walk yous through exactly how to set up a window that slides downward.

Materials required: In that location isn't a lot that you lot demand, here. In fact, most of the things tin can be found around the business firm:

• Ammeter
• Phillip's caput screwdriver
• Wrench ready
• Lubricant
• Agglutinative like Automotive Broth

#ane: Disconnect the Battery

You're going to be working around a live motor and wiring. It's a practiced thought to disconnect your automobile'southward battery before going whatever further so you don't go hurt.

This can be done by turning your car off, popping the hood, then removing the two terminal connections to the battery. Be certain to never touch the two at the same time or concord anything metallic against them.

#2: Open up the Auto Door

Open the auto door that'due south having the window consequence. If there are multiple windows that are sliding down, then work through these steps on ane window before working on the next one.

Information technology's all-time to practise this piece of work in an expanse where you can open the door as wide equally it tin go. This volition give you more than space to work and assistance you avoid a cussing fit as yous squeeze into a slightly cracked door.

#three: Remove Everything from the Door Frame

This is probably going to exist the longest stride for well-nigh people. The window-driving mechanism is hidden inside your door frame.

To get at that place, you have to have off everything from the exterior of the door frame. This means paneling, insulation, speakers — everything.

By the end, you should have a skeleton of a door that yous can run into into and, more importantly, work within of.

#4: Do Some Troubleshooting

In one case the door is disassembled to this country, you can outset doing some real troubleshooting. Utilise your eyes and ammeter to look around and try to find the root cause.

You tin can do continuity checks on the wiring, but you can't bank check for voltage since you unplugged the car battery. If y'all're super conscientious and know what you're doing, you tin briefly reinstall the battery and check for voltage across the motor.

Specifically, you'll want to troubleshoot the window switch, motor, wiring, and mechanical pieces around the window. If the window isn't in the track and the moving parts look dry and worn, so that's great news.

Make sure you write downwards some of the troubleshooting steps y'all performed and what yous noticed. This will come in handy if the window still doesn't work after yous endeavor to fix it and you lot accept to accept information technology to a mechanic.

It also helps y'all to remember what you did then far and so you can troubleshoot better without a bad retentivity getting in the manner.

#5: Attach the Regulator (If it's Detached)

If you notice a regulator that isn't fastened, then it'due south time to hook information technology back together. This piece volition move the window up and down when the window switch is operated.

A discrete regulator will allow the window to slide down despite information technology beingness fully rolled up.

#six: Clean the Window

This is also a good fourth dimension to thoroughly clean the window. You lot take a ton of access to the glass now, and then you can utilise a window cleaner and glass-friendly grease remover hands. While this won't fix your problem, it will assist your window operate better moving forward.

#7: Lube the Rails

If the rails look dry or worn, and then information technology's time to utilise some lubricant. Avoid using WD40 and stick to automotive grease, hither.

Greasing these parts volition help them move meliorate and prevent slippage in the future. For reference, the rails are the crisscrossing arms that will help button your window as the motor drives a gear.

#8: Adhere the Window to the Track

The well-nigh important step is to check the connectedness between your window and the runway nether it. Apply an adhesive here and make sure your window is firmly placed within the track.

As I mentioned earlier, a loose connection between your window and the runway is one of the most common reasons why your window is sliding down in the first place.

Give your window enough time to properly bond with the agglutinative before doing annihilation else. Read the small print on the agglutinative you're using to amend understand how to apply the agglutinative and how long to wait before touching it or operating it.

Also, exist sure that the agglutinative you use is okay for glass-on-metallic adhesion. Information technology likewise has to be potent plenty to hold the two together without fail, otherwise, you'll be re-reading this commodity when the adhesion stops sticking.

#9: Put Everything Together and Exam it

With these steps complete, you're ready to put everything back together and try it out. Again, make certain you wait long enough for the adhesive to dry earlier going to this stride.

With your door reassembled and bombardment reconnected, fire up your car and cross your fingers. This can be done in accessory mode on your car, simply I'd suggest but fully turning on your vehicle instead.

If your window correctly rolls upwards without sliding downwards, then give yourself a pat on the back.

If something even so isn't working correct, then it's upwardly to y'all on how to go on. Y'all can either take your troubleshooting notes and car to a local mechanic, or you tin give it some other stab yourself.

Simply because information technology didn't work on your first try doesn't mean that you should give up. In my opinion, I think anyone is capable of successfully doing this repair on their own. I'd propose going through the steps once again, but be more tedious and methodical this time. Have a closer look at everything and actually look for the culprit of the trouble.

Who knows, you could accept simply jostled a wire loose while y'all were in the car door and information technology'll exist a v-infinitesimal fix.

Conclusion

Don't freak out when your car window keeps sliding down. While this might be unsafe and annoying, you lot just read how uncomplicated the solution really is. If yous want more how-to guides to help you fix your car, explore the rest of my blog. As always, drop a comment below if this article helped you. Also, cheque out some top motorcar tools and accessories that you should consider buying.

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