Rear window problems

[woodendude]

Any ottawa area guys with toyota rear window experience? My 91 4 Runner rear window has started to act up, it works when it wants to. I'm thinking I should jumper the motor and see if it's the motor and go from there. Any other ideas or anyone want to make a few bucks and diagnose and fix it for me.



Derek

 

[Mitko]

AFAIK and remember the problem is usually in the control box.

 

[woodendude]

Control box, as in the box containing the relay switches for this wind? I do have an extra that I know works, maybe I should just swap it out and try that. Only one small problem, window has to be down to open the tailgate, tailgate has to be down to remove interior panel to get at the relay box.

 

[Twinkie]

Welcome to my world! I'm in the same boat right now, pretty sure mine is the gear assembly.

 

[tlowe]

One thing you might want to check if you can get the window down is the small gear on the motor........The gear assembly sometimes wears a groove in the gear.......and just in case you didn't know......the motor is the same as quite a few from cars(cressida and some honda's), I think right hand side windows......


:beer:

 

[aweber]

Yah, motor Gear is the biggest, then window mechanism, then control box, in that order....

Un-plug the motor and try to jump it with a 12V source. If it works, then control box is the problem...

 

[Twinkie]

Yah, motor Gear is the biggest, then window mechanism, then control box, in that order....

Un-plug the motor and try to jump it with a 12V source. If it works, then control box is the problem...

I can hear my motor when hitting the switch. Gate access is open and everything is lubed. For me I'll probably have to pull the motor and try the mechanisim from there.

 

[aweber]

I can hear my motor when hitting the switch. Gate access is open and everything is lubed. For me I'll probably have to pull the motor and try the mechanisim from there.

You might have the stripped motor gear that Trev mentioned.

I had many. Even got the point where I would fill the stripped teeth with weld and file them smooth again...

 

[Twinkie]

You might have the stripped motor gear that Trev mentioned.

I had many. Even got the point where I would fill the stripped teeth with weld and file them smooth again...

I don't think that's it. By "hear" the motor I mean it goes BANG when you hit the switch, like it's trying to move something very solid. LoL

 

[aweber]

I don't think that's it. By "hear" the motor I mean it goes BANG when you hit the switch, like it's trying to move something very solid. LoL

Oh, LOL :lmao:

 

[woodendude]

When mine works it works flawlessly, smooth operation, no rattle , hesitation or anything. It's just that it ramdomly works.

 

[JeepJen]

I don't know anything about anything but I would guess a short in a wire somewhere

 

[Twinkie]

When mine works it works flawlessly, smooth operation, no rattle , hesitation or anything. It's just that it ramdomly works.

Next time it *doesn't* work, check the rear wiper. Make sure it is parked properly. Get out and move the wiper a bit closer to 'park'. Damn things are sensitive that way.

 

[woodendude]

I don't know anything about anything but I would guess a short in a wire somewhere

Most definately a short somewhere.... this morning it was cold and snowy so I used my autostarter and 15 minutes later I go out to brush the snow off and my rear window is down, it was up when I parked it last night. Anyway I swapped out the relay box, tried the window 5-6 times worked fine, put it back down opened the tailgate to put the interior door stuff back on, closed the gate and the damn window wouldn't go up. So I took the interior stuff off again, checked wiring etc.... found nothing with a visual checked (will meter it one day) but I ended up jumping the motor directly with a battery charger and now have it up and the motor disconnected. I'm thinking of wiring it directly off the battery withan inline fuse and of course a 2 way/phase switch directly to the motor. Pretty sure I lose my rear wiper doing this but don't really use it anyway.
Anybody have any advice on wiring this, type of switch etc...? All info would be helpful.
Also the realy box was ticking etc.. with out the key in the ignition, should it be getting power then?

 

[aweber]

There is also a switch in the tailgate that tells it that it is closed. If that is not working your window will not go back up either...

 

[woodendude]

There is also a switch in the tailgate that tells it that it is closed. If that is not working your window will not go back up either...

Where is this switch located I was looking for it but couldn't find it.

 

[aweber]

Where is this switch located I was looking for it but couldn't find it.

It's part of the latch mechanism. You should see a wire going off to the side of the tailgate.

 

[Twinkie]

If he heard the relay clicking with key off then 1. it thinks the gate is closed and 2. that is seriously messed up cause that's a key on thing only. Good Luck!!

 

[woodendude]

It is seriously messed up! that's why I'm thinking of rewiring it all directly to the motor from the battery. I got some advice on a different forum and should be wiring it up this week end. I want my cargo area back!!!

 

[woodendude]

Well I spent a major part of day today trying to chase down a short. I'm not much for electrical and was cursing the entire time. Then I got to thinking " this thing shorted out and put the window down with no key in the ignition" and then it came to me ! The only live switch for this window is the tailgate key switch, so a simple diconnect and I'm in business. I'm happier than you could imagine to have the cargo area back, sure it's pretty easy to toss stuff over the seat but, it's a major pain to get it back out without the tailgate. There's no rush now but I'll be fixing/replacing that switch sometime soon.


Derek