How To Fix a Broken Car Window

Has your car window stopped working? If your car window no longer goes up and down or makes a strange noise if you press the window button, the problem, in most cases, is a bad window regulator.

Other possibilities include a blown fuse or defective window switch. This guide covers common problems preventing a car window from going up and down and how to fix it.

Symptoms

• The car window doesn’t work.
• You hear a grinding noise when you press the window up/down button.
• The window doesn’t move up and down more than one inch. You try it again, but it works only for a couple of inches.
• The power window goes down at normal speed. When you make the window go up, it moves very slowly or stops. You may have to wait a minute to move it up an inch. You may have to repeat this process several times before it goes up.
• The window fuse may repeatedly keep on blowing, but not always.

We frequently see a problem that the car window will move in increments. The window may also go up halfway then it stops working. The window goes to the top, then it rolls back down. Sometimes, the window switch doesn’t work immediately unless you wait a while, and it works. The window works again later (such as after 5 minutes). In a few cases, the window fuse may blow, but not always.

Common Problems

Window Regulator

 

 

The window regulator is what holds the window. It helps it move up and down while it slides in the window track. The window regulator can bend due to an accident or just normal wear. Once this happens, the window doesn’t align properly with the tracks where it is supposed to slide. In return, the window experiences excessive resistance when rolling it up.

Usually,  you will notice that the window moves up and down at a much slower speed than it used to. Because most vehicles have has Auto Close Safety feature, the vehicle stops sending current to the window motor, thinking that something got stuck in the window.

Window Motor

The most common problem that causes this issue is the window motor.

The reason that the window works, then it stops working is that the brushes inside the window motor are almost gone. Eventually, the window will stop altogether due to the window motor brushes completely wearing out or the window motor seizing.

Window Synchronization

If you recently replaced the car battery, you may notice that the window doesn’t move to the top automatically. Or the window rolls up an inch and then stops. The window may roll to the top and down a couple of inches.

Other possibilities but less likely problems include:

• Window Switch 
• Blown fuse
• Damaged wires

How to replace a window regulator

Below, you will find general instructions on how to fix a window that won’t work. These are broad instructions on how to change a window regulator and motor. These steps will vary slightly depending on the vehicle. Watch the video in the next section for more help.

1. Park the vehicle and set the parking brakes.
2. Turn off the ignition, then disconnect the battery.
3. Open the door with the faulty window regulator or motor. Remove the screws from the door panel. There will be three bolts that hold the door panel.
4. Use a prying tool to pop out the door panel at the edges. You will see several retaining clips around the door panel’s perimeter.
5. Unhook the door and release the cable from the door.
6. Remove all four 10mm bolts holding the door’s window regulator.
7. Unplug the airbag and window motor.
8. Loosen the two bolts that secure the glass.
9. Carefully remove and secure the glass in the up position.
10. Remove the window regulator together with the window motor.

We hope you find the How To Fix a Broken Car Window guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your vehicle.

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