A common glass-related issue many drivers face is a car window that won’t roll up. So what to do? Below will give you the specific steps on how to fix a car window that won’t roll up.
In general, you need to inspect the seals and gaskets, change the blown fuse, inspect the motor in the switch panel, remove the glass, and check the regulator assembly.
Learn more about a car window that won’t roll up, keep reading.
How to Fix a Car Window That Won’t Roll Up?
Here is an easy step-by-step guide on how to fix a car window that won’t roll up:
Inspect the Seals and Gaskets
A broken seal or gasket is by far the most frequent reason why a car window won’t rise. The seals prevent water from entering your car’s interior.
Water can enter your door’s interior through a torn or worn-out seal, harming your car’s window mechanisms.
Rubber gasket replacement is simple if yours are worn out. Most of the time, all that is required to access the inner workings of your window mechanism is to remove a few screws.
Using a screwdriver, remove these screws. Then, separate the glass from the door frame. The seals can then be inspected to see if they are still in tact. Replace them with new ones if they aren’t. It’s a good thing that replacement seals are reasonably priced.
Change the Blown Fuse
On the driver’s side of the vehicle, there are fuses in the fuse panel. They are located below the dashboard. A diagram of the fuse panel can be found in your owner’s manual. Then, determine which fuse is linked to your window motor. Check the repair manual for your car if you don’t have your owner’s manual or can’t find the right fuse.
Use a fuse puller or tweezers to remove the fuse from its socket, then hold it up to the light. It is most likely blown if the metal strip inside appears to have melted or burned out. Replace this with a fresh fuse with the appropriate amperage.
This information can be found on a sticker inside the fuse box lid of your car or on the plastic cover over the fuses.
Inspect the Motor in the Switch Panel
After checking the fuse, remove your panel and look at the motor. Sometimes the motor can get stuck due to debris, dust, or other problems caused by weather conditions.
To access it in your car, you’ll need to remove the door panel. As long as you take care to avoid damaging other parts of your car, it requires some effort but is not difficult.
Pull out the switch panel once everything has been removed. By doing so, you can look inside and inspect the motor. You might need to completely replace it if it isn’t operating properly. Using a soldering iron, affix the motor if it has come loose.
Remove the Glass
You might need to remove the glass from your car in order to easily access the window regulator or motor.
Before you can remove the glass, you need to get it out of the track. As high as you can, raise it. After that, apply pressure to the back of the door panel to create a space big enough for your hand.
Holding the glass, extend it 1 inch toward you. Use your other hand to hold the glass steady as you do this.
Check the Regulator Assembly
A mechanism that manages the car window is called a regulator. It acts like a roller coaster track for the glass to run along. It’s made of a motor, cable, and window bracket. The cable attached to the bracket in the motor is moved by a worm gear. Your regulator assembly needs to be checked if your car windows won’t roll up.
To check the regulator assembly if the fuse is operational, remove the door panel. If the window is stuck in one position, but nothing happens when you activate the window switch, the regulator assembly has most likely failed.
The regulator assembly consists of a plastic or metal guide track that lifts the glass. To make this work, it also has a motor that moves the track and a number of cables or gears. Your window won’t roll up if any of these components breaks down.
Not all of the parts in a defective regulator need to be changed. It can occasionally only be partially successful.
Read more:
Other Methods of Fixing a Car Window That Won’t Roll Up
You can try the additional methods below if you have completed all the steps in the method above but your car window won’t roll up.
Door Slam Method
As easy as it may seem, sometimes just slamming your door can fix the problem.
On tracks inside your door panel are glass windows. If your window is somehow dislodged from the track (or if it is tilted to the side), it may not engage with the motor, even if it’s working correctly.
By realigning your glass window with the tracks, slamming your car door can help solve this issue. To use this method:
- Turn your car on.
- As you carry out the next step, depress and hold your window switch in the desired direction (up or down).
- Keep holding the button down as you sit inside your car and slam the door. Check to see if the window starts to roll up or down by repeating this step a few times.
Glass Palming Method
If you fail to have any luck with the door slamming method, you might also try palming the glass window. If your window is stuck because something fell into the window slot, this can help fix the problem. It happens frequently to people who drive in bad weather.
If you believe this may be the culprit behind your malfunctioning window, try this method:
- Turn your car on.
- Widely open your car door and position yourself at the end of it so that you can hold the window glass in your palms.
- Sandwich the car glass between your palms and have a friend or family member press the window’s up/down button.
- Try to lift the glass with your hands as the button is depressed. Keep your hands flat, and do not get your fingers caught in the way of the glass and the door. If the window is pulled back on track, it may suddenly rise, which presents a risk of injury if not carefully accounted for.
Striking Method
The striking technique can assist in realigning your window with the tracks and motor, much like the door slam technique does.
Take your hand and strike the center of your car door from the outside with your palm (to prevent damage or injury). Never use a tool instead of your hand to operate a vehicle because doing so can harm the paint and body of the car.
When utilizing the striking method, only do it a few times and see if it produces results. If hitting the door doesn’t put your window back on track, stop. Keep in mind that it’s much simpler than you might think to damage the paint on your door or break the glass inside by slamming it too hard.
Remove the Door Panel
Those with mechanical aptitudes can investigate the problem by taking off the door panels and taking a look at the mechanics of their car window.
This is typically accomplished by removing one or more screws, which are frequently found behind the interior handle of your car door. After removing the screws, gently pull on the panel. Any cheap plastic pressure rivets should be released as a result.
Once it’s open, you can look inside the motor mechanics and check to see if anything is obstructing the gears. If the motor is functioning properly, you might only need to manually realign the window on the track. After resolving the problem, merely screw the door panel back into place using the appropriate screws.
My Car Window Won’t Go Up – Why?
Correcting a down-stuck window is something you’ll want to take care of right away for the safety of your car interior and your personal belongings inside.
When a car window goes down but won’t go up, here are four common causes:
- Broken Window Motor: An out-of-service window motor may be to blame. This may occur as a result of general wear or a malfunctioning component. Unfortunately, when the window is closed, window motor failure is more likely to occur. When you press the switch, if the window trembles or the motor grunts, there may be a problem with the window motor. There isn’t a quick fix, and replacing or repairing the motor will probably require professional help.
- Window Fallen Off Track: In order to slide the window up and down in a car, rollers are used. The window may become stuck in the downward position if it deviates from its track while falling. By pushing on the door, it’s occasionally possible to momentarily realign the window. This is not a foolproof solution and might do more harm than good. We advise consulting a professional to realign the window.
- Bad Wiring: It’s likely that an electrical issue exists if pressing the window switch up or down results in nothing but silence. Electrical issues can arise at any time, so occasionally they will do so or be discovered once the window is rolled down.
The window could stop functioning entirely if the wiring has frayed, corroded, or otherwise deteriorated. Finding the damaged wiring inside the car or in the doorframe can be difficult, making this a problem that is more common in older cars and may be challenging to fix on your own. - Blown Fuse or Short: The electrical fault causing the issue might also be a blown fuse or a short. Unlike a defective motor, misaligned track or damaged wiring, you may replace a blown fuse relatively easily, on your own.
- Child Safety Switch Position: If your car window won’t go up (or down), check the child safety switch. When activated, this device prevents passengers of any age from accidentally raising or lowering windows, as well as pets. Look for this lockout switch in the driver’s window control panel; it is typically denoted by an icon of a crossed-out window. Hopefully, this makes for a simple fix because it is easily engaged.
FAQs When a Window Won’t Go Up Or Down
I’ve Got the Window Raised, But It Won’t Stay Up. Now What?
Until you have time to visit the repair shop, a simple rubber or plastic wedge will do. A wedge can be purchased online or at a nearby auto supply shop. With the window completely closed, insert the wedge between the door ledge and the glass. Be careful to avoid damaging the molding.
If a frame surrounds the car window, you can also try duct tape to keep the window in place. Simply align the frame and surrounding glass with the tape (while the window is shut). To prevent a blocked view, use as little tape as possible.
Nothing Works. Can I Cover a Window That Won’t Go Up?
When all else fails, visit a nearby auto parts retailer and pick up a temporary window kit. Applying the specialty tape will help secure the plastic sheet after it has been cut to fit the window opening. In some kits, the plastic may need to be shrunk with a hairdryer to ensure a tight fit. There might be additional options for temporary windows online.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Car Window That Won’t Roll Up?
If you’re simply replacing a blown fuse, budget as little as $20. A window switch replacement typically costs $150 to $250. A window motor replacement will probably cost $300 to $400. Be aware that these figures will increase for high-end vehicles.
Summary: How to Fix a Car Window That Won’t Roll Up?
The typical car window is a sheet of glass mounted on a scissor-pulley track that is turned by a crank that is either hand-operated or powered. Many components may have broken down and need to be repaired if the glass won’t roll up and close. To disassemble the door and address the issue, the typical mechanic will need to spend about 30 minutes.
How to fix a car window that won’t roll up? In general, you need to inspect the seals and gaskets, change the blown fuse, inspect the motor in the switch panel, remove the glass, and check the regulator assembly.
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