How to Fix a Rear Car Window- Revisited

Not too long ago, I described how I went about fixing the rear window of our Highlander. Well, in retrospect it turned out to be a textbook case of shooting off one’s mouth. Since that initial time, I’ve “fixed” that very same window 3 more times. So either I’ve got to engage in redefining the word “fixed” or own up to the fact that I never really fixed anything.

So this time when I opened the door up, I was determined to deduce the real problem. After reengaging the pivot in the track, I lowered the window while gently pressing on it as it came down. The pivot pulled out of the track again. Now I understood why it kept pulling out- when the panel is placed back on the door there is a gasket that presses against it preventing the window from easily sliding down. So I opened up the other non-broken door to see if there were any obvious differences.

There was.

Somehow the track on the window had been pulled backwards out of its original position. On the unbroken door, the pivot didn’t come anywhere near the end of the track. On the broken door, at its longest extension the pivot reached to the end of the track. So now that I had diagnosed the problem. I just had to figure out how to move it back.

Luckily, the track had holes in it. And with the pivot sliding in the track, I figured a possible way to move it back. If I inserted a short bolt, I could potentially use the arm to push the track back in place. The only question was if the motor running the arm was strong enough to move the track. It seemed like a good possibility, since it logically the arm and motor were responsible for the errant movement anyway.

It took a little doing, but it worked. The motor was not strong enough to just slide the track over, but it was strong enough to work it back over bit by bit. Interestingly, when all was said and done, the track was roughly in the same relative position as on the other door. Indicating that the holes might actually serve as registration markers for positioning of the track.

Anyway. I think that this time I can confidently state I’ve fixed the window. No really. I even let the lass work the window I was so confident that I had properly fixed it. Sure enough, it went up and down without breaking.

Yet.