How To Fix A Car Window That Keeps Falling Down

After owning a auto for long plenty, you lot're sure to run into different issues. Ane of the smallest but nigh annoying problems is a car window that keeps sliding downward. Y'all might have tried a few small fixes, but nothing seems to be working.

You tin can implement some short-term fixes to keep your machine window from sliding downwardly. These options include using duct tape to keep it up, wedging something in the base of the window to forbid it from falling or sealing the open up window with clear plastic. In terms of permanent solutions, the best option is to take apart your door frame, troubleshoot, and correct the issue causing your window to slide downward (I take an in-depth guide afterward in this article for this selection).

If y'all want to know how to go along a car window from sliding down, go on reading. I put together a pace-by-footstep DIY guide that volition completely gear up your trouble for yous for less than 20 bucks. I'll also talk about your car windows a lot and so you can ameliorate empathize and troubleshoot what'due south causing the problem.

How a Car Window Works

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

With a modernistic window, there's a simple pulley organization controlling everything. A motor will wind or unwind a spool of cable that will, in plow, drive your window up or downwards.

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

Machine window regulator

Old school cars utilize manually operated windows. This is the tried-and-true hand-crank system that kids these days can't relate to. In this organisation, a ready of arms volition move the window downwardly or upwardly as y'all physically creepo an arm clockwise or counterclockwise, respectively.

Regardless of how your window is driven, the theory is the aforementioned: A rail will guide your window up and down. There is a sealing aspect below your window that will prevent it from falling back downwardly afterward it's raised.

Why Your Window Is Sliding Down

When there's a problem within your window assembly, you'll notice that your window will randomly slide down.

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

The nearly common problem is a window that falls downward a few inches over time while you drive.

Why is information technology sliding downward? It all has to do with the window associates. In that location'southward a rail at the lesser of the pane of glass. The rail is a long piece of metallic with a slot cut out of the middle along the length.

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

As the track is raised and lowered, your window is moved as well. Since your window isn't properly seated in this track, and then it will simply sag and lower over time.

In that location are a few other culprits for why your window is sliding down (which I'll cover later), but this is the biggest and well-nigh common.

The Importance of Keeping Your Window Up

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

• Poor aesthetics. Maybe it'south not a big deal to some people, but a sagging window volition injure the aesthetics of your car. For i, passengers will see your window dropping more as you lot go along driving. In addition, some of the temporary fixes are real eyesores.
• Vehicle safety result. A sagging window looks like a neon "Open" sign to a criminal. They tin easily suspension into your car and rob you. If your vehicle is older, they can also hotwire it and steal your motorcar.
• Rain tin come up in. Rain inbound your car is more than just a nuisance. It volition damage your interior and tin dramatically subtract the value of your car.
• Pests can come in. Having mice in your car is never a fun feel. They can chew at wiring, make your car stink, and destroy your engine. An open window is a very inviting thing for pests of all sizes.

Do You Want a Temporary or Permanent Solution?

Before continuing, we accept to determine what kind of solution you're looking for. Do you lot simply want some temporary fixes that will keep your window up for a trivial fleck?

I'd suggest this for anyone who is planning on doing a repair or taking it to a mechanic in the hereafter, they simply need a little time, first.

The large downside is that most of the temporary solutions look really bad. On peak of that, you won't be able to utilise your windows until you truly repair them.

The other option is a permanent solution. This will mechanically prepare your window, so it operates like normal moving forward. If you accept a spare weekend, I would highly suggest opting for repairing the window on your own as a cheap, permanent solution instead of sticking with a temporary i. I'll prove you exactly how to do this later.

Temporary Solutions to Keep Your Window Upward

If you just want a quick Rough-and-tumble for your window problem before you take the time to fix your window, this department is for y'all.

Realistically, some of these solutions can exist used forever, they only have their ain downsides (specifically, you won't exist able to curlicue up and downwards your window traditionally).

A Little Duct Tape

Duct tape is ane of those materials that can set up anything. In this case, the aforementioned story is truthful.

How y'all use the duct tape is upwardly to you — experience free to go a little creative with it. The tape can either be used at the top of the window or at the base where the window meets the rubber seal.

One large downside with using duct tape is that your window will exist left with record rest on information technology. Afterwards removing the tape, apply some acetal alcohol (nail polish remover) and a brush to get rid of the residue.

Use Junk Mail

One great employ for junk mail is to go along your window from sliding down. Push the window up until it's fully rolled up and stuff junk postal service into the slot at the base of the window.

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

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

Apply a Command Strip

A clever solution that I plant online was to use a Command Strip. You lot commonly notice these used in apartments where nails tin can't be driven through walls.

They are plastic hooks with an adhesive backing. More importantly, the adhesive is designed to be removed chop-chop by pulling a tab.

This means that the strips can exist removable. You can keep them on only as long as you lot need them.

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

Attempt a Suction Cup

An alternative to the Control Strip is a suction cup. Yous can affix information technology to the inside of your window at the base (afterwards fully rolling upwards your window). Or, y'all tin hang a hooked suction cup at the top of your window and apply a small string, rope, or bungee cord to connect the cup to something on your auto's ceiling.

A good instance of this is to use the handhold bar on your car'southward ceiling and tie a rope to it with a loop on the other end. Use the loop to claw to the suction cup to keep your window up but still accept the option to lower it slightly as needed.

Tape Plastic Over the Window

If your window completely falls down and won't stay upward, then you can just tape some see-through plastic over your window opening.

This should be used as a very temporary solution until you accept time to fix the car.

Permanent Solutions to Keep Your Window Up

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

Take information technology to a Mechanic

If y'all don't take the time, patience, or mechanical prowess to set up the window on your ain, you lot're better off taking it to a mechanic.

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

The downside of this option is that information technology's much more expensive than information technology should exist. Realistically, this could exist a $10 repair, but they'll charge you hundreds due to the fourth dimension it takes them to complete the repair.

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

Slam Your Door (the Most Fun Option)

Sometimes, there'due south something that jiggled loose within your door frame. This causes the window to sag a little and "slide downwardly."

To fix this problem, it could be equally like shooting fish in a barrel as slamming the door. This is also the near fun option by far since you have permission to slam a door without anyone getting mad.

The process is actually straightforward: curlicue up your window every bit far up as it goes and turn off your auto. Footstep outside of the vehicle and slam the door shut as hard every bit you can. Lookout your fingers during this and make certain nothing is in the door jamb.

Turn on your automobile and examination the window switch to see if information technology drives your window up or down.

If it still doesn't function or the window yet slides down, repeat this pace 3 or iv more times. After the 5th time, phone call it quits and move to another method of fixing your window.

Fix it Yourself

I would highly suggest just fixing the window yourself.

In a later following department, I'll requite you an in-depth guide to fix it yourself. In most cases, there are no new parts that go into the repair, merely some lube and adhesive.

If nothing else, it's cool to encounter what your window mechanism looks similar in person.

Some Troubleshooting to Effort

If you are deciding to fix the window on your ain, commencement with this section. These are some of the common troubleshooting tricks to try. Hopefully, information technology helps you to pinpoint the problem so you lot know what to fix in the adjacent step.

Check the Fuse

Equally I mentioned in another article, your car'southward fuses tin interruption down over fourth dimension. These fuses are the sacrificial pieces of different electrical connections throughout your car.

When a fuse blows or gets cleaved, and then the corresponding electrical 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.

Bank check your owner'due south manual for a schematic of the fuses in your car. Alternatively, check near the fuse box and come across if there are labeled instructions.

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

Find the fuse responsible for your window and see if information technology'due south blown. If the fuse is no good, so replace it, fire up your car, and try the window again.

Cheque the Window Motor for Ability

Another part that could exist broken is the actual motor for your window. If you hit the button on your door to ringlet up your window and you lot hear nothing or you hear a struggling mechanical noise, your motor could exist at fault.

Automobile ability window motor

This tin can as well be checked during footstep 4 of the step-by-pace instructions in the next section.

Check the Window Switch

Another electric piece to check is the window switch. This is responsible for passing the signal to the window's motor to first moving.

When you press the switch, there is a mixture of a mechanical and electrical process going on.

A quick manner to troubleshoot a faulty switch volition work on any window except for the commuter'south window. Employ the switch on the passenger'southward window (if that's the one that's sliding). If it doesn't work, and then hop into the driver's seat and utilize the rider's switch located on the driver's door.

If the switch here works, and so something's incorrect with the switch on the passenger's door.

If you press the window button on your door and hear nothing, it's either the motor, fuse, or switch.

Cheque for Dirt, Adhesives, or Obstructions on Window

Finally, information technology could only be a matter of something obstructing your window's power to stay upwards. This is usually not the case if a window keeps sliding down, but it can definitely be blamed for a window that doesn't curlicue all the manner downward.

Illustration of how a window is controlled

Anything can prevent your window from moving — clay, adhesive remnants (I'm looking at you lot, duct tape), a tint, water ice, or bird poo can cake your window'south path of travel.

Once yous find something obstructing the window, exist sure to quickly clean information technology off.

How to Set up a Window That Slides Downward Step-By-Step DIY Guide

At present information technology's time to talk about a solution that actually works: fixing the window on your own. This step-by-pace DIY guide volition walk yous through exactly how to fix a window that slides down.

Materials required: There isn't a lot that you need, here. In fact, about of the things can exist found effectually the firm:

• Ammeter
• Phillip'due south head screwdriver
• Wrench prepare
• Lubricant
• Adhesive like Automotive Goop

#1: Disconnect the Battery

You lot're going to be working around a live motor and wiring. It'southward a good idea to disconnect your car'due south battery before going any further so yous don't get hurt.

This tin can be done by turning your motorcar off, popping the hood, and so removing the ii concluding connections to the battery. Be sure to never bear upon the two at the aforementioned time or hold anything metal against them.

#two: Open up the Auto Door

Open the auto door that'south having the window issue. If there are multiple windows that are sliding downward, and so piece of work through these steps on 1 window before working on the side by side one.

It'due south best to practice this piece of work in an area where yous can open the door as wide as information technology can become. This volition give you lot more space to work and help you lot avoid a cussing fit as you squeeze into a slightly cracked door.

#3: Remove Everything from the Door Frame

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

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

Past the stop, you should accept a skeleton of a door that you can see into and, more importantly, work inside of.

#4: Practice Some Troubleshooting

Once the door is disassembled to this land, you tin can starting time doing some real troubleshooting. Employ your optics and ammeter to look around and try to find the root cause.

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

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

Make certain yous write down some of the troubleshooting steps you lot performed and what you noticed. This will come in handy if the window still doesn't piece of work after you attempt to fix information technology and you have to take it to a mechanic.

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

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

If you notice a regulator that isn't fastened, so information technology's fourth dimension to hook information technology dorsum together. This slice will move the window up and down when the window switch is operated.

A detached regulator will allow the window to slide down despite it existence fully rolled upwards.

#6: Make clean the Window

This is also a adept time to thoroughly clean the window. Y'all have a ton of access to the drinking glass now, and then you tin utilise a window cleaner and glass-friendly grease remover easily. While this won't prepare your trouble, it will assist your window operate better moving forward.

#seven: Lube the Runway

If the rails look dry or worn, then it'south time to apply some lubricant. Avert using WD40 and stick to automotive grease, here.

Greasing these parts will help them movement better and forestall slippage in the future. For reference, the runway are the crisscrossing arms that will help push your window as the motor drives a gear.

#8: Adhere the Window to the Runway

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

As I mentioned earlier, a loose connection betwixt your window and the track is i 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 adhesive before doing anything else. Read the modest impress on the adhesive you're using to ameliorate understand how to utilize the adhesive and how long to wait before touching information technology or operating it.

Also, be sure that the agglutinative you use is okay for glass-on-metal adhesion. It also has to be strong plenty to hold the two together without fail, otherwise, yous'll be re-reading this article when the adhesion stops sticking.

#9: Put Everything Together and Test it

With these steps complete, you're gear up to put everything back together and endeavor it out. Once more, make sure you wait long enough for the adhesive to dry before going to this footstep.

With your door reassembled and bombardment reconnected, fire up your car and cross your fingers. This tin be washed in accessory fashion on your car, simply I'd suggest just fully turning on your vehicle instead.

If your window correctly rolls upwardly without sliding down, and so give yourself a pat on the back.

If something still isn't working right, then it'due south up to you on how to proceed. You can either take your troubleshooting notes and car to a local mechanic, or you tin requite it another stab yourself.

Simply because it didn't work on your first try doesn't mean that y'all should give up. In my opinion, I think anyone is capable of successfully doing this repair on their own. I'd suggest going through the steps again, but be more slow and methodical this fourth dimension. Have a closer look at everything and really look for the culprit of the problem.

Who knows, you could take simply jostled a wire loose while you lot were in the car door and it'll be a v-minute fix.

Conclusion

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

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