QuestionQUESTION: Ben, I've read a few of your responses on diagnosing and fixing Highlander rear window problems, which have helped me reattach the regulator to the glass channel. You suggest that the regulator comes off the channel because the channel slips along the glass. If that's correct, is the solution to reglue the channel to the glass, and if so, what is the correct position?
ANSWER: Hi Peter,
You can often tell where the channel should be by looking at the bottom of the glass. The gasket leaves a mark that shows where the channel was originally positioned.
If looking at the glass does not solve the issue for you, you can determine where to re-position the channel by watching the end of the regulator arm as it travels up and down. Note where the back edge of the guide on the end of the regulator arm is when it reaches the spot farthest toward the rear of the door. Then position the channel so that the back edge of the channel would be about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch closer to the rear of the door. That will assure the the guide on the regulator arm does not slide out of the channel as it moves through its arc as it moves the window up and down.
Feel free to send a follow up question if you still aren't clear on what to do.
Ben .... the power window guy
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QUESTION: Ben, thanks for the clarification. I'll have to open the door panel to check if there's an indication the channel has moved along the glass. But if this has happened, is there a need to re-glue the channel to the glass in the correct position?
ANSWER: Hi Peter,
I think I need to give you a little more information about this situation. I am not sure which previous answers you have read.
The metal channel is not "glued" to the glass at the factory. The bottom of the glass has a rubber gasket applied between the glass and channel before the channel is "pressed" onto the glass. The rubber gasket typically remains where it was applied, but the metal channel slides forward on the rubber gasket just far enough so that the guide on the end of the regulator arm falls out of the back end of the channel.
So, if the metal channel and rubber gasket are still attached to the bottom of the glass, the simplest solution is move the channel back into position on the rubber gasket. Putting a little glue on the end of the gasket before you slide the channel back should prevent the channel from sliding forward again in the future. Note: sliding the channel back into position may not be as easy as it sounds. Your success will depend a lot on your level of skill and patience.
Sometimes the metal channel and rubber gasket have fallen completely off the glass. If you encounter this situation, it is almost impossible to press the gasket and channel back onto the glass while the glass is still in the door. Removing the glass is not simple task, so if the channel is completely off the glass, then I recommend widening the metal channel slightly and gluing both the gasket and the channel to the bottom of the glass. This procedure is not simple either, but a lot less work than removing the glass.
In either case, you will still have to re-install the guide at the end of the regulator arm back into the channel. This can only be accomplished by removing the four 10MM bolts that mount the regulator to the door, sliding the guide into the channel, and then re-installing the mounting bolts for the regulator.
Good luck with your repair. Feel free to send another followup question if you have any other issues.
Ben ... the power window guy
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QUESTION: Ben,
I think I wasn't using the right terminology, but I've got it now. My question is why does the guide (green plastic squar) at the end of the regulator arm keep coming out of the channel? Is the motor moving the arm too far? is the arm bent? Should I glue the guide into the channel? is there a "lock" that has fallen out?
Thanks, man
Pete
AnswerHi Peter,
The guide (green plastic) at the end of the regulator arm is falling out of the channel because the channel is not in the proper position on the glass. the channel has moved toward the front of the glass. For more information, please review my two previous responses.
Ben ... the power window guy
