Auto Glass: Toyota Higlander rear window, toyota higlander, toyota hybrid

Question
Hi Eric,
I drive a Toyota hybrid 2005 highlander - I started the car this morning and the left rear window went down without me touching anything!  Now it won't got back up - guessing its an electrical problem?  Any idea how to remedy?  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Peg,

If the window is all the way down and you don't hear any noise when your press the switch to lower or raise the window, then your guess that it is an electrical problem is probably accurate.  The problem could be as simple as a short in a switch, but it could be something much more complicated such as a "body control" module.  The problem may be expensive to fix, but if you don't care if that window works any more, any good mechanic should be able to power the window up and disconnect the power wires to the window motor in under an hour.  You will need the services of a mechanic who routinely does electrical repairs if you decide that the window must work again.

However, if you can hear the mechanism move inside the door when you press the switch to raise or lower the window, then you have a completely different problem.  The arm that moves the window up and down is no longer attached to the glass.  It has slipped out of the channel on the bottom of the glass because the channel has moved.  This problem occurs often on this vintage of Highlander.

Send me a follow up question if you need any more information.

Ben .... the power window guy