Auto Glass: 2004 Expedition front driver side window rolls up very slow, especially when its cold, cold motor, glass run

Question
Hi Ben, my wife's 04 Expeditions front driver side window rolls up very slow and it only gets worse when it gets cold outside (below freezing#. last year the same window quit working all together and I ended up replacing the whole driver side window switch cluster on the door arm rest. That fixed the problem with the window not working at all, but it still rolls up very slowly. When it get below freezing #I live in Alaska) the wife has to grab the top of the window and assist it as she pushes the up button. I also tried spraying a silicone based lube in the guides with no improvement. Is there anything else you can think of that would make it roll up so slow? I thought maybe there is some kind of lube in there somewhere that is getting gummed up in the cold, but it is still slow when it isn't cold. Motor? Window regulator? I am at a loss. Any help would be awesome.

Thanks,
John

Answer
Hello John,

If all the other windows are operating at normal speed, then I don't think it makes sense to blame the Alaska environment.  

You have already lubricated the glass run channels with silicone so it is unlikely that the glass is binding in the run channels.  

Based on my personal experience I believe the failure rate for the "window regulator" on the this vintage of Expedition is normal or somewhat lower than normal.  However, it is possible that one or both of the regulator cables or regulator clips could be binding and causing the slow movement of the window.  You would have to remove the door panel and examine the regulator to be certain, but the problem might not even be apparent to someone without previous cable window regulator repair experience.

I have yet to see a failed window lift motor on a 2003 - 2006 Expedition.  So based on my own experience, I would say the motor failure rate is normal to lower than normal. Here again, it is still very possible that the motor is the problem, just not highly likely.

I am sorry that I don't have a clear cut solution to your problem.  Feel free to send a follow up question if there is anything else I can do to help.


Ben .... the power window guy


I have never had to replace a motor on a 2003 to 2006 Expedition so I would say the failure rate on the motor is lower than normal