QuestionA 1998 Toyota Camry CE has the driver side window in the stuck down positon, all other windows work from the master switch with a positive check for power to the switch. With the window in the down position it is impossible to loosen the screws holding the glass to the regulator. If I remove the screws holding the motor in place will I be able to pull the window up enough to remove the glass screws to get the glass out of the way to replace the motor? Thanks.
AnswerHi Bob,
I don't want to assume too high a level of knowledge, so forgive me if some of my instructions seem overly detailed.
Let's start by making sure you are getting power to the motor.
1. The wire connection for the motor is located in the upper right hand corner of the door. It is a smallish, two wire (probably green & red pair) male connector. It is plugged into the system wires which are fastened to the door's frame with a push-in connector.
2. Remove the connector from the hole in the door and separate the plug connecting the system wires to the motor wires.
3. Plug in the master window switch, turn on the ignition, operate the switch and check for power at the end of the system connection. Be sure to move the switch in both directions as you probe each wire spade. Your switch could be shorted internally and sending power to both wires at the same time.
4. If you are not getting power at the motor, you probably have a bad switch or a wiring issue. Send me a follow up question if that is the case.
5. If you get normal power to both system wires at the system connector follow these steps:
a. Start the engine
b. HOLD the switch in the "up" position
c. Strike the door with a rubber mallet between the four
regulator mounting bolts. (notice a small hole right in the
center of the four bolts: the motor is right behind.)
d. If you're lucky, the motor ran a little bit. If not, read on.
It is really difficult, if not impossible, to remove the motor from the regulator while the regulator is still in the door and the glass is down.
A more feasible approach is to get the glass off the regulator. You can do this best by drilling two access holes which line up with the glass mounting bolts.
1. Locate the two bolts (10 mm) which go through the plastic orange and yellow cushions around the mounting holes at the bottom of the glass.
2. Check and double check to be sure that the access holes will not be visible when the door panel is replaced.
3. Use a hole saw or step bit to drill the two access holes.
4. Remove the glass-to-regulator mounting bolts and then separate the glass from the regulator and slide the glass all the way up and secure it with a wedge or piece of tape.
5. Now you are free to remove the regulator and replace the motor.
Hope all goes well. I won't be around much today, so if you do have follow up questions I might not get to them until tonight.
Ben ..... the power window guy.
