Vehicle: 1985 4Runner 22RE 5-Speed

Hey guys, having a little issue with my 4Runner that I could use some help with fixing. Have searched on here and read through some issue on 4crawler but haven't found an answer yet.

Issue is; last week I rolled my rear window up and as it hit the close position there was a noticeable "clunk" sound. Now it will not roll back down. When using the key or switch inside to roll it back down the whole tailgate trim piece around the inside handle flexes back and forth as you try and roll it up and down.

It sat like that for a few days then while driving home after work I tried again to roll it down (using switch inside) and it DID roll down just fine. But when I rolled it back up again I accidentally rolled it back up to the very top and now it's stuck again.

I'm at a loss right now on what the issue is so I made a little video with hope that it will help with getting the issue diagnosed.



Thanks in advance for any help and if you need anymore details or video's just let me know.

It sounds like something in the door is "falling over"....Maybe when you drove it it jarred it around enough to roll down....or maybe a bad motor?

the regulator is not properly aligned the window channel so its binding up. when your driving its just enough vibration to loosen it up to move up and down.

to fix this you need a screwdriver a 10mm socket a 8mm wrench and 2 people.
one person to control the window switch and you at the back.

first start by getting the binding out this can be achieved by pushing the window switch down while using my method the rumble strip and 30mph or by using the 8mm wrench to loosen the bolts on the motor and taking it out then youll be able to move the hole window down and up with ease.( the bolts for the window motor are hard to get at but easy to get in and out just be patient)

ok once the window is down and free moving drop the tailgate down. take the screw driver and lock in the driver side tailgate latch this will trick the truck into being able to move the window up and down with the tailgate down.
now you need to loosen the 4 bolts on the regulator just loosen them not pull them all the way out. now you will be able to move the entire assmbly to adjust the tension of the side rails. you should get the regulator to let the window go up and down with the least amount of resistance, once you hit that point you should tighten the bolts back up now do this same procedure with the motor installed and instead of using your hands to move the window up and down have someone use the switch just make sure you hold the window up so it doesn't break you should be able to get it to go up and down with ease. grease the gear cogs and spring tensioner then release the driver side tailgate lock and now try the window again with the top on. it should slide right up into position if not mark the points that are hitting and measure the difference on each side of the window compared to the a single pint on each side of the gate. and adjust accordingly via the regulator.

this can be lengthy testing procedure but once you do youll be able to do it whenever you need to.

if non of this helps you can try measuring the window channel guides to make sure it or they depending on year have not slipped out of position on the bottom of the glass.
if you need any more help ill be following this thread.

Hey Bad Vision,

Thanks a bunch for the lengthy post you made; I think I understand what needs to be done. Basically take the motor out so window moves freely. Then loosen the whole regulator assembly and "shimmy" it around until the window moves up and down with the least amount of resistance as possible?

Today while driving to work I must have hit enough bumps to allow the window to "break free" because I was able to roll it down. This time I made sure I didn't wind-up to the very top; just enough where the window is still in the seal at the top (to keep water out). Oh and just a thought. Now that the window can be rolled down and the tailgate opened; would I need to remove the window motor? Or does the problem solely lie in the regulator being misaligned? Now I just need to find a second pair of hands lol.

Again, thanks a BUNCH!

Rear wiper also trigers the rear window lock, wont let the window roll down if the wiper arm is down just a bit.

yup i would put 90% on it being the regulator 10% on the side track warped.