1994 4Runner Driver Power Window Problem

[oneowner1994]

Have a 1994 Toyota 4Runner with a driver side power window problem. For quite some time, it has had an intermittent problem in which it fails to work. I have usually fixed it with a little patience (sometimes it works after driving a bit) or open and closed the door a time or two and then it works. It hasn't worked now for about 3 days, so I opened everything up and determined that at least the switch seems to work since I get voltage at the 2 wire connector at the bottom of the inside of the door where the pigtail from the motor connects, but the motor fails to respond. Thus, I assume it can only be the motor itself that has finally failed. Apparently, some short or another has been correcting itself, but won't do so any longer. I've read several threads discussing relays and such, but I'm assuming there is nothing else to look at if I have 12 volts at the connector. Could anything else be going on before I opt for ordering a new motor?

 

[bentos1]

Do not order a new motor until you verify the issue is with the motor itself.
You can run leads directly from the battery to the motor, polarity doesnt matter as one way the window goes up, and goes down when switched around.
First jump the motor to troubleshoot the issue and let us know what you find.

 

[oneowner1994]

Thanks for the reply. My wife called me today and told me the window was going up and down. I hadn't ordered a new one yet and was waiting for the weekend to test it further, but now it's fixed itself --- again. I need to investigate a bit further. There is probably a pressure switch that stops the motor when the glass reaches the top. To the best of my recollection, it has only failed when in the full up position.

 

[Dropzone]

Thanks for the reply. My wife called me today and told me the window was going up and down. I hadn't ordered a new one yet and was waiting for the weekend to test it further, but now it's fixed itself --- again. I need to investigate a bit further. There is probably a pressure switch that stops the motor when the glass reaches the top. To the best of my recollection, it has only failed when in the full up position.

after almost 200K mine was the master switch, takes 5 minutes to swap out, don't even need to pull the door panel. Lift from the forward edge, disconnect the wiring harness for the mirror and the windows, throw new switch in. snaps back in.
No pressure switch that i have seen...

 

[oneowner1994]

Mine has 288K since I purchased it new in January 1995. I checked the master switch and found that when the switch was engaged, I had 12 volts at the 2 wires that connect inside the door to the 2 wires that run up to the motor, but no response from the motor. Been researching if there is a limit switch in the motor, but haven't found much yet. As noted, this happens intermittently and usually will correct itself by door opening and closing.

 

[robertd33]

 

[dbd6604]

I've had this same problem for a few months. Was intermittent at first, now it just doesn't work at all. Rebuilt then replaced the window master switch, the relay box, as well as the fuse. Motor is good (tested it with jumper wires off the battery). I kinda just gave up on it.

 

[bentos1]

I've had this same problem for a few months. Was intermittent at first, now it just doesn't work at all. Rebuilt then replaced the window master switch, the relay box, as well as the fuse. Motor is good (tested it with jumper wires off the battery). I kinda just gave up on it.

I will add that when I bought my 3rd gen it has power everything and one of the rear windows did not work at all.
I jumped the motor, worked great. Swapped switches from one side to the other and there was no difference.
I took out the main master switch cluster from the drivers door and noticed a green tarnish on the electrical connections to the plug. I was almost going to buy a whole new switch but I decided to scrape some of the crubblies away first. When I re-installed the switch, everything was now working. No issues for the past year and has always worked. Was it just re-seating the switch? Cleaning the crubbers? Dont know to be honest but its been trouble free.

The problem with these switches on the drivers door is that rain water will accumulate periodically over the years and crubify your electrics.

 

[dbd6604]

When I initially took out the master switch cluster, I noticed this as well. Took everything apart and cleaned the snot out of it, still worked like it did before (intermittently). *sigh* Well it's almost winter, so I won't need to roll my window down for a while anyway.

 

[bentos1]

When I initially took out the master switch cluster, I noticed this as well. Took everything apart and cleaned the snot out of it, still worked like it did before (intermittently). *sigh* Well it's almost winter, so I won't need to roll my window down for a while anyway.

Seriously, you are just going to give up that easy?!

Spend a little time to diagnose the problem properly and get it fixed once and for all.