Not your normals rear window problem. SERENITY NOW!!

fAr eAst rUnnEr

New member
Hey folks I really need some assistance. Before I get started on the issue please know that I have searched exhaustively trying to solve my own problem but have had zero luck.

so here it goes:

Two months ago I began a revamp of my audio in my 2005 4Runner sport. I put in a new head unit complete with the required adapters and what not. At the time not all the components had arrived by mail such as the rear camera and USB addition. After the head unit was installed I ended up with the expected rear liftgate issue of everything not working. As always I came to my most trusted source for 4Runner information, this site. I learned about the initialization process to get everything back in order and that did the trick. My wiper, window and defrost returned to working normally. Thanks T4R.ORG!!!

Fast forward a couple of months when the weather warmed up enough for me to want to get back at completing my installs and I returned to install my USB port and rear view camera. The installation went perfectly well. I installed the camera on the inside of the truck right behind the cargo light. My reasoning was I didnt want to open up the tailgate and route the wires avoiding the window and regulator, plus having it inside keeps it clean. win win right?

When I finished the install nothing on the liftgate worked and remembering the valuable info I learned for this great place I knew what to do. Hold the interior liftgate window button up for about 15 seconds until you hear this faint little click from behind the right side of the instrument cluster. Success...sort of. Immediately my rear defrost, wiper and wash was working again but when I tried to lower the window....nada. Trying to lower the window also produced an immediate faint click but this time coming from the left side of the instrument cluster, or so it seems. As soon as I try to lower the window all other liftgate functions cease to operate and I have to reinitialize the liftgate once again. This has been my hell for the last while. Now lowering of the rear window wasnt so much of an issue when the weather was cold but now I want it back.

So far I have tried the following to fix my issue:

1. Disconnect battery for an extended period - 15 -30 minutes---NADA
2. Pull the ECU under the hood---NADA
3. Open up the tailgate and unplug all the connections forcing a rear door ECU reset---NADA
4. Two key method, one in the rear door and one in the ignition---NADA
5. Checked all fuses----NADA
6. Make sure the wiper is seated ---NADA
7. Make sure the rear window is completely up---NADA
8. Make sure the child safety lock is not engaged---NADA

So I have tried endless searches through this site and across the internet and now I turn to the most respect source of 4Runner knowledge on the internet and speak my story and hope one of you good folks can offer some insight to stop the madness.

HELP!!
 
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So I'll have to assume that after 125 people looking at this post that this issue is unique to me.lol.

I'll bump this in hopes that someone has some insight.
 
So I'll have to assume that after 125 people looking at this post that this issue is unique to me.lol.

I'll bump this in hopes that someone has some insight.

just because we often over look the obvious, the window lock isn't on is it? not trying to be a smarta$$ here, just know it's happened to me before haha
 
no, that was the first thing I checked. Im going to have start pulling things apart again to make sure I never accidentally knocked a ground loose or something.
 
Hey folks I really need some assistance. Before I get started on the issue please know that I have searched exhaustively trying to solve my own problem but have had zero luck.



When I finished the install nothing on the liftgate worked and remembering the valuable info I learned for this great place I knew what to do. Hold the interior liftgate window button up for about 15 seconds until you hear this faint little click from behind the right side of the instrument cluster. Success...sort of. Immediately my rear defrost, wiper and wash was working again but when I tried to lower the window....nada. Trying to lower the window also produced an immediate faint click but this time coming from the left side of the instrument cluster, or so it seems. As soon as I try to lower the window all other liftgate functions cease to operate and I have to reinitialize the liftgate once again. This has been my hell for the last while. Now lowering of the rear window wasnt so much of an issue when the weather was cold but now I want it back.


Well, i actually did run my rear view camera inside the liftgate by running the wires and squeezing them through the black weather strips. Worked like a charm. But I did notice one day my liftgate functions wasn't working. My liftgate window wiper and washer wasn't working. Once i put my window all the way up. The rear wiper , washer was fully functional again.

IS that your problem with the rear liftgate window? Or are you saying the front washer and wipers don't work at all??
 
Any possibility you messed with anything on the window by accident?

Anything is possible but I never even opened the tailgate to install anything so I'm pretty positive I never messed anything up inside the door near the window. The only time I popped open the tailgate was when I unplugged the ECU trying to solve the issue.
 
Well, i actually did run my rear view camera inside the liftgate by running the wires and squeezing them through the black weather strips. Worked like a charm. But I did notice one day my liftgate functions wasn't working. My liftgate window wiper and washer wasn't working. Once i put my window all the way up. The rear wiper , washer was fully functional again.

IS that your problem with the rear liftgate window? Or are you saying the front washer and wipers don't work at all??

My only issue is the operation of lifting and lowering the rear window.

After installing my stereo and hooking the battery back up I had to reinitialize the tailgate functions by holding the window up button for approx 15 sec. At this point the defrost, wiper and wash functions returned but the up and down function on the window has not. If I try to lower the rear window I loose the wiper, defrost and wash functions again and am forced to reinitialize the tailgate functions. Im starting to think I have a short in the switch or something.
 
So I am a complete loss as to what is going on with my window. Once I initialize the tailgate functions I get my defrost, wiper and wash functions back but if I try to lowering the window I lose it all again. Doesn't matter if I try to lower the window with the button, key or fob, everything on the tailgate dies and needs to be initialized again. When I press the down button I hear a faint action from the tailgate just before everything in the tailgate stops. This is getting frustrating.
 
So I am a complete loss as to what is going on with my window. Once I initialize the tailgate functions I get my defrost, wiper and wash functions back but if I try to lowering the window I lose it all again. Doesn't matter if I try to lower the window with the button, key or fob, everything on the tailgate dies and needs to be initialized again. When I press the down button I hear a faint action from the tailgate just before everything in the tailgate stops. This is getting frustrating.

I got a recall letter yesterday about the rear window having issues regarding the defroster. Maybe you can try to take it to the dealership and see if your vehicle is covered under the new warranty replacement program. It may or may not be. If it is, they said they will replace the glass for free.

That, or backtrack to what you previously installed, the camera and the usb . maybe one of those wires is shorting the power for the liftgate that you touched recently.
 
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I got a recall letter yesterday about the rear window having issues regarding the defroster. Maybe you can try to take it to the dealership and see if your vehicle is covered under the new warranty replacement program. It may or may not be. If it is, they said they will replace the glass for free.

That, or backtrack to what you previously installed, the camera and the usb . maybe one of those wires is shorting the power for the liftgate that you touched recently.

Only covered if it shattered when using the Defroster
 

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