Rear auto latch malfunction after new window install?

[Light_Mania]

Took my 4th gen in to a local glass replacement concern for a new rear window (don't ask!). They just called and said it was done, but now the electric latch doesn't work. The rear door is closed, but will not open after all manner of trying to unlock it. The dealer svc dept. told them over the phone that the computer has lost track of window position and needs to be reset and that it isn't easy to do. In other words, the dealer would probably like to charge me a lot of money. Anyone dealt with this problem before? Is there an easy fix?:awais:

 

[toto]

If the rear window isn't initialized properly, I don't think it would affect the rear latch. It would affect the rear wiper and defroster, however.

The instructions for initializing the rear window are in this thread:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20637

 

[gizmopt2002]

Mos def go back to the place and speak to the owner/manager. Demand that they pay up or correct their mistake. It is their fault, and wasn't your responsibility for their actions. You should not have to pay for their mistake.

 

[gizmopt2002]

The dealer svc dept. told them over the phone that the computer has lost track of window position and needs to be reset and that it isn't easy to do.

That makes me wonder. What the hell does window position have to do with opening the rear hatch?

 

[toto]

Re: Re: Rear auto latch malfunction after new window install?

That makes me wonder. What the hell does window position have to do with opening the rear hatch?

Nothing, as far as I know. The door should latch regardless of the position of the window. But there's a computer back there, and it does care about the window position for the defrosterand the wiper, so who knows.

It sounds much more likely to me that they screwed up the latch in the process of taking the door apart to replace the glass.

 

[gizmopt2002]

I wonder how easy it is to remove the back panel and check all the connections. I was givin the same runaround when my speed sensor A want bad, and my VSC/TRAC, ABS, and VSC off lights were on. Dealers in the area wouldn't look at unless paying them 98 an hour, and pretty much have them take apart the whole electrical system. I came to the conclusion that A) My brakes are worn and need replacing B) I was towing 800 lbs., when I had to brake and they came on, so I went to the spot where the jack is, grabbed some DOT 3 brake fluid, filled up some more and boom problem solved in 1 minute. And I've driven 3k since and the lights have never came back on. The point is just do some of your own work to save time and money.

 

[Light_Mania]

The glass company said that the hatch wouldn't unlock if the hatch computer did not know that the window was up, and that it had lost track of the window position, so it wouldn't unlock. That may all be BS. I'm told that the owner of the glass shop will be checking with their regular contact at the local dealership on Monday, that person was apparently not available today. And the shop owner wasn't available this evening for me to talk to her.

I'm thinking that something actually was messed up by the glass shop, beyond just "confusing" the computer. The glass shop definitely has responsibility here, and if they give me the runaround and the dealership charges me to repair it, it will definitely merit a complaint to the BBB at the minimum.

The window is working fine, as is the rear wiper, so a solution isn't as easy as re-initializing the window.

 

[Pirate VI]

I had this problem when I installed my back up camera. You need to take the back panel off (this should be possible, yet maybe a bit difficult from the inside) and on the right side you will see a computer or something with some wires going in. Push and wiggle the white wiring connector in. There is a little play with this connector and can get unconnected even when it is still plugged in.


This was my problem at least, and I would bet it is yours as well.

 

[qs933]

The glass company said that the hatch wouldn't unlock if the hatch computer did not know that the window was up, and that it had lost track of the window position, so it wouldn't unlock.

I'm pretty sure I've been able to open the hatch with the rear window in the down position.

In fact, the reason I remember is because the hatch feels very different (the weight distribution) when closing it if the window is in the down position.

 

[Light_Mania]

Pirate VI -

It makes sense to me that it may just be a connector loose. There doesn't seem to be any chatter on the boards here about the rear door computer losing track of windows position, so I think that is a bogus excuse.

I just took a look at the rear hatch inside cover, and it isn't obvious how it comes off. How did you take yours off?

 

[toto]

The rear computer will lose track of the window's position if the computer loses power, i.e. you disconnect the battery.
But there are no problems where that happens randomly for no apparent reason.

 

[Pirate VI]

Pirate VI -

It makes sense to me that it may just be a connector loose. There doesn't seem to be any chatter on the boards here about the rear door computer losing track of windows position, so I think that is a bogus excuse.

I just took a look at the rear hatch inside cover, and it isn't obvious how it comes off. How did you take yours off?

There are little plastic covers on the back panel, one by the strap, and one other bigger one. Pop those off, and under the one by the strap you will see a bolt, unbolt that, and then use the hole where the bigger cover was as a handle to pull the whole panel off. The panel will pull back towards you, and then bring the whole thing up to get the top edge out of the window area. You should then see a little black box on the left (looking from inside) with a white connector going in from on top I believe, wiggle that and then try it out.
The window will lose position if you disconnect it or the battery, but it doesnt have anything to do with opening/closing the door, and it will relearn the position by putting the window up and down once or twice.

 

[Light_Mania]

OK, dug into the rear hatch this evening. Pushed and pulled on every connector I could find, to no avail. Opened the hatch from the inside using the mechanical levers and jacked around with some connectors again. Loosened the battery ground wire, to try to reset everything, but before I fully disconnected it went back to close the hatch. And it closed electrically. Everything back to normal, nothing needing to be re-initialized so I don't think I forced a power off reset. Must have been one of the last connectors I tugged and pushed on.

Thanks everyone for the advice, especially Pirate VI.

 

[Pirate VI]

Glad you got it working, I know it really scared me when it happened, I also forced it open from the inside before I tried it to see if it worked. I don't know why they make those connectors so that they can come loose like that, it would really bother me if it just came loose with out me ever messing back there.