Rear Window Randomly Down During or After Rain

[schwipt]

This has happened about 3 times now, ill go out to my car to find the back window has rolled down. This only ever happens after it has rained. I started to always engage the window lock button on the drivers door, but this most recent time it was engaged and still went down.

I use the rear window a lot and think this is happening because of either:
A) Water is on the window when I roll it down and causing something to short
B) Water is getting into the rear key socket and causing it to engage.

Today I unplugged the rear key completely. It had 2 wire connectors (A 2-wire and 3-wire). I am not sure which one did what, but I just undid them both. We will see if this fixes the issue.

I did like being able to close the window with the key, but hopefully this fixes the issue before my car gets flooded. Luckily, its always opened after the rain has ended.

Some photos:
Imgur: The magic of the Internet

 

[Bad Luck]

This has happened about 3 times now, ill go out to my car to find the back window has rolled down. This only ever happens after it has rained. I started to always engage the window lock button on the drivers door, but this most recent time it was engaged and still went down.

I use the rear window a lot and think this is happening because of either:
A) Water is on the window when I roll it down and causing something to short
B) Water is getting into the rear key socket and causing it to engage.

Today I unplugged the rear key completely. It had 2 wire connectors (A 2-wire and 3-wire). I am not sure which one did what, but I just undid them both. We will see if this fixes the issue.

I did like being able to close the window with the key, but hopefully this fixes the issue before my car gets flooded. Luckily, its always opened after the rain has ended.

Some photos:
Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Window lock doesn't cut power to the rear window unfortunately. There's a bulletin from toyota regarding some years have a faulty rear window logic and randomly roll down on their own. I can't remember what years they said were affected though.

Edit: I found the bulletin. It's a pdf on post #14 of this link: Rear window has gone insane - YotaTech Forums

 

[phattyduck]

Interesting! And yes, this has happened to me once or twice in the rain - and I think a few times without rain. I always assumed I had accidentally pressed the rear window button in my pocket...

-Charlie

 

[brillo_76]

This happens only recently in the rain? Or a long time.

If recently, I would check the rear window wiring for shorts or bad wires right in the boot area. These have enough time on them that wiring can be rubbing insulation off or intermittent breaks showing up in the wiring that moves when opening closing doors and endgates causing issues too.

Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk

 

[ElectroBoy]

Tsb el005-01

This may be related to the inherent problem seen in a lot of 3rd Gens with surprise window rolldowns. I had the same problem.
Several threads talked about it thinking it’s due to a key fob remote button getting inadvertently pressed. But that’s not it.

Check out the TSB EL005-01 as listed in this thread, post #5.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-...isable-key-fob-window-button.html#post3204323

 

[brillo_76]

Ah keyless entry issue. I never heard of it until today. Why only when it rains though. I would think it would act up randomly in all weather if it was the technical bulletin issue.

This seems more like a sensor or wire issue with insulation rubbed off or breaking wire the conducts when it gets wet if that is the only time it happens. Very interesting indeed.



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[schwipt]

This only seems to happen if the following two criteria are met:

1. Its been raining
2. I have used my rear window throughout the day (when the rain had stopped, but water was still present on the window)

I use my rear window a lot, so it's likely that right after the rain passes I would open my window and there is still some water on the window. Then I roll it up at home and come back out a few hours later to find it has rolled down.

First time I thought I just left it open, second time maybe I hit the key fob, third time I was somewhat used to it so I had been pressing the window lock button thinking that would override it - but it still went down even with the button pressed.

My thought is that the key housing is maybe getting water on the backside (or even inside the key slot itself) and causing the window to go down as if I was holding the key in and to the left. I probably should have verified if that is possible before disconnecting it.

**If someone wants to check if when the window lock button is pressed, can you slide the back window down using the key (turn left is down and right is up I believe)**

Another option for water getting in could be a bad seal at the bottom of the window. However, I leave my car sit for 3 - 4 weeks at a time while I am away at work. So far the window has never went down while I was away and it sat outside.

I've owned the car for almost exactly 1 year now (and its happened 3 times - all this summer/fall which is when I use the window the most), so I guess if it doesn't happen again in 1 years time I will assume it's fixed.

 

[brillo_76]

This only seems to happen if the following two criteria are met:



1. Its been raining

2. I have used my rear window throughout the day (when the rain had stopped, but water was still present on the window)



I use my rear window a lot, so it's likely that right after the rain passes I would open my window and there is still some water on the window. Then I roll it up at home and come back out a few hours later to find it has rolled down.



First time I thought I just left it open, second time maybe I hit the key fob, third time I was somewhat used to it so I had been pressing the window lock button thinking that would override it - but it still went down even with the button pressed.



My thought is that the key housing is maybe getting water on the backside (or even inside the key slot itself) and causing the window to go down as if I was holding the key in and to the left. I probably should have verified if that is possible before disconnecting it.



**If someone wants to check if when the window lock button is pressed, can you slide the back window down using the key (turn left is down and right is up I believe)**



Another option for water getting in could be a bad seal at the bottom of the window. However, I leave my car sit for 3 - 4 weeks at a time while I am away at work. So far the window has never went down while I was away and it sat outside.



I've owned the car for almost exactly 1 year now (and its happened 3 times - all this summer/fall which is when I use the window the most), so I guess if it doesn't happen again in 1 years time I will assume it's fixed.

Excellent thought on the key getting wet. Does the keyhole still have its internal cover that seals it when you take the key out or is that stuck open in the key tumbler.

Also how does the window seal itself look? Maybe its letting excess water in shorting a few contacts out inside the window too.

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[gamefreakgc]

Ah keyless entry issue. I never heard of it until today. Why only when it rains though. I would think it would act up randomly in all weather if it was the technical bulletin issue.

This seems more like a sensor or wire issue with insulation rubbed off or breaking wire the conducts when it gets wet if that is the only time it happens. Very interesting indeed.



Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk

The windows seals on the exterior are not 100% waterproof, that's why there's drain holes at the bottom of the hatch as well as in the doors. Water in the wrong place can cause some funky issues.

 

[Bad Luck]

**If someone wants to check if when the window lock button is pressed, can you slide the back window down using the key (turn left is down and right is up I believe)**

With the window lock engaged I can still operate my rear window via key and the key fob button.

 

[brillo_76]

The windows seals on the exterior are not 100% waterproof, that's why there's drain holes at the bottom of the hatch as well as in the doors. Water in the wrong place can cause some funky issues.

Oh it sure can. I have seen my fair share of the funky issues over the years. That's why I always check the wires in the doors and tailgate flex points as wires get damage break and short at these points too. That is why I suggested the wires be verified as good as well.

off topic sort of but relevant
{I even had a PO mechanic cut a engine wiring harness on a Camry before. I guess the mr goodwrenches didn't realize they all unplug near the firewalls mostly inside on Toyotas. Anyways, the had a bunch of circuits crossed as they didn't realize that wires can be very similar in color and grounds circuits are sometimes different and have to matched to the proper wire. They just match all the colors and called it a day. The darn thing wouldn't slow idle and along with a lot of other small funky issues. I ended up tracing the bad circuits and fixing almost everything. }

Nothing beats your power windows going up and down on their own because the wires are shorted in your door jam.. Or go up and down when you open and close a door :banana:

 

[ElectroBoy]

Test out the water theory.
Close all windows. Lock the truck with the remote. Make sure all windows are still closed. Put key fob in the house so you don’t accidentally hit a button in your pocket. Spray the truck with a hose, all around the rear window area, really soak it well. Go in the house a have a beer. Come back later and check the window. Rinse and repeat. If there’s an exposed wire that you suspect is causing the problem this exercise will eventually cause it to re-occur.

 

[tvpierce]

This happens only recently in the rain? Or a long time.

If recently, I would check the rear window wiring for shorts or bad wires right in the boot area. These have enough time on them that wiring can be rubbing insulation off or intermittent breaks showing up in the wiring that moves when opening closing doors and endgates causing issues too.

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This is good advice.

If it turns out not to be the problem, you've invested nothing but 5 minutes of your time.

 

[brillo_76]

It's what I do when funky things happen. Figured it may help someone out. :] our doors and tailgating jam wiring boots can rip letting moisture in and those wires move every time you open and close the doors. So in time wires break and insulation rubs off causing either funky behavior or parasitic shorts.

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[schwipt]

Update: Just happened again the other day - no rain at all - just used the window for the first time in a while because it was nice out. Parked and put all windows up and a few hours later it was back down.

Thus - my theory of rain getting past the weather stripping is not correct. Undoing the key wiring also not correct.


EDIT -- Just looked at that bulletin Bad Luck listed also - Not sure why I didn't notice it before - My vin falls within the repair 1 & 2. Toyota wants >400$ for the part 85930–35061, looks like on ebay they can be had for 40-50$. So maybe ill just replace it and see what happens (gotta figure out how to reprogram the key fob or if I need a new one as well).