Rear Window will not open

[latuk]

The rear window will move down about 1/4 inch and stop using either the interior switch or the exterior key switch. It sounds like it is binding on something. It has been garaged in Colorado for most of its life except the last 5 months it has been outside in North Carolina. Rear wiper and defrost work. Checked the window lock button. Rear defrost light will only stay on for 15 seconds or so.
Anyone have any idea what could be causing it to bind?

 

[98WhiteT4R]

The rear window will move down about 1/4 inch and stop using either the interior switch or the exterior key switch. It sounds like it is binding on something. It has been garaged in Colorado for most of its life except the last 5 months it has been outside in North Carolina. Rear wiper and defrost work. Checked the window lock button. Rear defrost light will only stay on for 15 seconds or so.
Anyone have any idea what could be causing it to bind?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/32376-back-window-problem.html

 

[4Runnermex]

The rear window will move down about 1/4 inch and stop using either the interior switch or the exterior key switch. It sounds like it is binding on something. It has been garaged in Colorado for most of its life except the last 5 months it has been outside in North Carolina. Rear wiper and defrost work. Checked the window lock button. Rear defrost light will only stay on for 15 seconds or so.

Anyone have any idea what could be causing it to bind?

Has the window ever been replaced that your aware of?
If so more than likely is getting caught up on the harness. Follow the harness to the side of the door if it's not put back the same way it was its loose in there. And it obstructs the window from rolling down.

I had this issue before took 5 mins to find the issue.

If not I would look and test your window motor.

 

[Mgyver1]

Grab the rear wiper blade where the round part goes in to the body and give it a pull. This should give enough clearance for the window to go down. I have to do this about every 4-6 months, mostly because I don't want to pull the panel off again (Did that the first time to figure out exactly what was binding). My method takes about 4 seconds or less.

 

[jgtree]

Mine had a bolt loose that holds the wiper motor .everytime I went up and down with it it was scratching the glass. Took panel iff and metal panel and tightened it back up.

 

[latuk]

Thanks, I did search this site b4 posting my problem and non of these solutions helped my situation.

 

[latuk]

Window is original. I have been wondering if being outside for so long has affected the back window somehow.

 

[RunnerLimited]

Had the same problem, I don't know if you tried "resetting the computer" I found it in an old thread, from inside you hold the Up button for 10-12 seconds and down button 10-12 seconds. after that press up again to fully close the window, then try opening then. It should go down all the way, if not do it again.

It worked then after a couple of days it would get stuck again and id have to keep trying this method. one way I figured to fix this was not to fully close the back 100% but about 95-98% just enough so water wont seep in when it rains. ever since then never had a problem with it

 

[latuk]

Thanks for everyone's help on this. It is binding on the rear wiper. I tried pulling on the back windshield wiper while using the key to lower the window and the window is hitting the interior portion of the wiper. I was not able to move the wiper at all but at least I now know what the problem is. How hard is it to get the back panel off?

 

[latuk]

I did try resetting the window b4 I found that it is binding on the wiper. Thanks for your input.

 

[latuk]

Mine had a bolt loose that holds the wiper motor .everytime I went up and down with it it was scratching the glass. Took panel iff and metal panel and tightened it back up.

Thanks. It appears that this is my problem as well.

 

[I_bRAD]

How hard is it to get the back panel off?

Very easy. It hooks over the sheetmetal at the top, has snaps around the edges and one bolt under the pull handle.

 

[latuk]

Well I opened up the back panel and every nut was tight except the one for the key lock. I took a long screw driver and pushed on the lower half of the wiper assembly bending it slightly enough and now my back window will go up and down without problems. For the last 5 months my 4runner sat outside in some very hot weather, first time in 18 years, maybe the wiper assembly expanded just enough so the window would not clear. Who knows. Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

[IBallEngineer]

Well I opened up the back panel and every nut was tight except the one for the key lock. I took a long screw driver and pushed on the lower half of the wiper assembly bending it slightly enough and now my back window will go up and down without problems. For the last 5 months my 4runner sat outside in some very hot weather, first time in 18 years, maybe the wiper assembly expanded just enough so the window would not clear. Who knows. Thanks again for everyone's input.

And thank YOU for posting the solution. This makes it so much easier for those searching posts for solutions to their own problems. Sadly many take the suggestion and fix their own problem but don't close the post.

Thanks

:violin:

 

[latuk]

Well I opened up the back panel and every nut was tight except the one for the key lock. I took a long screw driver and pushed on the lower half of the wiper assembly bending it slightly enough and now my back window will go up and down without problems. For the last 5 months my 4runner sat outside in some very hot weather, first time in 18 years, maybe the wiper assembly expanded just enough so the window would not clear. Who knows. Thanks again for everyone's input.

Just want to be clear on my solution for future reference. I did not bend the actual metal wiper assembly piece, I believe I just moved the entire assembly which is mounted with rubber grommets. It might have been better to loosen the nuts to the wiper assembly, move it and then tighten the nuts. Guess I will see how long my solution lasts.

 

[latuk]

And thank YOU for posting the solution. This makes it so much easier for those searching posts for solutions to their own problems. Sadly many take the suggestion and fix their own problem but don't close the post.

Thanks

:violin:

Yea, thought it would help others in the future to post how I resolved it. Great to have access to this forum.

 

[Bijan]

Grab the rear wiper blade where the round part goes in to the body and give it a pull. This should give enough clearance for the window to go down. I have to do this about every 4-6 months, mostly because I don't want to pull the panel off again (Did that the first time to figure out exactly what was binding). My method takes about 4 seconds or less.

Is there a permanent fix to this?

 

[Mgyver1]

Is there a permanent fix to this?

It involves dropping the panel on the back, which I've done before. Since it only does it every few months and takes 3-5 seconds to temporarily fix, I just figured it's easier to just give it a tug every once and a while.