I have an automatic 2000 Toyota Corolla with 145K miles. The driver's window (only) is not going up and down very well. The first time I use it after the car sits for a time, the window will go down all the way or most of the way at the normal speed. Occasionally, it will go back up all the way but only the first time I try to go back up during each time I drive the car without a long stop.
Once the window opens, it will neither go up or down all the way without stopping in very small increments. To close the window for example, I have to turn the key to the on position, push up on the switch and it will go up anywhere from a half inch to two inches. Then I have to turn the key off and wait 30 seconds and repeat. Until ten minutes later the window is finally closed.
Once this starts, the process is the same for opening the window as well.
Any ideas? 🙂
thx
After 22 years you can bet the lubricant in the window regulator is hardened and useless. If the trick of lubing the window tracks doesn't work you need to open up the door and lubricate the mechanism. This video covers diagnosing and repairing the power windows on a 2000 Corolla:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uECJ8TSwRJ4
Thx chuck. I'll try that tomorrow as well. Could I ask why a lubricant could help if the first time I attempt to open the window it goes down perfectly fine at a normal fast speed even? Seems like if it was corroded to that point, it would never work?
And thx for the video on how to replace the regulator! It's the exact car even!
Could there be like a fuse mechanism that's overheating?
When the window is going down you have gravity on your side, which makes a difference. One of my cars is like that. The driver's window will go down OK but it struggles going up and you have to help by pulling it. (I haven't had time to take the door apart to deal with it.)
One of the behaviors however would indicate that it's not because the track the window is on is sticking and that is that the very first time I lower the window, it usually goes full-speed all the way down. I do have some silicone so tomorrow I will try it on the window! Hey it's worth a shot and it's free! Better than buying a motor first!
What do you think about the behavior given that the first time you use it, it usually goes all the way down fast. Could it be a situation where the motor can overcome the drag of the corrosion the first time but get too hot to function correctly?
Thx all!
It was definitely the motor. I just replaced the regulator and motor and it's running fine now. In fact, it runs way better than the other windows.