Toyota Window Regulator

People these days love the comfort brought by owning a car. However, such opportunity comes with maintenance and repairs that car owners should be well aware of. Skipping regular service maintenance appointment as well as carelessness in handling car parts and accessories can result in untimely damage and strain on your pocket. The Toyota window regulator, for one, can wear out over time due to improper use or accident. This part is oftentimes overlooked basically because it looks small from the outside, but this component actually performs a very important role. After all, this mechanism controls the up and down movement of the windows. Hence, this step-by-step guide contains information to help you replace a defective regulator.

Required skill level: Intermediate

Needed tools and materials

• Philips screwdriver
• Flat head screwdriver
• Socket set wrench or ratchet set wrench
• Hex head wrench set
• Electrical tape
• Wire caps
• Wire cutters
• New Toyota window regulator

Preparation

As soon as you have detected that the main problem is the Toyota window regulator, take a trip to the nearest car parts store and shop for a replacement part. Then, gather the tools you will need such as the screwdrivers, set wrenches, wire caps, wire cutters, and electrical tape. This job would take a minimum of an hour up to three hours or so, depending on how capable you are in tracing the connections of the window regulator. It is essential to have an assistant while taking on this task.

Take off the door panel cover

With the right type of screwdriver, unbolt the screws and take off the panel from the door, making sure not to break any of the clips. Prying away the panel by carefully unbolting the screws with the flathead screwdriver will reveal the power window mechanism, which includes wirings. Detach all wirings through the harness plug or by cutting off the wires and set them aside for installation later.

Take out the door handle and rods

Gently remove the door handle and the rods that interconnect the window assembly. Depending on the model of your Toyota vehicle, you may have to remove these first before you can actually pry away the entire door panel. Secure the nuts, bolts, and clips in a container.

Brace the window glass prior to the main job

The glass needs to be securely handled to make sure it doesn't fall off and break. Lower the window glass and use a block of wood to securely prop it against the door frame. Once you get good access to the defective window regulator, take out the four bolts at the top and bottom part. Again, be sure to set them safely aside. Work your way on to unplugging or cutting away the wirings connected to the faulty Toyota window regulator.

Installing the brand new Toyota window regulator

Work on assembling the new window regulator and ensuring to re-attach all the nuts or bolts you removed earlier. It is advisable to lubricate the replacement part's slide area to ensure it will not be prone to stocking up. Then, plug in the wiring harness or use wire caps or electrical tape to secure all wires that connect to the newly installed part. With assistance, put back the window glass, the door panel cover, the handle rods, and the door handle. Finally, it is time you test the window if it operates smoothly.