Hi,
I've just replaced my battery and the front windows are now not operating at all from either driver or passenger controller. Rears ok from driver and rear passenger controls. I've tried all the hacks of holding button up or down for 10 seconds and also disconnected battery for 24hrs but no action. The drivers window control flashes when pushed and I can hear relays clicking. Also tried holding down button and shutting door hard 3-4 times. So frustrating because the rest of the car has been running perfectly. Look forward to any input. Cheers, Damian

 

Hello,

Are you sure the issue specifically Started after the Battery was Disconnected, and not just Discovered after that?

Either way, if you hear a Click, it means that the Electrical Portion is working and produces Signal, which means that the Issue is Mechanical, which means that it's a perfect time to take the Door Panel off and inspect the Mechanism.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

Hi Arsenii

Both front windows were working before the battery change which makes me think that the window motors are not the issue, although I can't comprehensively count that out - but it would be a fairly large coincidence. Trying to avoid pulling the door down at this stage as my gut feel is that it's a glitch of some sort. The windows have stuck in the past but have become operational again by holding down button and slamming the door. I also had issues with the previous battery being low on charge causing window failure, but this rectified after a short drive to recharge. New battery has been fully charged since installation.

Thanks for your help, I'll keep trying!

Cheers, Damian

 

The Slamming trick usually only works on Rear Windows, mostly because it wasn't really caused by a malfunction per say, rather a Defective Design from the factory, Toyota released a TSB about it a number of years back, here is a thread about it, but since most are not even using their Rear Windows, they didn't even know those were malfunctioning, let alone claimed the Warranty Repair.

Try listening very closely to the Click you hear when the Button is Pressed, if it sounds like the Motor Struggling, there could only be one thing causing it.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

Thanks Arsenii
I will have a close listen and see if I can hear any motor groan.
Thanks for your help, much appreciated.
Cheers, Damian

 

So I used a medical stethoscope to listen for any motor noise and there wasn't any. An audible click of the relay and then silence. I'm thinking I will have to bite the bullet and remove the door lining to ascertain if I have supply to the door motor. Is there a link to a video on how to best remove the door lining?Thanks in advance, Damian

 

The thing is that there isn't really a Relay in there to control the Windows, it's done with the Door ECU in that car, though there may be a small Relay stashed in it. Just about any system with the Motor in any Toyota is equipped to Detect Overcurrent and Disable said Motor until the Switch Released and then Pressed again, this is done to prevent damage to either the Motor or the Mechanism, something that a number of .. particular cars lack even today, which can be assessed by the number of utterly wrecked Rear Wiper Mechanisms around..

Either way, it seems like the Click you hear is not of the Relay, but rather of the Motor getting Powered for a split second, system realizing that the window isn't going anywhere and Disabling the Motor, at least that would be my guess without hearing the noise in question. Below is a video on how to take the Door Panel off.


Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

Thanks Arsenii
I was only guessing it was a relay (I'm an electrician by trade) but car electrics are a different thing altogether! Thanks for the video, much appreciated. I'll keep you posted on progress. Cheers, Damian

 

Hi Arsenii
Firstly, the drivers side window is now working after using the button down - door slam method. Unfortunately the passenger window isn't being as accommodating. After procrastinating for many weeks/months I have finally got around to removing the passenger door lining - any tips on what do next as far as getting the window to work? I don't want to rush in and change out the regulator as I'm pretty confident the window is stuck and the reg. is ok.
Cheers Damian

 

Better late than never..

First get some Dry Lube from any Hardware Store and go around the Window Seal and the Rails that guide it into the Door, just in case. Next, since you already have the Door Panel off, I would try Unbolting the Window from the Regulator, such that the Window would move freely from the Regulator, then try moving the Window and the Regulator separately, making sure that the Window doesn't have excessive Drag, and that the Regulator doesn't have any Obstructions on its way. More likely than not, seeing that the Driver's side magically fixed itself by slamming the door a few times, the Passenger Window is just stuck to the Seal, making it very hard to move.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

Thanks Arsenii
I think that is a great idea. I'll give that a crack and see how I go.
Cheers Damian

 

Success!!! Thanks for your assistance Arsenii. I suspect the windows stuck due to detergent drying out and sticking the window to the seals after a wash. I've dry lubed all around them now, so hopefully it doesn't happen again. Cheers Damian

 

Perfect.

The benefit of the Dry Lube is that it has an extremely Low Viscosity, which really helps it when it comes to creeping into the surfaces, with that, once it dries out, it doesn't really offer any protection. Instead, now that the Window is fully operational, I would suggest getting some Silicone Oil, which, unlike the Dry Lube, gets Absorbed into the Rubber, keeping the surface slick for much longer. All you need is to apply it liberally to the Towel, jam it into the seals and run it across multiple times, then wait for the Oil to get absorbed into the Seals.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

That's great advice, thanks Arsenii. Would a silicon lubricant spray be ok or would you go for straight silicon oil?
Cheers, Damian

 

Emm, not sure, it depends, can't see what the difference between them would be.. Either way, the best way to find out is by applying it to the Seal, and seeing if it gets Absorbed with Silicone Oil the Seal should be "dry" within minutes after application.

Hope this helps and best of luck!