Hello Club Lexus! I have a 2004 LS430 with about 135K and I rolled the windows down to help cool the car. I rolled them down about halfway and upon rolling them back up, the left rear window sounded like it was catching and wouldn't roll up. I tried to assist it while pulling up on the window glass, and could hear the motor trying to do something, but then it too stopped. The glass suddenly seems to be moving relatively freely in the door, and there is a giant scratch through the tint in the center of the window now.
I'm guessing it's a regulator failure, but I'm surprised that it would scratch the window so hard. Is there possibly something else going on here? I haven't taken the door panel off as we my wife needs access to the door to put my daughter in the car.
Also, I'm seeing a broad range of pricing for regulators out there. Any reason I should definitely spring for the OEM part or are the replacements pretty good quality?
Thanks in advance!

 

It sounds to me that the window glass has detached from the regulator linkages/bracket (see circled in red)... That may explain how you got the scratch through the window tint.

 

Yeah, I think you're right. The glass seems to move freely now. Any idea of what that part is called so I can order it? Or do I likely have to buy a whole new regulator to get it?

 

I would suggest to go behind the door panel and take a look. Most likely a bolt/nut has worked itself loose (see Step 16 of the attached), and all you have to do is to re-attach it. Attached are pages from the repair manual on the rear door.