Having your car windows get stuck can be extremely annoying. You will get wet in the rain, or alternatively you will have to step out of your car at the drive through or to collect your parking barrier ticket. In the past, manual windows had a habit of getting stuck to. But in this article we are going to concentrate on how to pull up automatic car windows. If you are lucky, you won’t even need any tools for the job.
How Does Power Window Work?
Before we get into detail with how to pull up your sticking window, we will explain how your window works. This will help you when it comes to pulling up your window. Auto windows use regulators to raise and lower them, these devices being set inside channels. Auto windows have regulators that are connected up to motors, although they still work on the same basis as manual ones have always done. Automatic windows use a reversible electronic motor that tis connected to a regulator. The wiring, a switch, and the motor can all go wrong, as can the regulator that can start to stick or break altogether.
If you can simply roll up a power window that has got stuck depends on what has failed in the mechanism. If the motor has gone bad but the switch is okay, you may be able to pull your window up one last time by jarring the motor with the switch held in the closed or up position. If you do manage to get your window up, don’t be tempted to lower it again. This fix generally only works the once and should be treated as a stop-gap only.
Rolling a Power Window Up Without Tools
So, without the need for any tools, it is often possible to roll up a stuck electric window by following these steps:
- Turn your car ignition on or into the accessory position. You do not need to start your engine. If your radio is turned on, then you have the correct position.
- Press the window switch and hold it in the closed/up position. Keeping the button depressed in the side that closes the window, open and slam your car door. You can try this a few time to see if this works, but don’t overdo it. If it hasn’t worked after a few tries, it’s time to try something else.
As we mentioned earlier, if you do manage to roll your window back up, do not be tempted to try and roll it down, no matter how hot it gets in the car. This is a temporary fix and will only work one time. If you can’t get your window to roll up, close the door of your car. Now you need to look for a place where the door panel looks like it is in indirect contact with the metal sheet found inside the door; if you are unsure look online for pictures of your vehicle with the door panel taken off.
With the switch to power up your window depressed, hit the location with your fist or a blunt object, making sure not to damage either yourself or the door. If you still can’t get the window to roll up, it’s time to diagnose what is stopping it from doing so. You may have a bad motor, fuse, or switch. If the window is making a grinding door, it could be that your window is out of track. If you can heat the motor running or a grinding noise, it’s likely the tracking or regulator is at fault. If the window isn’t all the way down to the bottom, you still may be able to manually close your window.
- Turn the ignition to the accessory position as you did above
- Open the door of your cat and sandwich the part of window that is visible between your hands. At this point it is best to have someone that can help you apply pressure to the window switch while you physically lift the window up. You will need to exert a fair amount of force to successfully roll you window up.
When trying this tactic, it is always important to prepare yourself for the window to suddenly move by itself. Quick reactions are necessary, as otherwise you could end up getting your hands stuck in the window as it closes. If you hear a grinding noise whilst trying to push up your window, or the glass starts to rock back and forth, you will need to remove the door panel in order to pull up your window. Hopefully you won’t get to this stage, as for this you will need access to some simple tools.
Checks
Before taking your vehicle to a garage to have the window fixed, there are some final checks you can carry out yourself. Check that the safety lock switch on your window hasn’t accidentally been pressed into the locked position. Checking your fuses can also prevent a trip to the garage with your car. If you find a blown fuse in your fuse boxes, simply replace it with one of the same voltage. Check power to the switch, power to the motor, and listen to see if you can hear the motor working. In most cars, the switches are identical in both passenger and driver windows. So, a last attempt to close your window would be to take out the passenger switch and swap it around. This of course is only a stop-gap. You should never drive around with an electric window that has failed, as it could end up putting you in situations that are not just annoying but dangerous.