4Runner rear window
 

I've been fighting my rear window for a few months now and i can't figure it out, i hope someone can help....i can open my rear window from the outside (using the key in the tailgate) but the switch in the console is dead....for a while i jerry rigged an antenna switch to work after a while i got tired of having the wrong switch in there, so i bought a brand new one ($90 from toyota :pop: ) when i installed it nothing happened :bang: ....could it be the relay???

good info http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...arWindow.shtml

Great info that Elton posted. Most likey a relay issue.

I had problems with my 84 window when I bought it. 4crawler was by far the best source I found. But in my case I found if I just lean on the tail gate (push it in) the window works. I know it's just a sensor, but I leave it that way. The guy I bought it from could put a chevy key in it and make it work. So I figure a screw driver would do the same. I'm choosing to leave it like that for now because unless you know to lean on it...it don't work.

Rear window
 

Seems to me that the relay cluster for the rear window is operated the same from the front dash switch as well as the rear gate keyswitch.
Therefore I would be looking into the front switch or wiring associated with it.
When you say you jerry rigged another switch in there....were you cutting wires? How exactly did you do this, since we can't actually see what you have done, we need specifics.