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Strange rear window problem. 87' 4runner.

Old 10-26-2009, 05:25 PM
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Strange rear window problem. 87' 4runner.

So I've had my top off since the end of April and I just recently put it back on. Everything is working but for some reason when I use the center console switch, the back window almost goes all the way up, about half an inch from being fully closed, then stops. No water can get in but the bad part is once it gets to that point, the center console switch stops working, no up or down and if I take the ignition key and us the ignition key switch in the tailgate, it works perfectly. If I lower the back window below the point where it stops, the center console switch works again.

Anyone know what this could be?
Old 10-26-2009, 07:57 PM
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Could be a regulator problem, not necessarily an electric problem. Open up your tailgate. On the left side you will see the electric motor and the gears of the regulator. Check both ends, I bet one side you have the last gear or two chewed up. I should know, I had to change mine out when I bought it. One gear was sheared off it wouldn't close all the way. And today we fixed a.wilson013's rear window for the same thing. He had 3 teeth missing. Swapped out for a new regulator at a junk yard and both work great!
Old 10-28-2009, 08:44 AM
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Originally Posted by kiyobrown
Could be a regulator problem, not necessarily an electric problem. Open up your tailgate. On the left side you will see the electric motor and the gears of the regulator. Check both ends, I bet one side you have the last gear or two chewed up. I should know, I had to change mine out when I bought it. One gear was sheared off it wouldn't close all the way. And today we fixed a.wilson013's rear window for the same thing. He had 3 teeth missing. Swapped out for a new regulator at a junk yard and both work great!
The window goes up and down just fine. It just doesn't go all the way up when I use the center console switch and stops working until I roll it back down from the tailgate switch.

Last edited by ToyYoda; 10-28-2009 at 08:45 AM.
Old 10-28-2009, 09:14 AM
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I've been racking my brain on this problem since you posted it..

its wierd, but it seems like there is some kind of grounding or power issue, that only happens with the front switch, when the window is near the top..

I can't figure out, why the motor doesn't get power in either direction once it stops.. Does the window stop abruptly, or does it slow to a halt?

This is frustrating to me, and I'm 6000km away from your 4Runner.. I can't imagine how many tools have sailed across your garage..
Old 10-28-2009, 09:26 AM
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That sounds weird man. I just recently got my rear window working again. It involved me bypassing all the factory huha and wiring to a 3way switch on the dash.

You're in aTx as well? Any chance you've made your way out to Long Ranch at all? We are about to head out there ourselves.
Old 10-28-2009, 09:35 AM
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I had this EXACT problem about 4 months ago. I pulled the switch out of the console and sprayed it with WD40 until all the coffee/tea/coke etc ran out of it, cleaned the contacts in the plug on both ends and hooked it back up. Works like new now. I don't know why it fixed the problem but it did.
Old 10-28-2009, 09:40 AM
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Haha...

One of the trucks I bought had a faulty rear window.

"Never works!" she said.

I looked it over.. all the typical issues were none issues. I finally pulled the switch out. It came with years of goo stuck to residue of a spilled root beer, or maybe many spilled root beers. A little warm water and some caressing with a cloth and it was good as new. There was even wood chips in there... go figger.

Morale of the story? I dunno. but yeah..if you clean the switches now and then things work more better.
Old 10-28-2009, 09:49 AM
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The problem is really weird. I've always had it works or it doesn't kind of problems but never just stop working at the last stretch. I think it might have something to do with the bolt sensors for the top. The sensor that tells that switch to not work if the top is off. I just don't see why it would work up until it's almost fully closed. It did rain on it the day before. I'll try again tonight and see if drying out helps.

I've already cleaned out the switch. Everything was working fine before I took the top off for 6 months.

Last edited by ToyYoda; 10-28-2009 at 09:52 AM.
Old 10-28-2009, 10:12 AM
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That top bolt contact switch is involved in the circuit all the time, whether or not the front switch or tailgate switch is used..

Last edited by blue_CA_yota; 10-28-2009 at 10:26 AM.
Old 10-29-2009, 06:37 AM
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Originally Posted by blue_CA_yota
That top bolt contact switch is involved in the circuit all the time, whether or not the front switch or tailgate switch is used..
So if that was the problem, it would affect the tailgate switch as well?
Old 10-29-2009, 06:40 AM
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Originally Posted by ToyYoda
So if that was the problem, it would affect the tailgate switch as well?
thats correct..
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