Hi I need help.

I've done the searches on yotatech with limited answers. Last year my rear window on my third gen 4runner kept going down on its own. My aquaintance, who is a toy tech, helped me determine it was my ecm and rolled my window up and then disconnected the ecm until I could get a new one. Ended up getting a used one, problem solved.

Two days ago same thing happened, went into the garage and my rear window was all the way down. I can hear clicking coming from the module when my son pushes the up or down button, but the window doesn't move. I can't get a hold of my toy tech guy and don't know how to get the window up. Been driving around with the window down: fumes coming in cab now and not good for the obvious lack of security with an open window.

Questions: 1. Is there a way to bypass the ecm to get the window up. The techs at the dealerships say there is NOT a way to do it without the ecm in place. 2. Is it possible the motor has failed and the window dropped?

Any other suggestions?

Just like the others this has happened to, it has followed a full weeks worth of rain where I live. (We rairly get that much rain here). Happened last year too after a major few days of rain. And I know about the TSB but it applies to 1999-2001 3rd gens. only.

Got to go to work now, will check to see responses tonight when I get home.

Cheers

 

You can bypass the ecm, just remove the inner tailgate cover and connect a battery to the window motor wires. On my 2001 connecting +ve to the red and grounding the green will put the window up. Reversing this will put the window down. The wire colour on a 97 may be different though.

Btw what's the TSB for 1999 - 2001.

 

TSB No.: EL00501

Make : TOYOTA Model : 4 RUNNER Year : 1999
Manufacturer : TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Service Bulletin Number : EL00501 Date of Bulletin : AUG 03, 2001
NHTSA Item Number : 622700
Component : VISIBILITYOWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Summary :
VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNINTENDED OR ACCIDENTAL REAR WINDOW ACTIVATION. JB

 

As eric the red stated, just run a direct power source to the window motor. If it is not going up or down then something else may be an issue. To point out the obvious, is your window lock button on? Did you try open and close the window using the key? This has been an issue on here a few times before and the cheap solution to get around the window lowering unintenionally is to put the window lock button on when leaving the vehicle.

 

Here are some threads with similair symptoms..Also open up the back and inspect the mechanisms to ensure the motor bolts are snug, etc.


https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/3...itself-122947/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/2...remlin-118489/

 

Thanks for all your help (eric-the-red and Godzilla, and to blarchitect for posting the official TSB), I'll try the direct power source to the rear window motor. I've been through this before so I've tried all the common trouble-shooting things listed in the other threads here on YT. Just wanted to know how to get the window up by bypassing the ecm. (I am not overly electrical/mechanical so your help is welcomed).

Cheers

 

One thing I forgot to say, before you put power directly to the motor make sure it's completely disconnected from the wiring harness. You don't want to fry some piece of electronics that happens to be in the circuit.