ALL...

Has anyone here had any experience with the power rear window going out in your runner? Mine just plain quit working the other day. I have tried both the inside switch, and the key in the tailgate, but niether work. I checked every fuse I could find with no luck. Is there a secret handshake with these things, or are they like the infamous Toyota power antennas? (ie-New Motor)

Any ideas about what it should cost to fix???

Anyone know a good source for a new/rebuilt electric motor (if that's what it is)??

Thank You

1996 4Runner SR5
3.4L V6, 5-Speed Manual, 4WD
After 3500 miles of record keeping, still averaging 21.1 MPG Combined City/Hwy. woo hoo.

 

Betcha it's just a loose or broken wire. Pull off the inside cover of the tailgate and see if you're still getting power.

 

More like infamous regulators. Think they normally only last a few years. Heard of one guy who got three of them in 5 years!
Not sure about replacement price etc.

 

I am not familiar with the 3rd gens, but us 2nd genners have a rear window lockout button on the console.
http://pnw4runners.net/tando/cb_mic.jpg

If that button is deployed, the key or switch won't open the rear window, or at least it won't from inside.

I have not tested it to see if I can raise or lower it with the key when that button is pushed.

Someone may have pushed your button by accident.
I have done that to mine when I clean the interior.

 

Mine will still work with the key in the tailgate with that button pushed in. I forget sometimes when I hit that button to keep the kids from driving me nuts with the windows that the tailgate window won't work either. I wish Toyota wouldn't have wired that one in with the other windows.

 

I don't have that button..?

 

Are you sure? It's on the driver side door - one of the front 2 buttons. Labeled window lock or something.

 

Oh ok, I do have that button, but not the one Corey shows, the only thing I've got down there is the one to roll the back window up and down.. and 2 little things to hold change.

 

If the window lock button is down you won't be able to use the switch in the center console. It will still work if you use your key in the tailgate. Very cooky way to wire it if you ask me but what do I know. Since only the front passenger and driver can easily reach the switch I don't see the point of locking it out from the driver's panel.

 

Yeah, I find that kind of strange too...

sorry for taking this thread kind of off the original subject..

 

There is a relay in the tailgate. I've seen them on sale on Ebay pulled from trucks. I haven't heard of them often going out but they do. Check the wiring to your switch and check all the connections that run to the tailgate. Hopefully it is something as simple as a broken ground wire or the relay wiring harness is loose.

I'm not knowledgable on the procedure to test the relay to see if the problem is the relay or the electric motor.

 

Also, I heard that there's an interlock for the window involving the wiper. If it isn't parked correctly, the window won't work, which makes sense.

I'm guilty of thinking my rear window didn't work, because of the lock out switch Corey mentioned....

 

I had that exact same problem...I thought my rear window had stopped working, however the wiper on top wasn't seated correctly, therefore locking out window operation both from the key and the switch in the front.

 

Thanks for the ideas guys....I will DEFINITELY try the rear wiper thing when I leave work today. That would make sense, as I have not used the rear wiper since the window stopped working, and I had it at the carwash right before this started happening. Will let you know if it works.

 

I have been guilty of pushing the "lock" button on accident too..hehe surely makes you pull your hair out for a little bit.


Great diagnosis everyone...

 

All...

Thank you all very much for your advice on this rear window "problem". I now feel like a big dumb ASS, but my window is happy again. I had gone to the carwash, and even though the rear wiper seemed to be properly seated, it must have been moved just enough to trip the sensor. All I had to do was turn the rear wiper on and off once, and it all works again.

 

I did the same thing today. I must have hit the lockout button accidentally, and when the rear window wouldn't go down I was furious. I didn't even think about the switch until I got home from work and started going through the Haynes manual.

A part in Chapter 11 talks about continuity and the lockout switch, and it was like a light bulb suddenly went off. I went back out to the 4R, and sure enough, the switch was down!