94 Camry Window is down and no up or down, and loose

[Microman]

Daughter came home tonight and I noticed her right rear window was down, I could grab it and lift it up, but it would fall back down. I tried to get the door panel off, but the part with the interiror door latch would not loosen, (I have read the tricks to get this off, but darkness has fallen), and I will try to get it off the next time the car is here long enough. I did reach in and look with a flashlight, there appears to be a wire that (guide wire) that is loose and hanging around the inside.

So what do we think broke on this door, the wire? the regulator. Not knowing how the whole thing works, cables etc, I dont know if something is loose or broken.

Seems like whatever is suppose to be attached to the window, may not be , as the window by holding it goes up and down.

Power buttons give no sound, which is wierd.

Thanks.

Will look on ebay to see if I can locate a regulator, and what the price would be. Or maybe a trip to pic a part.

Is there somewhere I could get an idea how the regulator works and raises the window?

[haux]

RockAuto.com will have what you need, if something broke.

However, rather than guessing what the problem is, the best thing to do is get the interior of that door off. Then the problem *should* be obvious.

I had to replace a window once, so I've taken a door panel off before, but I think the 2000 Camry's are a bit different than the '94.

[smilecow]

If you don't hear any sound, I believe that it's not a regulator problem. it may be a dead motor.

I will give you tips; I have seen many times people smacked the door and it worked!!!! try it several times. it doesn' t hurt.

[bcp477]

If the window can be moved up and down by hand..... then, either the window is no longer attached to the regulator mechanism....or the window motor has come adrift from the mechanism. The motor assembly is attached to the regulator assembly with three screws....I doubt that that has come loose. The motor assembly, which drives the window via a worm drive, cannot be turned by pushing or pulling on the window - that is how the window stays up, when the motor is stopped. I suspect that the window has somehow come loose. At the bottom of the window, there are two holes in the glass, installed in which are plastic isolators..... and the window is attached to the regulator with two bolts, which extend through the holes (and through the plastic isolators). I've never heard of one coming loose, though.

As for no action when the window button is pressed or pulled.... probably indicates that the motor is dead.

No way to know for sure without taking the door apart. As for the trim piece on the inside of the door handle, be careful, these are easy to break. Toward the rear of the trim piece, at the top and bottom, it has "clips" which snap over buttons on the door handle assembly itself, which is screwed to the door metal. First, pop out the little cover panel inside the door handle assembly....then remove the screw. Then, carefully insert a SMALL flat screw driver under the top edge of the BACK end of the trim piece.....and locate the plastic tab, or clip. Pry up slightly, while pulling out on the trim piece. Do the same at the bottom rear of the trim piece. One the clips or tabs are loose, the front of the trim piece has a hook, which is inserted into the door handle portion. So, when the trim piece is loose, rotate it forward (to disengage the hook) and remove.

Then, you can pull the door panel....and get into the problem.

Usually, the window motors die after time.....because the brushes wear out. The regulators usually don't ever "die"..... but the grease used to lube the rollers dries out....and this contributes to the motor dying. So, by all means, clean and lube the regulator rollers/ tracks, with white lithium grease (or something similar). You can obtain replacement window motors, either new or remanufactured (either are fine). Once you have the motor/ regulator assembly out of the door, you'll see that the motor assembly attaches to the regulator with three screws - easy to remove and replace. Or, you can replace the motor and regulator as a unit, though it is more expensive.

Sorry for the long-winded explanation, but this is complicated....and hard to explain.

[eyeball96]

The regulator is broken! Common problem in older Camrys. Just buy a new one and replace it.

Google Dorman window regulator, their alittle more expensive, but seem to be of better quality than the ones on Ebay.

I've replaced 4 of them.

[abew330]

pick-ur-part would maybe be the cheapest now option. if you can find the right car with what you need.

eyeball is right Dorman window regulator is pretty good quality, to rich for my blood tho..

im a cheapa** so i got the ones off ebay. its been 6 or so years since i replaced 2 oem with ebay. one of them is broken, whatever is attached to the window making it go up and down broke off.

motor works great still i can still control with button but ot wont move the window.

i can pick it up and it will fall on its own

[Microman]

Got it fixed. I guess I am lucky as I live in Southern California, and only 10 minutes away from AutoParts Warehouse just off the 91 FWY at Central. Not only that but I came with Ebay Ads for the Price of the 93 Geo Prizm Tailight, and the RR WIndow Regulator, and left there with a bill of $87 for both. Tail light went perfectly, came with bulbs installed, and the window regulator I had to exchange as when I got the old one out, the mounting portion that moves for the window was upside down. Parts counter guy said they come that way, and that most professionals get them to work, he did not know how, and I said NO NO NO, It wont work this way.. He got another one, and it was correct, and it took me another 20 minutes and it was in.

MOST IMPORTANT THING: I could not get the door panel off. I could not figure out how to get the Opener Bezel off, without doing damage. I went around the corner to a Window INstall place but it was closed permanently. So I got the Door Panel loose on the bottom and end, and used a bungee cable to hold door open , and keep bottom part of door panel away from door. REACHED up there and undid all 6 nuts and the two bolts on WINDOW MOUNT, and it works great, without taking of the door panel completely.

THanks...

[Mike Gerber]

Microman,

Sorry I didn't see your thread earlier. If you have to do this job again here is a great thread explaining how to remove the door panel and replace the regulator on the generation 3. it has some great pictures:

DIY Replace Window Regulator - Camry 92-96 & Equivalent Models

Mike