Window rolls down by itself (2011 HL)

[pgoelz]

Strange. Base 2011 HL with tech package. I parked yesterday with all four windows down a bit. When I got back to the vehicle it was hot inside so I rolled the windows up prior to turning on the AC. To my surprise, the driver's side window hit the upper limit and then rolled down a couple inches! It did this many times, both in response to the express up and the regular up button positions. I finally pulsed the UP button until the window was barely closed and it stayed there. Subsequent express up, regular up, and down commands resulted in normal operation.

Anyone know if the window control system on the base HL with tech package has any sort of "ventilation" window position memory? I didn't see it in the manual. I can't think of any other reason a window would hit the upper limit and then reverse.

Paul

[highlander123]

Must something in the window frame and block the window close, try to use a small soft brush clean it.

[kingnba6]

maybe its off track a little bit. try to see if anything is blocking the window. maybe like a small branch or something

[pgoelz]

Nope, not off its track and nothing blocking it that I can see. Remember, it reversed after it was completely closed and "bottomed" against the top of the window track, not "almost closed". And why would it reverse in the first place? Actually, that is a very good question..... why did it reverse. Does the window mechanism have some sort of force sensor that reverses it if it thinks it has hit an obstruction? This was a warm summer day... I hate to think what it might do in the winter with ice on it if that is the case. I might not be able to get it closed at all.

I would run a test with the top of the window track blocked but I'm afraid of damaging something

Paul

[junebug1701]

Originally Posted by pgoelz

Nope, not off its track and nothing blocking it that I can see. Remember, it reversed after it was completely closed and "bottomed" against the top of the window track, not "almost closed". And why would it reverse in the first place? Actually, that is a very good question..... why did it reverse. Does the window mechanism have some sort of force sensor that reverses it if it thinks it has hit an obstruction? This was a warm summer day... I hate to think what it might do in the winter with ice on it if that is the case. I might not be able to get it closed at all.

I would run a test with the top of the window track blocked but I'm afraid of damaging something

Paul

Yes, these auto-up windows have a jam protection feature for safety. Typically this problem happens when the window is open and the battery is disconnected. This causes the window motor ECU to forget it's "home position." The procedure to "re-calibrate" the window is in the owner's manual, but I think you lower the window fully and then hold the button down for 2 seconds, then raise the window and hold the button for 2 seconds after it gets to the top. A similar procedure is used to reset the moonroof.

[pgoelz]

Ah, that could explain it (except that the battery was not disconnected and we didn't have an EMP). I assumed the mechanism was the same as all the other mechanisms I have seen where the motor is designed to stall and there is an overload device that senses the stall current and shuts off. If the mechanism is actually keeping track of position, all sorts of interesting failure modes come to mind

Off to read the manual more deeply.......

I'm back from a deep dive into the manual. You're right. For whatever reason, the mechanism apparently got confused and my attempts to get it to close again eventually re-calibrated it.

I also read through the moon roof calibration procedure... wow, I'm glad I don't have a moon roof

Paul

[highlander123]

Take a trip to dealer to fix it before winter come, it would under 3 years warranty.

[pgoelz]

Nothing to fix. It was a one time event and has not recurred. I also don't hear any change in the tone of the mechanism as the window nears the top of its travel so I don't think anything is binding. At least I know how to deal with it if it happens again.

FWIW, the manual seems to indicate that only the driver's window has this feature.

Paul

[kingnba6]

maybe because its the only window with the auto/express setting ?

[junebug1701]

Originally Posted by kingnba6

maybe because its the only window with the auto/express setting ?

That's correct. I drove a 2011 Camry recently and it has auto up/down on all 4 windows!