4runner window motor ideas?

andrewhove

New Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2008
Location
Durham
Looks like the rear window motor in my 88 4runner has given up, will go down not up. After poking around I don't think it's one of the numerous electrical issues these things sometimes have but I think it's the actual motor. The thing looks like crap anyway (has missing teeth on the gear etc).

My question is where can i get one? Napa and Advance tell me they don't carry them and I don't even want to know how bad I would get raped if I get one from the stealership.

Any ideas?

thanks
 
I would first pull the switch in your console and clean it. You will be surpised on how much crap gets in there and messes up the switch. My window wouldnt go up but i cleaned the switch and it works all the time. That is the simpliest palce to start. The rest you will have to start pulling stuff. Go to an auto supply store and get electrical cleaner and soak it. You can open the switch, you will have to take a small screwdriver and try to push the case past the tabs, you may break one but it would work still. Just make sure you remember the way it is setup. But the innards of the switch of basic i would bet it is a cause of your problems.
 
I was driving along one day and KA-WHAM! something hit my4runner, pulled over ad couldn't find any damage! Then I noticed my rear window was missing! I found it in the tailgate when I got home and pulled the tgate apart. three teeth on the drive gear was gone and it's about the size of a nickel. Called Dave at toyota and a new gear with motor attached is $180.00 my cost! Carefully welded gear and filed out teeth and in one hour was fixed, 4 years ago. I've owned 3 4runners and have extensive knowledge of the rear window workings! Let me know if I can help, safety switches and roof plugs and a relay that toyota couldn't tell me where it was located but list was $190.00 and the shop has never installed one nor the parts counter has never sold one! Finally found where the $#*^ it was located! PM me with a phone # and I'll try to help.
 
Mine did the same thing...I found a sensor in the tailgate that would tell when the window is all the way up. One day I just unplugged the sensor and the thing has worked fine every since then...about 2 years
 
Your Hot Dog Guy! said:
..... and a relay that toyota couldn't tell me where it was located but list was $190.00 .......
Click to expand...
you must be talking about the one in the rear driverside panel


I may have one of these if that turns out to be your problem.
 
ok I cleaned the switch up front, looked like I spilled a chocolate shake on it about a year ago.... cleaned it and the window sort of works now, still skips some bc of bad teeth, weird thing is if I try to raise it with the key in the tailgate it doesn't work... weird
 
Checked top switch? (Left side in the rear 2nd or 3rd bolt.) Checked wiper is all the way parked?
 
You can raise the window with the tailgate down to check it. You have to support the window. Put tailgate down, then reach to the driver side latch and move the latch as if the tailgate would be closed. Then you can use your key and put the window up or have a helper use the in-cab switch and put the window up. after the window is halfway out you can look at the inside mechanism. Just reemmber to supprot the window somehow so you dont bust it. I used a roller extension and raised to to support the window.
 
FYI IIRc that motor is the same as the ones in the doors (or oneof the doors, teh other onw is a mirror image setup) and same as early 90s Camrys too.

Mine is like thsi too - during the summer, it goes up/down fine... once it gets cols, its gets really slow going up. I used to help it up w/ my hand when using the key in the door. That thing stopped working though when I backed into a tree really hard once though...
 
On my 94 4runner the switch in the console doesn't work at all, and if you use the key in the tailgate you have to help it up with your hand. Any idea's on where to start here?
 
Check the gooseneck where the wiring comes into the tailgate. When I got mine it was just hot wired to the motor with wiring that was WAY too small. The motor would barley move the window and the wiring would get hot from all the resistance. If your wiring is starting to break, you'll have high resistance at the break. I had to take a trip to Radio Shack to buy 2 relays and build my own relay box because my OEM one was toast. It's controlled by 2 switches next to the cluster. No safety switches to worry about now!
 
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