How to fix my car window?

Question

It snowed/iced a little on my car and I had scraped most of it off but there was a little on the window and I put it down and it got stuck partway down and wouldn't come back up or down. I brushed off all the snow/ice but still no luck.
It's automatic. I hear the sound of the ... motor? ... working like normal, just the window itself does not move. But I can physically move it myself. Seems like it fell off the track of the window or something. Any help please? Thanks!

Answer 1

If you can move it up and down fairly easily, the window most likely just came loose from the the regulator mechanism that raises and lowers it. Door windows are attached in several different ways. If yours moves easily you probably have one that has mounting tabs glued to the bottom of the window or compression tabs holding the window in.



If it has 2 individual mounting tabs glued to the bottom of the window the glue might have let go and they will need to be re-attached. This will take a special epoxy type glue designed for automotive door glass. Depending on the age of your car, the tabs could have simply became rusty and broke in half, in which case they will need to be removed and replaced which is not an easy task.



Some cars have 2 individual compression tabs holding the window in. The tabs are hinged on the bottom and have a rubber sleeve in them that grips the window as the bolt on the hinge is tightened. In this case all you need to do is loosen the bolts and re-insert the window and then tighten the bolts back up.



These are just 2 examples of ways that the glass might be attached, the 2 that would be the most likely to break in this instance. The car should be taken to a qualified repair shop and be diagnosed to find the exact cause as they will have the tools to remove the door panel without damaging it and also the glue to fix it if that is what it needs.

Answer 2

sometimes you accidentally bind the window if you push one side down, I suggest you hold one side of the window, and push the button down, try to see if the window will shift a little. there are no tracks per se, (the rubber on each side is what keeps the window straight, usually you can adjust one side or the other, so play a little with it gently, we know it worked before so you may need to work it up, or down, pull up on the side you pushed down, or push down a bit on the side you pushed up. (we dont know what you did, so try to gently work the window (and try to find a warm place, or a warm day ok? patience is the key, there are no tracks, just the rubber grooves on the front and rear. If something is broken, like the window regulator, that may have to be replaced.

Answer 3

whatever you do i'd try to get the vehicle to a warm place so all ice can melt. that way you know if it for sure doesn't work right. it's just a good start. if you did break the bar that raises and lowers the window, it's an expensive fix. my fiance had it fixed last summer for 260 bucks. soo dumb how much they charge for that.

Answer 4

Either the rail on bottom of glass came loose or broke rollers on window regulator, If you haven't delved into removing door panel and fixing suggest a garage or body shop to fix.

Answer 5

ur thought is right this happens alot with car windows with snow. ur gear teeth for the window may have stripped too. they are cheap and made of plastic. id suggest taking door panel off and looking while u push the button. aprils fiance the car guy.