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How to Replace Window Regulator 1995-2002 Toyota 4Runner

Created on: 2012-03-08

Watch this video to learn the steps needed to replace the window regulator on your 95-02 Toyota 4Runner.

  1. step 1 :Removing the Door Panel
    • Pry up the window switch panel by hand
    • Disconnect the door lock wiring harness
    • Disconnect the window switch wiring harnesses
    • Disconnect the mirror switch wiring harness
    • Pry off the door pull trim piece
    • Remove the Phillips head screw inside the door handle
    • Remove the two Phillips head screws inside the door pull
    • Push in the pins on the either side of the door panel with a flat blade screwdriver
    • Remove the door handle bezel and door handle with a flat blade screwdriver
    • Remove the lock rod from the door handle
    • Pry out the door panel with a door panel clip tool or putty knife
    • Lift the door panel up and off
    • Carefully peel off the water shield
  2. step 2 :Removing the Regulator
    • Disconnect the window motor lead
    • Pry the clips out that hold the harness to the door with a flat blade screwdriver
    • Remove the two 10mm bolts from the window track
    • Remove the four 10mm bolts from the regulator
    • Raise the window by hand
    • Loosen the two 10mm bolts that hold the window to the regulator
    • Hold the window in place with painter's tape
    • Pull the window regulator out through the door
  3. step 3 :Reinstalling the Regulator
    • Insert one of the bolts into the window regulator
    • Push the regulator into the door
    • Hang the regulator by its bolt
    • Insert the four 10mm bolts into the regulator
    • Insert the two 10mm bolts into the window track
    • Connect the window switch wiring harness
    • Connect the window motor to the lead
    • Turn the vehicle on
    • Run the motor up for 4 seconds
    • Disconnect the window motor lead
    • Remove the painter's tape from the window
    • Lower the window onto the regulator
    • Insert the two 10mm bolts that hold the window to the regulator
    • Connect the window switch wiring harness
  4. step 4 :Reinstalling the Door Panel
    • Put the water shield into place
    • Lift the door panel into place
    • Push in the door panel clips
    • Connect the latch cables to the door handle
    • Replace the door handle
    • Insert the Philips head screw into the door panel
    • Insert the two Phillips head screws inside the door pull
    • Insert the door pull trim piece
    • Push in the pins on the either side of the door panel
    • Connect the door lock wiring harness
    • Connect the window switch wiring harnesses
    • Connect the mirror switch wiring harness
    • Push in the window switch panel by hand

Tools needed

  • Flat Blade Screwdriver

    Phillips Head Screwdriver

    Putty Knife

    Painter's Tape

    10mm Socket

    Ratchet

Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet.

Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.

In this video, we're going to show you how to replace a power window regulator and motor assembly on this 1999 Toyota 4Runner. If your windows are kind of chattering back and forth, and kind of seems like it's out of the track, which is sometimes an indicator of a bad regulator as well as if the motor seems to stop working. We recommend replacing the regulator and the motor at the same time as they age. Either one can wear the other one out. Tools you'll need for this job are a small flat head screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, door panel clip tool or putty knife, 10mm socket and ratchet or wrench, and some painters tape.

Start with the small screw driver right under the front mirror and run that up, pull this out, and then there are three harnesses to unplug. Each has tabs; you press it with your thumb and then pull out. Take your screwdriver again, go over here, and pry it up under the armrest until it comes out. Use your Phillips screwdriver and remove the screw here. Did you see there are actually three screws to remove? It's the one in that door handle, and then two here where you pull on the door. There's a little pin right back here. You push the center of it in and then use your screwdriver or fingernails and pull that clip out. Take your door handle, pull it forward, and bring it out.

There's a little clip right here that holds the lock rod. Pull that clip out towards you and then lift the handle up off. Push the rod down and it comes off. Now, using the door handle clip tool or putty knife, and probably starting somewhere over here, slide down. You'll come to some of the pins and we'll pop the pins out. Just to get to them. Go around. There's also a little pin right up here that missing on this vehicle. The passenger side it's here, so I can show you how to remove it on the passenger side door. You just push the center of this in and then pull it out. Pull the door so the panel comes off. Now you want to slowly pull off the plastic water shield and you want to be careful not to stretch it or rip it. It's probably unavoidable that you won't rip it at all, but try to rip it as little as possible. Then just pull it down so you can access the inside of the door. Fast-forward through this part right here.

Right on top is where the window regulator or window motor is plugged in. You want to release that. It's just that little tab that you push and then unplug it. Then just pull your harness down, and carefully use a small screwdriver to pry the clips out that hold the harness to the door. You want to kind of pry at the top to pull them out, and then pry on the bottom to release the full clip. Now there are two 10mm bolts here to remove. Now there are four 10mm bolts here to remove. I'm just going to fast-forward as I remove those four bolts. As you start removing the last one, the regulator will start shifting, so just carefully put your hand in there to hold it.

In the next scene, you're going to see me lift the window up and remove that bolt there that holds the track to the window. There's one further up in the front that you'll see me go through the access hole and remove. I am going to take that out. I can pull the window up, and I can get to this bolt here pretty easily. Remove it. Take the plug a little further so I can get to this bolt right here. Once I do that I hold onto my window, let that regulator fall down, and pull my window up. I'm going to use some painter tape just to secure the window up while I work. Put the harness through and the regulator comes right out.

The new regulator is from 1A Auto. Here's my original one. You can see it's all the same. The regulator from 1A Auto is the same. It's got the correct harness connection and even the clips on the harness. The new one is going to go in there, bolt right in, and fix your problem. This one, actually, in my original car, is working fine, and I'm not one to put a new part into a car which doesn't need it, so I'm going to reinstall my old one. That's what you're going to see me do.

To reinstall, put it in, the harness, and reach in. Kind of fit your harness through. What I'm doing is putting the harness through the hole first. Count the holes here: we've got one here and this goes right here. Okay, we'll speed up here as I just position the regulator in there and start all four of the mounting bolts in and then tighten them up. Now, this track, pull it down. Put this bolt in. Start this in. Okay, same thing. Start those bolts, in and then use the socket and ratchet to tighten them up. Then, what I do is I actually plug in my switch panel, and then that will allow me to turn the power in the vehicle on, and then I can move the regulator into a good position so I can put the window down into it and install it easily. I'm going to turn my truck on, run the regulator down until I can see this bolt over here and I can see this hole here. After I shut the car back off and remove the switch panel, I can untape the window and slide it down.

Slide the window down slowly. So we lower the regulator down and then lower the window down to it to that hole is lined up there. Through this hole, you can see that's lined up in there. I'm going to go ahead a fast-forward again. You take the bolts and put them into your socket and extension. I usually start one bolt, start the other, and then tighten them up afterwards. Again, just like all the bolts in this repair you want to tighten them firm but you don't have to over-tighten them.

At this point if you like, you can hook your switch back up and do a test. Run the window up and down a few times. If that satisfies you, then go ahead and put your water shield back up. Make sure you route the harnesses through correctly. Make sure you put the door latch rod through the correct hole and stick it back on there well. At this point you're going to put the door panel back together. I'm going to go through this in kind of fast motion for this video. If you wanted to see this in regular speed, just check out our other videos for the 4Runner door panel installation.

We hope this video helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.


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