Expert: Ben Menard - 4/1/2011

Question
Ben:  I have a 1999 Toyota Camry and the driver's side window regulator burned out.  I bought a replacement regulator online and installed it without too much trouble.  Everything looked good, except when the glass was rolled up the rear part of the glass at the very top stood about 1/4" away from the rubber seal.  There was a small gap where, although it appeared it was in the track, it was still not pressed against the edge seal.  Over the last few months this gap has widened.  I can fully seat the glass by pressing in on both sides and pulling back while someone raises it the last few inches.  Is there any way to fine tune the regulator lift arms so they will push the glass into the proper position, or another solution you can recommend?  Thanks.

Answer
Hello Steve,

The first thing I suggest is to lubricate the "glass run channel".  That is the rubber gasket that the glass slides up and down in. Be sure to use a spray silicone lubricant (DO NOT USE ANY OTHER TYPE OF LUBRICANT) Roll the window all the way down and then spray the silicone into the exposed gasket for both the front and back edges of the window.  Use an ample amount so that the silicone runs down the gasket inside the door.  Roll the window up and down and repeat the process one more time.

If this doesn't solve your problem, there aren't many options.  The regulator on this vehicle is not design to allow for adjustments.

Let me know if the silicone works.  If not, maybe I can think of something that you can do to adjust this particular regulator.

Ben   ... the power window guy