Most modern vehicles have power windows. In many cases these are not just fitted to the front of the vehicle, they are also in the back. What may surprise you is that they are not new! The power window was an option in the 1940 Packard! There is a good reason why manufacturers started doing this. Power windows all around the car give the driver complete control over the environment inside the vehicle.
Of course, additional features such as automatic up also help to ensure the driver’s hands get back onto the steering wheel as quickly as possible.
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How The Power Window Works
Power windows have a small motor fitted inside the door and this is told to operate by the switch on the door or the master switch on the driver’s door.
Attached to the motor in each window are window regulators. These support the glass structure of the window and slide effortlessly up and down as dictated by the motor.
Along with a few guides to keep the glass in the right place, the power window is surprisingly simple.
It’s interesting to note that the apparatus inside your window is effectively the same inside a manual window, the main difference is that you use a handle and crank mechanism to move the window up and down instead of the button.
Maintaining The Power Window
There are several things you can do to maintain your power windows and ensure they work smoothly and for as long as possible.
1. Lubrication
The window slides up and down in designated tracks and into the door frame. This movement can be repeated thousands of times over the course of the car’s life. Naturally, the lubrication that was added when the car was made will be used up, worn out, and evaporated.
It’s a good idea to lubricate the window run. Get a lubricant spray designed for power windows and spray it into the top and side of the window run. You can then spray it inside the door frame, aiming for the moving parts.
You should aim to do this every 3-4 months.
2. Clean the Seals
The rubber seals that sit around the window help to hold it in place and prevent the window from being scratched as it moves up and down.
However, the wind, rain, and other pollutants can stick to the rubber, drying it out and causing debris to adhere to it. Instead of the window sliding up smoothly and safely, the glass and the mechanism can be damaged by the debris.
To prevent this clean the rubber with a clean cloth and a little lithium grease.
Other Issues
There is little else you can do to maintain the motor other than not to abuse it by pressing the switch repeatedly for no reason.
If you do discover your window is moving slowly or erratically, you may have a motor or regulator issue and you’ll want to seek professional help to get it resolved.
