Noisy electric window, 99 Camry

[wayslc]

I have a 99 Camry with a drivers side electric window that sounds rough when the window goes up and down. If I feel the window at the top edge as I run it up and down it feels smooth. I have tried to get the drivers side door covering off but could not get the bezel at the door lock / door release handle to pop off once I had removed the screw holding it on. I could get the rest of the door covering loose. I am assuming that if I get the door covering off I can find some lubrication points and that there may be a roller that is not round or is not turning. For what it is worth the window sounds smoother in the winter than in the summer. Any suggestions on how to smooth out the window operation and if I have to remove the door panel covering, how do you pop off the bezel at the door lock / release handle? The window has been this way about 2 years-should I just live with it?

[DFBonnett]

On my wife's '93, I slipped a flat blade screwdriver under the front edge and pushed rearward while prying upward. In your place I'd pull it apart and lube rather than wait for it to break at some inconvenient time.
FWIW
YMMV

[Mike Gerber]

Try spraying some WD-40 in the front and back channels where the window glass meets the front and back. Many times dirt accumulates in the channels. The WD-40 both cleans and lubricates the channels. Spray it liberally. If that helps, I would follow up with white lithium grease. The WD-40 has a tendency to be washed away by the rain.

Mike

[wayslc]

DFBonnett: Did your window regulator come with the motor or did you use your old electric motor on the regulator? I am finding the mechanical portion of the regulator for about $75, however, they say if you want the electric motor too it is $300+. I am wondering how much of a pain it is to switch the motor over. I think my probelm is with the gear between the mottor and the regulator based on the way it sounds.


I finally figured out how the get all of the door panel off and inspected the electric window components and lubricated them. I used lith grease on the gears and in sissor type tracks and put a little silicon spray in the front and rear widow guides. None of that seemed to make any difference. It seems like the noise is related to the motor gear and the arm with the teeth on it. But I must admitt that I am just guessing. It seems to make the most noise when the window is almost all of the way down? I am thinking about replacing the window regulator with an after market regulator that can be purchased for about $70. Does anybody know if the after market parts hold up over time?

[DFBonnett]

Originally Posted by wayslc

Does anybody know if the after market parts hold up over time?

Did the driver's door regulator/motor on our '93 last summer with an aftermarket from Ebay. Fine so far.

[wayslc]

DFBonnett: Did your window regulator come with the motor or did you use your old electric motor on the regulator? I am finding the mechanical portion of the regulator for about $75, however, they say if you want the electric motor too it is $300+. I am wondering how much of a pain it is to switch the motor over. I think my probelm is with the gear between the mottor and the regulator based on the way it sounds

[DFBonnett]

Mine came complete with the motor. I just looked on ebay. For your '99 it was $38.95 plus $12.50 S&H, regulator and motor combo. Since the regulator was the bad part on mine I saved the motor for possible future use. From the manual it looks like the same motor is used on all 4 windows with the regulators being different side to side and front to back.
FWIW
YMMV