The power window regulator is a huge part of your vehicle that moves your car window up and down when the electric motor has enough power to efficiently and quickly move each window in your vehicle. This power window regulator, also known as the door window regulator, is positioned inside the door panel and effectively moves the window in your car.
The average time to replace a power window is around 2 hours, with the total labor cost being between $120 and $150, while the cost of the parts is between $80 and $150, making the total job of the window repair cost coming in around $20 and $300 in total.
By determining how much the power window regulator repair cost will be for your specific vehicle, you can get an idea of how to prevent any future issues in your vehicle. Finding the average power window regulator repair can prevent any faulty window regulator repair symptoms from continuing and causing severe problems.
What is a Power Window Regulator?
Almost every car on the road today uses power windows instead of the old, mechanical crank windows. Not only are power windows quicker and more efficient to use, but they take any physical strain off of the driver and passengers. The benefit of having power windows in your vehicle is the ease of use, the ability to control any window in your vehicle from the driver’s seat, and the quickness of raising and lowering the windows.
Since these power windows and the window motors are easier to use than traditional manual windows, the window motor allows power windows to work properly and efficiently. Keeping this part is crucial to your car’s efficiency. If your window motor breaks or becomes damaged over time, the power window regulator repair cost will be much higher than normal.
-
Power Window Regulator Mechanism
Every door with a power window has an electric window motor that is connected to the window by the regulator. When the driver or the passenger pushes the button on the door to change the window’s position, this turns on the electric motor. This electric window motor then uses the regulator to adjust the window’s position.
Even manual door windows had window motor regulators, but these are less advanced and slightly different from the power window motors and regulators we have now on modern cars. The window regulators on modern cars are more extensive and electrically-controlled, making the power window regulator repair cost higher if anything were to break.
-
Manual Window Regulators
Manual door windows have regulators that contain intersecting metal arms. When the user cranks the window to change the position, they are cranking the gear and moving the window. These old, traditional regulators were very heavy because of their metal parts.
However, with modern cars that have power door windows that contain a window motor, the regulators are lightweight cables. The power window regulator repair cost can vary depending on what type of power you use in your vehicle.
Failing Power Window Regulator Symptoms
The power window regulator’s function is vital in the windows’ proper working, with the regulator affecting the overall power window regulator repair cost. Anyone of these following symptoms would cause a power window to no longer work correctly and cause further damage. If further damage were to ensue in the window system, this can cause the window regulator symptoms to continue, and damage other internal window components.
-
Window Button Is Glitchy
If you cannot raise or lower any of your vehicle’s windows by pressing the electronic button to turn on the window motor, you most likely have a bad power window regulator. This is the most obvious symptom for this kind of repair and problem and can influence the overall power window regulator repair cost.
Another electrical problem that can keep your windows from working is a broken or damaged switch. If the faulty switch directly causes issues with the window button, this can prevent the driver or passengers from being able to control the window movement. If the switch itself is allowing power to get to the window motor and regulator, but the window still does not move, this can enhance the window regulator repair cost.
-
Stuck Window
There might be a situation in your vehicle when the window could raise or lower but gets stuck before it gets where you wanted it to go. This could result in the window getting stuck and not being able to raise or lower fully. When you have a stuck window, then you most likely have a broken power window motor regulator.
If you find that your windows are working well, but they occasionally get stuck, you need to figure out this problem before your windows get stuck completely while you are driving or your car is parked. You should first troubleshoot your vehicle by pressing the power button a few times to see if this quick fix will work for you.
If pressing the power button multiple times works, this shows that the window has been stuck on the tracks. Over time, the window tracks can get filled with outside dust, debris, and dirt, causing the window to not be able to move up and down smoothly. If this is the case, the power window regulator repair cost will be much higher.
-
Strange Noises
If your window is not stuck and you are able to move the windows, the problem might not be the window, but the power window regulator mechanism. This could be a clear sign of a failing power window regulator and a damaged window motor. These noises could sound like squeaking, grinding, or clunking, which can show the immediate need to look into the power window regulator repair cost.
-
Window Drops
In less frequent situations in your car, you could have a severely damaged power window motor regulator. In this case, the window might fall out of place and dislodge inside of your door. The falling out of the window will happen when you go to press the button to raise or lower the glass to the desired position.
The window falling out of place is usually seen when a car has been in an accident, and the vehicle’s door has been damaged by another car, like in a car accident or a fender bender. If the vehicle’s door has been damaged, this can damage the power window regulator and the window motor, causing a high power window regulator repair cost.
Power Window Regulator Repair Steps
To effectively perform the car power window regulator repair, you need to know the fix steps so that you can save on the overall power window regulator repair costs by repairing yourself. Instead of taking your vehicle to a shop for a fix that will ruin you an average of a few hundred dollars, you can try to do this power window regulator repair yourself.
-
Check The Fuse
Make sure before starting the process; you check the fuse. If the fuse is working, the problem is either a bad switch, a damaged window motor, or a broken power window regulator.
-
Get The Proper Tools
In order to get started, you will need specific tools – sockets, screwdrivers, drills, and a service manual or instructions from your manufacturer or mechanic. This lets you use the instructions to follow the steps and ensure you do not damage the windows. By following a service manual, you can ensure there are no other parts you can harm during the service and prevent a higher power window regulator repair cost.
-
Remove the Trim Panel
Start the power window regulator repair by removing the trim panel fasteners to gain access to the switch. Remove the trim panel and the vapor barrier. Then, get into the door panel and disconnect the power connector to the window motor.
-
Connect Leads to the Voltmeter
Connect the leads of the voltmeter to the two terminals. Turn the key to the ‘on’ position and move the window switch both up and down. If the window switch is working correctly, then the voltage reading will change, showing a problem with the power window motor or power window regulator. If you narrow down the problem areas to these two parts, you might have to pay a higher power window regulator repair cost.
-
Analyze Voltmeter Readings
If your voltmeter does not show these readings, this means you have a bad motor switch or a broken power or ground wire in your window. To complete this window repair and replacement, replace the entire regulator assembly, including the window motor repair.
Power Window Regulator Repair Cost
The car power window regulator works in tandem with the car window motor and is a vital part of the power window assembly. This car power window regulator, known as the door window regulator, plays a part in moving your window up and down. This power window regulator repair can make sure the power is directly given to the electric motor to move the window.
The average car power window regulator repair cost for this fix in your car is usually around $270 to $370 for the window regulator repair, with the labor costs coming in at around $80 to $100, and the overall parts cost averaging around $190 and $270.
A typical window regulator can cost between $40 and $300 for just the parts, depending on your car’s make and model. It depends on the type of car you have, with a more typical car costing between $40 and $70, while a luxury car model would cost upwards of $112 and $184.
It will usually take over an hour for the power window regulator repair to be done by a local mechanic, with the process taking between 1.5 and 3 hours to complete. This fix’s total labor costs usually range between $50 and $120, with an average price between $80 and $100. The typical cots, including parts and labor, have an entire span of between $125 and $600.
Power Window Regulator Repair Troubleshooting
Since power windows are vital for your safety and your driving performance, you should look into visiting a local mechanic or a reputable auto body shop if you have an issue with putting up or putting down your windows. Dealers will use a diagnostic scan tool that can accurately test the motor power switch, window motor, and the power window regulator. There are a few tips on how to troubleshoot power window issues.
-
Window Motor Runs Without Window Moving
If the window motor will continue to run and gain excess power, but the window jams and gets stuck during use. This means that the wiring and the window regulator are the problems. The window regulator repair can help fix the window motor gear and the glass connected to the regulator.
-
Power Window Goes Down, But Not Up
If the power window goes down but cannot rise again after being lowered, the motor works, but the driver’s side door’s main switch does not work to control the vehicle’s windows. If wiggling the switch and pressing the power button multiple times does not work, you have to fix the electrical system.
-
Window Is Slow Going Up
If the window is slow going up, you can have to look into the power window regulator repair for your vehicle. Lubricating the window channels is key to having the window work effectively using a special lubricant.
Conclusion
In order to determine how much a car window regulator repair will cost in your specific vehicle, you need to know the function of the window regulator in your car, the purpose of this mechanism, the overall cost of the repair or the replacement, and the symptoms of a faulty window regulator. Knowing this information can prevent any further issues in your electrical and window system, preventing a higher power window regulator repair cost that can set you back hundreds of dollars!