slow power window during winter

trixie · 11-23-2003, 11:52 PM

Any reason my driver's side window slows down during the winter? It's fine when it's warm out, but when it gets cold, it wimps out, and goes real slow. (just another stupid question--sorry.)
Michael

*jimbo74* · 11-23-2003, 11:55 PM

you may want to see if you can lube the tracks with a wd40 type lubricant.... if i remeber correctly, there is actual grease in the window tracks, and when its cold out, grease gets thicker and harder to force movement

also, how is the electrical system? electrical systems dont like extreme temps and hte window is a very high drain device, it may be trying or drawing too much energy and may not be getting what it wants

trixie · 11-24-2003, 12:04 AM

Thanks for answering two questions at once. I think the electrical system is sound. What I did notice the other day, however, was that an idle (toll booth) the volt gauge would drop for a couple of seconds after having put the window down. The window goes up just fine, if that means anything.
Michael.

trixie · 11-24-2003, 12:40 AM

Why not? I figured it was binding on something.

trixie · 11-24-2003, 12:43 AM

No, maybe you're right. It really shouldn't drop noticably after engaging the window down. It's only a window after all-- I guess. The gauge stays straight up for everything else though.

trixie · 11-24-2003, 12:48 AM

I will answer my own question: The window stinks at going down. It's probablly broken, and I will have to find a new one.

lonestar · 11-26-2003, 01:34 PM

I have the same prob. When it's cold, it is slow as Christmas going down, but goes up just fine. All the other windows seem to work fine. The only thing I can figure out is the weather stripping is cold and binding the window up some how.

woodychitwn · 11-26-2003, 02:02 PM

At some point over the summer I got annoyed at how slow my power windows were so I popped open the rear left door and covered the window tracks with fresh grease as best I could. For all my trouble it saved about half a second compared to the rear right window. Didn't seem worth it so I didn't do the others. However, now that the temperatures have started to drop, that same window now opens and closes about 2 seconds quicker than the other one. So I'm thinking I may just take out all the window tracks next summer, clean 'em and start with a fresh coat of grease.

Matt M. · 12-02-2003, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by trixie
The window stinks at going down. It's probablly broken, and I will have to find a new one.

It seems like there are several of us having the same problem (slow going down, temperature sensitive; fast going up, not temp sensitive), so I am surprised we don't have a conclusive answer.

The window should want to go down - nothing like having gravity on your side. The fact that it goes back up so easily makes me wonder if this a motor/regulator problem.

Have any other members tackled this problem?

- -Matt

mcsteven · 01-16-2012, 02:02 PM

I'm having the same problem on the two front windows. Here's what I noticed:

Going up is fine and at normal speed.
Going down is hard when it's coldest (I live in the Oakland, California area, so coldest might be 20 degrees F.) but, if I've just gone through the car wash or if it rained, the window moves much faster (maybe even normal speed).

With that said, I believe that it might have something to do with the weatherstripping (not sure I'm identifying it correctly. I'm referring to the squeegee type strips on the inside and outside of the window at the point it enters the door). As the windows descends, the stripping is gripping the window and window is pulling it down towards the door. As the window is ascending, it's pushing the stripping out of the way.

I'm going to do a thorough cleaning of the glass and see if that affects it in any way.

BTW - the voltage would drop quite a bit with the window motors. And if it's an auto down, that would be a big hit on the meter, too.

Now that I'm reviving this, anyone else having the issue?

GOOGLE IS MY FRIEND. I should have checked other places. Still an open issue, but newer posts are over at

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=226308

Please post over there, ok?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt M.

It seems like there are several of us having the same problem (slow going down, temperature sensitive; fast going up, not temp sensitive), so I am surprised we don't have a conclusive answer.

The window should want to go down - nothing like having gravity on your side. The fact that it goes back up so easily makes me wonder if this a motor/regulator problem.

Have any other members tackled this problem?

- -Matt

Dave98XLT · 01-17-2012, 05:46 PM

Hey, I have the same problem on both front windows. I tried rolling up and down the windows several times when it was raining to possibly loosen dirt in the weatherstripping causing it to bind. It helped on one window but not the other.

Next step is to open up the door panel, spray the works down with wd-40, grease the track with super lube, and spray silicon or dry film on the side weatherstrip.

Also can the window motor bearings be greased? I had an old nissan and there was a removable plug to grease the main motor bearing.

Now how do i fix the following:

1. Sticking rear tailgate lock when cold?
2. Whirring cassette deck?
3. Blower motor 2nd position not working (already replaced resistor and switch)
4. Rear wiper sticks when cold

The joy's of a 14 year old teenager!

bilzy7 · 05-04-2012, 06:14 PM

Any locks can of course be spread with wd40 for a quick fix, but a good product should be applied. Wd40 has always helped with door lock issues.

11-23-2003, 11:52 PM	#1
trixie Wannabe Elite Explorer nj 94 xlt Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 64 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	slow power window during winter Any reason my driver's side window slows down during the winter? It's fine when it's warm out, but when it gets cold, it wimps out, and goes real slow. (just another stupid question--sorry.) Michael

11-23-2003, 11:55 PM	#2
jimbo74 Elite Ranger NorCal 98 XLT Supercab 4x2 Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 17,902 Vehicle Specs*	you may want to see if you can lube the tracks with a wd40 type lubricant.... if i remeber correctly, there is actual grease in the window tracks, and when its cold out, grease gets thicker and harder to force movement also, how is the electrical system? electrical systems dont like extreme temps and hte window is a very high drain device, it may be trying or drawing too much energy and may not be getting what it wants __________________ My Truck

11-26-2003, 01:34 PM	#7
lonestar Wannabe Elite Explorer lou,ky 91 XLT, 02 XLS Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,995 Vehicle Specs	I have the same prob. When it's cold, it is slow as Christmas going down, but goes up just fine. All the other windows seem to work fine. The only thing I can figure out is the weather stripping is cold and binding the window up some how. __________________ Make sure you have a left handed screw driver, thats the only tool for the job.

11-26-2003, 02:02 PM	#8
woodychitwn Wannabe Elite Explorer Chicago, Illinois 1994 Limited Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,308 Vehicle Specs	At some point over the summer I got annoyed at how slow my power windows were so I popped open the rear left door and covered the window tracks with fresh grease as best I could. For all my trouble it saved about half a second compared to the rear right window. Didn't seem worth it so I didn't do the others. However, now that the temperatures have started to drop, that same window now opens and closes about 2 seconds quicker than the other one. So I'm thinking I may just take out all the window tracks next summer, clean 'em and start with a fresh coat of grease. __________________ "My only problem with leaving the city is all the fresh air. Too much oxygen and nitrogen... Just makes me tired." -- Woody

05-04-2012, 06:14 PM	#12
bilzy7 Wannabe Elite Explorer MA 98 Explorer XLT Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 187 Vehicle Specs	Any locks can of course be spread with wd40 for a quick fix, but a good product should be applied. Wd40 has always helped with door lock issues. __________________ 1998 Explorer XLT 4x4 4.0 SOHC

11-24-2003, 12:04 AM	#3
trixie Wannabe Elite Explorer nj 94 xlt Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 64 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Thanks for answering two questions at once. I think the electrical system is sound. What I did notice the other day, however, was that an idle (toll booth) the volt gauge would drop for a couple of seconds after having put the window down. The window goes up just fine, if that means anything. Michael.

11-24-2003, 12:40 AM	#4
trixie Wannabe Elite Explorer nj 94 xlt Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 64 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Why not? I figured it was binding on something.

11-24-2003, 12:43 AM	#5
trixie Wannabe Elite Explorer nj 94 xlt Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 64 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	No, maybe you're right. It really shouldn't drop noticably after engaging the window down. It's only a window after all-- I guess. The gauge stays straight up for everything else though.

11-24-2003, 12:48 AM	#6
trixie Wannabe Elite Explorer nj 94 xlt Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 64 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I will answer my own question: The window stinks at going down. It's probablly broken, and I will have to find a new one.

01-17-2012, 05:46 PM	#11
Dave98XLT Wannabe Elite Explorer VA 98 XLT 4WD Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 16 Vehicle Specs	Hey, I have the same problem on both front windows. I tried rolling up and down the windows several times when it was raining to possibly loosen dirt in the weatherstripping causing it to bind. It helped on one window but not the other. Next step is to open up the door panel, spray the works down with wd-40, grease the track with super lube, and spray silicon or dry film on the side weatherstrip. Also can the window motor bearings be greased? I had an old nissan and there was a removable plug to grease the main motor bearing. Now how do i fix the following: 1. Sticking rear tailgate lock when cold? 2. Whirring cassette deck? 3. Blower motor 2nd position not working (already replaced resistor and switch) 4. Rear wiper sticks when cold The joy's of a 14 year old teenager!