In a previous blog we reviewed the motor which drives power windows, but if your windows (power or manual) will not roll up or down, the motor may not be the culprit, or at least not entirely.
Attached to the motor is a part called the regulator, the component that is directly responsible for raising and lowering the door glass. With manual windows, the regulator is not attached to any electrical motor, rather the occupant provides the “power” by rotating the handle attached to the regulator in order to operate the window. In the case of automatic windows, the regulator is operated with electrical power from a motor, requiring a simple press of a button or moving a switch.
Like any other mechanical component in your vehicle, window regulators are put to work and in heavy use from the day the vehicle is first purchased, and they may eventually wear out resulting in a nonfunctioning window. In some cases the motor may be responsible for the inoperable window, but occasionally there may be a more complex problem with the regulator itself, requiring replacement of the part.
Types of Window Regulators
In simple terms, there are two types of regulators – manual and electric. Manual regulators, as mentioned previously, involve a crank handle that must be physically rotated to operate the door glass. These manual regulators may be of a couple different types, such as a large scissor-like mechanism, or a center post mechanism involving cabling and rollers. As the door window crank is rotated, this movement winds the attached cable around a spool behind the door panel, raising the glass or lowering it depending on the directing the crank is turned.
Automatic or electric regulators are the second type, making use of a small motor in the place of a manual crank handle. These motors are reversible; meaning voltage running to different poles causes the motor to turn in either one direction or the other.
In the event a window regulator is not functioning properly, with automatic windows you should still hear the motor inside the door panel running even though there is no motion. This would be an indication that there may be a problem with the cabling, rollers, or gears, and the regulator needs to be replaced. If pressing your window switch produces no sound, the motor is likely the problem instead of the regulator. Sometimes, however, the motor cannot be replaced separate from the regulator, but requires replacement of the entire motor/regulator assembly. With manual windows, a regulator failure is immediately apparent, as operating the crank handle will not move the door glass.
If your windows are not functioning due to a faulty regulator, the friendly and professional staff of DeDona Auto Glass can replace it so your windows work properly again. Visit our facility at 7341 W. Friendly Ave., Suite D in Greensboro NC, call us at (336) 851-1380, or get a free quote directly through our website!
