Symptoms of a Malfunctioning or Faulty Motor Window Controller Assembly

Common symptoms include the need to repeatedly press to rotate the window up or down, slower or faster window speeds, and clicking sounds from the door.

Power windows have been a luxury for car owners since their introduction in the mid-1970s. Back in the "old days" windows were lifted by hand, and more often than not, the handles broke, resulting in the fact that you had to go to the dealer and replace them. Today, nearly 95 percent of cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in the United States are equipped with power windows, making them routine rather than luxury upgrades. Like any other mechanical or electrical part, sometimes they can wear out or break completely. One of the most commonly broken power window components is the power window motor/adjuster assembly.

The power window lifter assembly or motor is responsible for lowering and raising the windows when the power window button is pressed. Many modern cars, trucks and SUVs have a combined engine and regulator assembly that must be replaced together if one of the components is not working properly.

However, there are a few warning signs that the components inside the power window motor/controller assembly are starting to wear out. The following are some of these common symptoms that you should be aware of so you can contact a mechanic to have the motor/window regulator assembly replaced before it causes further damage.

1. It takes a few clicks to raise or lower the window

During normal operation, the window should rise or fall when the button is pressed. Some vehicles have an auto-rotate feature when the button is pressed or pulled up, which automatically activates the power window motor/adjuster assembly. However, if it takes several pushes of the power window button to activate the power window motor, this is a good sign that there is a problem with the power window motor assembly. It could also be a problem with the switch itself, so you should have an experienced local ASE certified mechanic check the problem before assuming the power window/regulator assembly needs to be replaced.

In some cases, it may just be debris under the switch that is causing the problem.

2. Window speed is slower or faster than usual

If you press the window button and notice that the window rises slower or faster than usual, this may also indicate a problem with the window motor. Power window systems are finely tuned to a precise speed, not only for convenience, but also to ensure that the window doesn't break when it is raised or lowered. When the engine starts to fail, or if there is an electrical problem with the regulator assembly, this can cause the window to go up slower or faster than it should.

When you notice this warning sign, see a mechanic so they can diagnose the exact problem with the power windows. It could be as simple as a shorted wire or a fuse not supplying the correct power to the power window motor.

3. Click from the door when the window is raised or lowered

Another common symptom of a failed power window motor is a clicking sound when the power window button is pressed. In some cases, this is caused by debris stuck between the window and the engine. This can cause the power window motor/adjuster assembly to work harder than it should, which can also cause the window to fall off the rails. If this problem is not fixed soon, the window may jam and break if it is stuck while the power window motor is still running.

4. The power window does not hold or is crooked

When the power window unit is operating correctly, the windows are locked and held in position by the power window adjuster assembly. If the window rolls up and then falls down on its own, this indicates a breakdown of the regulator assembly. This is also the case when the window is curved and one side of the window drops down when it is raised or lowered. When this happens, you will need to replace the power window/regulator assembly on most new vehicles since they are together.

Power windows are very convenient, but when something fails with the components that power them, a professional mechanic should replace them as soon as possible to avoid further damage or creating a potentially unsafe driving situation.