Window Motor won’t relearn auto-up, always goes halfway back down

[Spear then Beer]

Hi all, I am having a problem with the auto up on my drivers window. We’ve followed the factory manual to reset the motor, and also the relearn procedure. I’m wondering if anybody has some new ideas I can try.

The vehicle is a 2001 LX 470. The auto up has always worked since I purchased the vehicle six months ago. Recently the drivers window stopped going up or down in the driver’s door. I ordered a new window motor and regulator from AutoZone, and had a mechanic install it. He said the regulator was fine, the problem was with the motor. He installed the doorman motor and the window slides freely up and down (with power), but it will not relearn the pinch sensor mechanism.

We thought it might be a bad doorman motor, so he had another mechanic he knows fix the OEM window motor. We reinstalled the OEM motor and we still have the same problem.

Early on, I sent them the factory reset procedure, the mechanic said he tried this 4-5 times, no luck: https://lc100e.github.io/pdf/rm/rm616e/m_be_0109.pdf

Both the mechanic and the guy who repaired the OEM motor have tried numerous (20+) times to relearn the mechanism…“hold down for 10-15 seconds at bottom, hold up for 10-15 seconds at top”. I’ve also tried this procedure a few times. None of us can get it to relearn. And they have both have experience doing this on Toyotas.

Nothing seems to work. The mechanic also tried disconnecting the battery for 15 minutes to see if that might hard reset the computer. But we’re having no luck.

Anybody have other tricks we could try?

 

[Dirt J]

x2. Lived with it since I got it. Tried a new window motor and regulator and still didn't fix it.

I hope you get an answer!

 

[Kamran Khan]

 

[Dirt J]

I'm pretty sure I did this when I installed my new motor. OP: you go first and report back!!

 

[Gnarwgn]

Great video. The one thing I don't like is - what if you get all the way in there, attempt to reset, and it doesn't work? Is replacing the motor a more 'guaranteed' approach to getting this done in one shot? AND - what is it about taking everything apart, and then plugging the motor back in that is any different than having it apart? Separation from the motor regulator?

 

[Dirt J]

No, I replaced the motor and have the same issue with the new one. The instructions for the new motor also say to do this same pre-install routine.

I think it has something to do with the motor being under load vs not under load. If I understand right, the motor goes back down because it thinks it experience a pinch situation.

 

[Kamran Khan]

Great video. The one thing I don't like is - what if you get all the way in there, attempt to reset, and it doesn't work? Is replacing the motor a more 'guaranteed' approach to getting this done in one shot? AND - what is it about taking everything apart, and then plugging the motor back in that is any different than having it apart? Separation from the motor regulator?

It's a guaranteed fix, if you follow the procedure step by step. If this method fails to fix your problem, the second reason is, probably your master switch is either aftermarket or it has internal fault. You have to separate the motor from the regulator and let it run for 3 or more seconds, there is no way around it. That is how it's explained in factory service manual.

 

[Dirt J]

Yes, agreed the FSM cover this too.

Can you confirm that neither auto up nor auto down should be used when letting the regulator run? And if either of those are used, what is the next step?

 

[Kamran Khan]

Yes, agreed the FSM cover this too.

Can you confirm that neither auto up nor auto down should be used when letting the regulator run? And if either of those are used, what is the next step?

Next step is to repeat the procedure. Once you plug the motor without the regulator and run it for 3 or more seconds, unplug the master switch and install the motor back in the regulator. Install the regulator in the door, DO NOT plug the master switch or run it upward or downward if you have plugged the master switch WITHOUT THE GLASS, otherwise you have to repeat the procedure.
Once every thing install, glass installed, plug the master switch and move window up and down without using AUTO UP function couple times, and then hit AUTO UP and Auto Down.

 

[Kamran Khan]

Running the motor alone without the regulator just to reset the pinch sensor, DO NOT USE auto up or down. Manually pull the UP button for 3 or more seconds to reset the motor, do not use AUTO UP button to reset the motor.

 

[excessive]

i have this issue on one of my doors as well, thanks for posting the fix

 

[Kamran Khan]

This method is for all 4 Windows i.e the rear windows. The trick is, once you reset the motor. Do not energize the Power Window Button, until you install the glass. Once you install the glass, energize the power window button. Move the window UP and Down without using Auto UP/DOWN function few times. Then hit the Auto UP and Down Function. If your power window master switch is not genuine and you bought it brand new from Ali Express, Amazon, eBay or any other website for few bucks, it won't work. Make sure you window motor is also genuine.

 

[Spear then Beer]

Thanks for this! Your feedback is really helpful.

My mechanic and I had both watched that video, and he says he followed the steps in several of his earlier attempts to fix this. But I just talked with him, he thinks the window switch was plugged in the whole time, so we'll give it another try soon and report back. Hopefully this solves it