How can you tell if a power window problem is the glass or the regulator?

Hey folks! This is Patrick from Chip Happens Auto Glass.

Welcome to another Q&A session where I answer questions from y'all on the internet.

Today's question is:

"How can you tell if a power window problem is the glass or the regulator?"

Summary:

Patrick offers several diagnostic clues for telling whether a malfunctioning power window is caused by the glass or the regulator. If pressing the switch produces no response at all, the motor is the most likely culprit. A grinding or groveling noise when operating the window points to the cables or coils that raise and lower the glass. If the window drops or sits at an incorrect angle within its frame, the mounting tabs on the glass may have broken. While these signs can help a driver form an initial idea of the problem, Patrick stresses that the symptoms can overlap, so the best course of action is to call an autoglass shop and have a technician assess the situation in person for an accurate diagnosis.

Answer:

If your car window stops working going up and down, there are a few telltale signs that help tell whether it's the regulator or the glass that's failed. If you push up and down on the motor and nothing happens at all, then it's most likely the motor. If you push up and down and hear a sort of groveling sound -- kind of a grinding noise -- that could be the cables or coils that are responsible for lifting the glass up and down. And if your window comes down but moves at an angle that isn't correct relative to the frame it sits in, then that could mean the tabs on the glass have given up or broken. So those are a few different ways to get an idea of what's going on. That said, the best bet is really just to call an autoglass shop and have them assess the situation in person, since these symptoms can overlap and a proper diagnosis will tell you exactly which component failed.