How do you replace a Toyota Corolla 1993 rear driver side window regulator?

Answer 1

I just changed the left rear window regulator on a 1993 Corolla. Don't know how similar it is to a 1998.

1. Remove screw from door handle module.

2. Slide module toward the front of car and lift outward (It will be attached to the wire that controls the door opening. You could remove the plastic clip that attaches the module to the wire but mine looked old and brittle and didn't want to take a chance of breaking it.)

3. Remove the screws in the arm rest but don't try to pull arm rest off because it is glued to door panel.

4. Using flat bade, insert close to fasteners in door panel. Pop out every fastener until panel is loose.

5. Using short screw driver, remove screws that hold the window open/close button module in place.

6. Carefully lift and pull out door panel and move around so you can pull the door handle module and the open/close window module through the panel.

7. Remove the plastic film moisture barrier by carefully pulling from the metal door. Try to keep the mastic on the plastic because you will reseal with it during re-assembly.

8. You will see 4 golden screw tops in a somewhat square pattern that hold the regulator to the inside of the metal door. You will see the electrical connection at the bottom of the door that comes out and plugs into a receiver.

9. TEST: If you are not sure that the problem is a burned out motor on the regulator, disconnect the old regulator without removing it. Plug in the new regulator and, watching your fingers because the big crescent shaped gear moves, operated with the door switch to see if it works. Try to return the arm with the plastic button to its original position which should correspond to the window being down. ON MY NEW UNIT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS INCORRECT AND I HAD TO CUT OFF THE CONNECTOR ON THE OLD REGULATOR MOTOR CONNECTION AND ATTACH IT TO THE NEW ONE. SHOULD BE SOLDERED AND TAPED BUT GOOD WIRE NUTS TAPED IN PLACE WILL WORK. USE ELECTRICIAN'S TAPE.

10. Look at the new regulator. Locate the 4 square patterned threaded receivers to accept the 4 gold colored screws you will remove. Note the long arm on the new regulator with the plastic button. This button will fit into a groove on the bottom of the window. When reattached, the regulator moves an internal gear which moves the crescent shaped gear which causes the long arm with the plastic button to go up and down which causes the window to go up and down.

11. If not already done, disconnect the electrical connection to the old regulator.

12. Remove the 4 golden colored screws and be ready to support the window when you remove the last one.

13. When the window comes down, slide the plastic button out of the groove on either the left or right side of the groove (probably left side) and pull the old regulator out of the door.

14. Slide the new regulator into the door, slide the plastic button into the left side of the groove on the bottom of the window, and (though this is the most difficult step because you must lift the window and move the regulator up, down, and left and right) position until you see at least one of the threaded receptors in its correct position. Attach one of the golden screws. Now position the other receptors and the other three screws. Leave loose until all in place. Then tighten.

15. Make electrical connection for the new regulator. NOTE: TEST BEFORE YOU RE-ASSEMBLE DOOR AND SWITCHES. THE REGULATOR I RECEIVED HAD REVERSED POLARITY. WHEN I MOVED THE BUTTON TO RAISE THE WINDOW IT LOWERED AND CONVERSELY. HAD TO REMOVE THE PLUG, CUT OFF AND REVERSE THE WIRES (RED TO GREEN AND GREEN TO RED INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL OF RED TO RED, ETC.)

16. Reverse the steps from Step 7 and reassemble.