window regulator, does this seem right?

Hey guys. I have a pretty random question and before I start ordering parts I want to make sure that this sounds/seems right. This has to do with my passenger front door on my 2013 tacoma. I'll try to explain the problems and where I've gotten.

I've noticed for a few weeks now that when I go to put the window up, it stays up but from time to time it'll almost drop (like 1/4"). I keep thinking I'm seeing something as if my eyes are playing a trick on me. The other day when it decided to leave for work I put the window down then back up and saw it drop. I went outside and put my hand on it to see if I could move it and sure enough I could slide the entire window assembly around probably 1/4-1/2 in all directions. I didn't know what to think other than I'd take a look at it come the weekend.

I went and tore into the door thinking and hoping it was a loose window bolt that attached the window to the track. I had a loose bolt on my driver side and a simple bolt check fixed that one. While the door was open I was also prepared to see the black plastic tabs on the glass possibly busted off. No tabs broke or busted. I grabbed the window and can make it move side to side as a whole unit no matter what up/down the glass is at. It's almost as if the little wheels or guides in the regulator channel are loose within the track. It's never rattled as if it were loose in the door. I checked all the bolts I could see and none of them were loose. I'm guessing the window isn't suppose to move around at all (should be firmly in place).

I just wanted to see/make sure theres no adjustment I'm missing (to make the window tighter) so it won't move side to side or just bit the bullet and purchase a window regulator? I can try and get a video with my iPhone if that helps show the problem, but it otherwise works fine (goes up and down) just as the day it was new, it just slides around left to right when when down & if I pull up on the window I can feel it come up a little as well (as if it's just floating in the frame). When it is up it seems ok, but 7 or 8 times later of up/down it'll do the drop (usually at the door handle corner) and then I can feel/see it move around.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm just bummed as my trust is low miles (20k) and no one ever gets into the passenger side (almost never). Seems like a strange one but I've searched and didn't really come up with someone with the same answer so just thought I'd reach out and ask.

Thanks for taking the time to read this & help, it's all appreciated

 

Just an update. I changed the regulator and it did fix some of the problems. Sounds a lot better going up and does stop when it’s suppose to (unlike the stock one. It would go up to stop but then at random times would drop the window a smidge). I have another issue though.

I was trying to fix the loose side to side play the window has. I checked the 2 runs inside the door where the weatherstrip runs into and that’s where it’s moving around in. Everything I think is right with the insides of the window and is right as I checked everything.

Is there an easy fix to tighten up the side to side window play?

 

Is there felt in those tracks on the sides ? Is it worn ? The problems with excessive
window movement could have damaged this to the point the glass is loose when not fully
up or down. This may have more to do with the guides in the door frame itself.
(edit) Could someone have attempted a break in on that window ?

 

Yes there’s still felt in there. When I bought the truck there was some odd noises and they replaced the window seals that would have had the window runs in them. Only my passenger front window moves around in the frame. I tested the other windows and none do it (they’re all tight feeling).

I know the regulator and or motor on that door was weird because it did go up and down fine and nothing was loose but say if you pushed the power window button to put the window up it wouldn’t stop at up it was almost go slightly more then settle the glass (again only door that’d do it). It was just odd to see it fall in the track ever so slightly then be able to move around. New regulator fixed that at least.

I’m going to buy some felt on Amazon as I could locate any here that’s thin enough to fit in the channel. I have tesa tape but I don’t think that would work.

Its also weird as I’ve owned the truck since new and no one ever uses the passenger door. I never have anyone with me and while I do lower the window the doors never had any kind of trauma to it. I’ve maybe had it slammed a dozen times since new by my kids or taking a co worker home but that’s it. There’s no signs inside the door of anything bent or ever being repaired.

just odd. I have a tad over 20k miles for a 2013 so it’s not like it’s driven very far or much just to work and kids to school. I’ve learned over the years to baby doors as there’s no need to slam them.

 

Has the door check on that side ever been broken and replaced?

 

The fact you say the window is seldom used may be the reason it's messing up.
I lube all my vehicles window tracks with a Honda Product called Shin Etsu grease.
It's a silicone based greased and is slick as goose poop .

Also any binding on electric windows goes unnoticed because your just pushing
a switch not actually rolling the window up or down as in manual windows.
This binding puts a lot of strain on the motor and gears.

 

See edit on post #3

 

not that I know of. I’ve had the truck since new but the door insides all look normal. If I lower the window I can manipulate it side to side and up and down a tad. The door check clears the lower door run plenty.