2001 I30 power windows slow and squeaking

[MattB]

My I30's front two windows work well enough and will go up and down without incident but in the last day or so they've begun to scream when going up or down and seem to be moving very slowly going up. This seems to be a common problem but I haven't been able to find a good solution by searching. It seems like the windows are sticky due to humidity (this behavior seems to have been triggered by extreme humidity), but I can't seem to figure out how to unstick them.

[Q45tech]

One must use the correct rubber treatment for the seals and lubrucation for the channels and apply it frequently.

[MattB]

One must use the correct rubber treatment for the seals and lubrucation for the channels and apply it frequently.

Where would I get the right stuff? Or should I just have a Nissan dealer do it?

[Q45tech]

Dealers normally provide this service [with varying competence].

The added friction stresses the motor and eventually destroys the cables moving everything.

Damage may have already been done to the steel cables?

Silcone spray and Wurth Rubber Conditioner for all the external rubber gaskets trim, etc............poor man solution might be a quality tire dressing

http://www.properautocare.com/wurucaa.html

In general every car in the world uses a similar [cable or arm and cable]system to raise windows and seal out rain.

[MattB]

Dealers normally provide this service [with varying competence].

The added friction stresses the motor and eventually destroys the cables moving everything.

Damage may have already been done to the steel cables?

Silcone spray and Wurth Rubber Conditioner for all the external rubber gaskets trim, etc............poor man solution might be a quality tire dressing

http://www.properautocare.com/wurucaa.html

In general every car in the world uses a similar [cable or arm and cable]system to raise windows and seal out rain.

I doubt there's been any major damage done because it just started exhibiting this behavior and I've avoided putting the windows down so as not to cause any more harm. The car is also still under the 60 day warranty I got when I bought it so if the dealer comes back and says I need a whole new window motor I will try to get the dealer I bought it from to pay for it.

[infinititech1]

spray the window tracks with silicone spray...doesn't have to be nissan...if that doesn't fix it its probably the window motors

[MattB]

I'll definately try that first, and if that doesn't do it I'm going to have to get on the case of the Toyota dealership in Boston that sold me the car to pay for a new window motor...

[MattB]

I'm starting to think I can just do this myself...where exactly do I spray the silicone? I understand that it needs to go on the window channels, but exactly where?

[Skibane]

spray the window tracks with silicone spray.

+1.

I'm here to tell ya that it can work wonders!

Some of the 'silicone sprays' have some pretty harsh solvents in them (acetone, toluene, etc.) - might not hurt to read the ingredients label before you buy.

I use this stuff (available at O'Reiley Auto Parts):



It dries to a mostly-solid film, and doesn't leave any rain streaks.

[infinititech1]

if you look where the window goes up and down...roll the window down and spray it in the little rubber track where the window goes up and down in

[MattB]

if you look where the window goes up and down...roll the window down and spray it in the little rubber track where the window goes up and down in

No ill effects from geting silicone on the windows?

[Defiant]

No ill effects from geting silicone on the windows?

Well, you don't hose it in there like your gassing rodents. Window cleaner will take off whatever the glass catches.

[Skibane]

The sides of the gasket are where most of the lube should go, since those are the surfaces that the window slides against - and any excess lube will run down the gasket, rather than down the window.

Along the top of the gasket, there's not much point in applying more than a tiny bit of lube with a Q-tip, since the window's edges don't slide against this part.

[MattB]

Thanks for all the information. Things are getting even stranger now...the problem seems to be disappearing. When I drove my car today I put the window up and down once to see what it would do. While it's not 100% squeak free it's not screaming like it was before and went up and down at almost normal speed.

[MattB]

Problem resolved. Lubricated all four window channels and now the windows work like new. Thanks to all who pointed me in the right direction on this one.