How Manual Windows Work

Here's how crank windows work on your old school economy car!

The manually operated windows came on many entry level cars of the past decade. It represented a cost-effective solution to winding down your windows, without the added complication of electronics, motors or gears.

The window regulator is quite simply a 4 bar mechanism, with a pivot in the middle, and two sliders on either end that act like a collapsing scissor.

At the crank, a small gear rotates a 1/4 of a sun dial gear, giving a torque multiplication. This makes it easy for a short rotation of the crank to lift such a heavy window. The dial gear is attached to the main arm that leads up to support the glass.

A torsional spring helps to wind the window up against the force of gravity. It loads itself when winding the window down, giving resistance so the window doesn't just drop.

The door skin on this 2001 Toyota Corolla was cut open to demonstrate how the window mechanism works from the outside of the vehicle.

[findfreddy]

Dude when I was like 6, I asked my dad when we were driving “Dad how do car windows work?” And he tried to explain it but as you can imagine…. It’s not a simple mechanism and operation to transmit vocally.

Thank you so much for making this video. My dad has been gone for almost 20 years and thanks to this video I finally understand the concept (haha it’s only taken 44 years)…. But it felt so good to finally have the question answered and I know my dad is pleased I finally got it.

Haha also - love the toothbrush as pointer😂

🍻cheers

[MaggieKeizai]

Perfect vid, you told me everything I needed to know about what's wrong with my window, concise and lots of info. Appreciated.

[javierduhart]

Excellent video. Had wondered for many years how the mechanism worked and suddenly thought of looking it up. Never imagined it would be so complex.

[chiararuthelgario]

I love how you explained it direct to the point. Just the details needed. Thanks!

[hayksamvelyan]

That was short and concise, love the evolution of your style. Great work!

[chocolate_squiggle]

Very Cool! I've just spent couple hours trying to get my rear door locking mechanism back in (had to replace the actuator bit on a 2003 Corolla). Given up for tonight, seems I have to remove the window to get the guide/track out of the way first. The plastic shroud and metal bits split apart while being manhandled out so I didn't have to touch the window before. But they won't go back in as one piece (too large). So here I was looking at window videos during dinner after midnight lol. Marvellous to see how these minor mechanical parts all work. Your videos are just amazing fella.

[mrflamewars]

I replaced my drivers door window - got the window for $25 from U-Pull-It. I was wondering how difficult it was to replace the window regulator.

Always love your videos. Glad you seem in better spirits this week, was getting a "Fuck my life" vibe from you last week.

[sarahuniverse]

I have been looking for a diagram or any explanatory video about how manual window regulators work and what they look like inside, and FINALLY came across this. better than a picture diagram!
I was trying to roll my window down one very cold early morning this winter and it was frozen shut. I figured that out after I heard and felt a snap and the window crank go loose and have zero tension. and was just able to spin around freely not doing anything for/to the window. took apart my door panel and pieces of the regulator and bottom window clamps came tumbling out. I am not a mechanic, just a fix it as it comes, and figure it out as I go kind of person. if I can. so I knew nothing of the composition of a regulator, or inner workings of the manual window. so wasnt sure what I needed to order/fix. this video helps alot! thanks for putting it out there!

[karthickc]

Man! You give me the answers to questions I always had but could never find the answers! Every time I google for an answer to a car mechanism I need answers to, I get directed to your channel! Greatly appreciated!

[ramongarciano]

i likle your vids that cover even the small time cars that also get maintained from time to time. and you explain it very well and take things apart for more knowledge.

[OlavARod]

Man, this helped me out a lot, thank you so much! I am going to grease up the mechanism on my 1966 Volvo 1800S! The window crank is very hard to rotate

[saadghand]

Please boss we need a video about how a cable window regulator work .You are the best .

[anthonyfreiwald]

Doing some work on my cavalier... this was very helpful. Thank you!

[Josefppaz]

Buddy I loved your 18 manual speed shifter sim video and this video helped me at work the other day big cheers 🍻 thank you for making these videos

[jordanv]

Future EngineeringExplained...🤔 Great video as always man!👍

[jeremylindemann]

Good explanation, you made all the technical aspects easy to digest.

[peaman]

Love the video and the ever infamous toothbrush.

[lordofdunvegan]

Great video...thank you very much. Your demo is well done showing the action even though you had to cut the door to show the motions. Have a great day and stay safe.

[inev]

Just wanna say that you are doing a really fine job at what you do and keep it up, just doing you. I have been continuously searching in the past and even to this day at this very moment for explainations on car related mechanisms of all sorts and now i am wondering where you have been all my life. I love when you explain things its rather indept, concise and quick but it doesnt matter because you keep it intersting and I can always pause and pull the video back. Though you surely go all out, while its kinda sad to see things being gutted god knows only a few people are actually willing to put things on the line just for a little education. But that would be selfish of me to say such things. Either way hope you get the attension you deserve because you have quite a cosy channel.

[tastethejace]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Very informative. Thank you!