Car windows are designed to give you convenience whenever you need them to roll up or down. They are your way of access outside the vehicle when opening the door would pose an inconvenience and they are also your protection against outside forces like the rain, smoke, dirt, and even against the “bad guys”.
When you are having issues with the operation of these windows, no matter how petty the issues seem to be, they can be enough to ruin your day. Or you can turn a blind eye and go on your usual day ignoring the seemingly trivial nuisance only to be surprised at how it has progressed come check up time.
The power window switches were built to level up the windows function by giving you ease of opening and closing them unlike the older versions of vehicles when you need to rotate them manually through their knobs. And as we all know, the more technologically advanced anything is, the more complex it is to repair. And more expensive too, in most cases.
So, how much does it cost to fix power window? Let us find out below.
Average Cost of Power Window Repair
The overall cost you have to pay for the power window repair would depend on which parts are malfunctioning. Some of the power window repair cost you may need to spend on include:
Regulator – ranges from $200 to $1,000 plus but most cost spent on the average is between $270 and $369 for parts and labor.
This is the part of the window that is responsible for the controlling of the raising and lowering of the side windows of cars which can be either automatic or mechanical. As the names suggest, automatic window regulators use an electrical mechanism for opening and closing the window while the mechanical types use a detailed system of gears and interlocking parts to be able to raise or lower the window through the rotation of the knobs.
Mechanical regulators typically cost cheaper than automatic types and can range between $200 and $500.
Motor – ranges from $112 to $400 for parts and labor.
Only those equipped with power windows have the motor which operates the regulator to be able to raise and lower the window glass when the switch is pressed. Typical malfunctioning of the motor would manifest in slow-moving window more especially when raising the glass.
Broken car window repair – $50 to $200
A car window should be spotless at any cost. That’s the general rule. Any tiny chip present can be a start of a serious problem so it is important to have it checked once you noticed any blemish on an otherwise clear surface.
How much does it cost to fix power window at YourMechanic.com? Please see the price list below for some popular brands:
Car Labor Cost Parts Cost Estimate Ave.-Dealer
- 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Van $70.00 $31.18 $101 $138.68
- 2002 Porsche 911 $70.00 $42.82 $113 $150.32
- 2002 Toyota Tacoma $70.00 $143.98 $214 $251.48
- 2003 Cadillac DeVille $70.00 $15.36 $85 $122.86
- 2004 GMC Envoy XL $70.00 $46.78 $117 $154.28
- 2005 Land Rover Freelander $70.00 $35.52 $106 $143.02
- 2005 Mazda Tribute $70.00 $163.53 $234 $271.03
- 2007 GMC Sierra 1500 $70.00 $87.58 $158 $195.08
- 2009 BMW X5 $70.00 $45.75 $116 $153.25
On the other hand, RepairPal.com’s price lists for window motor replacement cost are presented below:
Brand and Model Parts Labor Average
- BMW 325i – $314 to $412
- Buick Century – $187 to $410
- Chevrolet Corvet – $229 to $380
- Chevrolet Lumina – $288 to $601
- Chrysler Town & Country – $235 to $297
- Dodge Caravan – $243 to $320
- Isuzu Pickup – $334 to $398
- Jeep Cherokee – $219 to $640
- Pontiac Grand Prix – $224 to $580
- Subaru Legacy – $274 to $395
In addition, their door window regulator replacement cost estimates are as follows:
Brand and Model Parts Labor Average
- BMW 325i – $240 to $287
- BMW 525i – $368 to $568
- Dodge Caravan – $272 to $360
- Dodge Dakota – $240 to $287
- Jeep Cherokee – $219 to $640
- Hyundai Sonata – $224 to $314
What are Included
The typicalisr window off track repair rate includes the cost to open the door panel and removing the window glass in order to replace the faulty regulator or motor part. In short, the cost of the materials or parts as well as the labor for dismantling and reassembling the door panel mainly comprise the pricing of the power window repair.
Depending on the auto shop that performed the repair or replacement of the parts, a warranty and guaranty are included most of the time, usually about 12 months or 12,000 miles whichever comes first. Although you may see some who would gladly extend the warranty to double.
Additional Costs
Some of the extra costs you might encounter while repairing the power window of your car are the following:
- Replacing a side window
- Windscreen
- Failed DIY
Shopping for Power Window Repair
The power window repair can be a pretty straightforward job that most mechanics and auto shops near your area can properly address. But if you want to be assured of the quality of work, those popular repair centers like the Pep Boys can give you a peace of mind.
If you have sufficient knowledge in repairing vehicles and would want to take the matter into your own hands, the following are the tools and materials needed to pull through the car power window repair:
- Phillips head screw driver
- Pliers
- Trim tool or a flat head screw driver
- Flashlight
- Window switch
- Push – pull switch
- Rocker switch
- Toggle switch
For the complete step by step procedure on how to do this, some Youtube videos are available that you can follow.
Factors Affecting Power Window Repair Cost
Automatic or mechanical – mechanical windows are relatively cheaper to repair than the automatic types.
Make, mode, and year of vehicle – the rule of thumb is that the more advanced the vehicle is, the higher the maintenance cost, and that includes car windows.
Auto shop – your choice of whether to bring your car to your neighborhood auto shops or to a popular car repair shops would hugely affect the car window off track repair rate as you would also be paying for the status of the repair shops aside from the service.
Parts – when you bring your car to a dealer, you would most likely be getting an OEM parts or the Original Equipment Manufacturer which would most likely cost higher as compared to when an aftermarket type of parts would be installed to your vehicle.
Location – the cost of doing business as well as cost of living in a particular area would usually factor in the pricing of any commodities and services, which includes car repairs.
The warranty included – some auto repair shops and dealers which offer higher warranties usually have a price of power window repairs, although it is not always the case.
Insurance – usually, this type of repair which is a result of wear and tear is not covered by insurance unless it is caused by an accident or traffic collision.
Warning Signs
Your car usually gives you signs of mechanical problems. But oftentimes, these signs can be so subtle that they can sometimes be ignored. Always be sensitive to these signs as they could save you from a major headache come your scheduled trip to the mechanic.
Some of the signs we are talking about are the following:
- Windows would not roll up or down or sometimes would slow down especially on the rising part.
- Emitting abnormal noise when you try to roll them up and down.
- Window would not roll up and down at all, or sometimes intermittent.
Additional Information
Like some of the car issues that are not readily apparent during a routine inspection from your mechanic, it is your duty as the car owner to be vigilant of any problems and report it to the auto shop for further check up. This way, you could be spared of the more costly repairs once the seemingly innocent and minor issue becomes a major vehicle problem.