If your car has a lot of miles on it, your power windows may be starting to “stick.” If this continues, the window will just stop working eventually. Scotty Kilmer has a power window hack that’s so simple, you’ll want to add it to your once-a-year maintenance routine.
How does #savagescotty recommend keeping power windows working forever?
- Purchase water resistant silicone spray
- Spray liberally in window tracks
- Smack your own forehead over how simple this hack is
Whenever a power window starts to stick, you might assume that it’s a problem with the motor assembly inside the door. As Scotty Kilmer notes, it’s actually the track that the window slides along. This hack should solve your sticky power window issue immediately.
You can follow along on the video as #savagescotty walks you through this hack, or simply follow our written guide here to keep your power windows working forever.
Simple Life Hack to Keep Power Windows Working Forever
Purchase Water Resistant Silicone Spray
The only things you’ll need for this hack are a rag and some Water Resistant Silicone Lubricant spray. WD-40 makes a relatively inexpensive brand of this spray. It’s not regular WD-40 in a blue can (don’t use that for this hack). Be sure that it is the Water Resistant Silicone Lubricant spray, which comes in a silver and yellow can.
Spray Liberally in Window Tracks
Point the nozzle from the silicone spray inside the tracks of your power windows and spray away! Note that you only have to spray along the sides of the track where the window makes contact. Wipe away the excess with a rag.
As Scotty points out, this silicone spray won’t harm your car’s paint job as long as you wipe it up immediately. You can also use the rag, which is now wet from the spray, to polish the black rubber trim at the base of your windows.
After wiping up the spray, run your sticky power window up and down a few times. It should start to loosen up and eventually will be running like new.
Repeat on all Four Windows
Repeat the same process on all of your power windows. Spray the tracks, wipe up the excess and then run the windows up and down a few times. This will keep your power windows working forever, as we explain below.
Why This Power Windows Hack Works
The window tracks on your car build up “gunk” in them over time. Water from rain, road elements, dust, dirt and grime just build up in those tracks. This makes it harder for the power window motor assembly to move the window up and down.
Your car’s power windows are operated by a simple motor assembly. When you push the button in the door panel, the motor moves the glass up or down. As more “gunk” builds up in the window tracks, it causes that motor to strain more and more.
Eventually, that little motor assembly will break down and stop working. This almost always happens when your window is down and you have to drive a three-hour commute through a raging downpour.
Clearing the “gunk” out of your power window tracks ensures that the motor assembly doesn’t have to strain itself beyond normal wear and tear. In a best-case scenario, you’re going to spend several hundred dollars if you have to replace that little motor assembly.
If you add this simple silicone spray hack to your list of annual car maintenance tasks, your power windows should last for the life of your car.
Keep it Simple with Vehicle History
Look at that! Sometimes a car repair is much simpler than you ever imagined it could be. You can always find more of these great life hacks for your car here on Vehicle History.
