How to fix rear window actuator. i.e. Rear Window Won't Open
#51
07-13-2010, 12:10 PM
Fixed this earlier today in 15minutes. Chevy tailgates are notorious for having problems with tailgate plastics but this piece had held on for 15 years. Guess if the Blazer is still rolling in 2025 it will need it again.
Having a 9/32 nut driver for my electric drill shaved time. Once I figured out how to flip the metal arm up to open the glass from the inside everything else went smooth. The plastic piece that holds the rod from the tailgate handle was brittle but made it through the unhooking/rehooking fine. Thanks for the info here guys since it made the job easy.
Having a 9/32 nut driver for my electric drill shaved time. Once I figured out how to flip the metal arm up to open the glass from the inside everything else went smooth. The plastic piece that holds the rod from the tailgate handle was brittle but made it through the unhooking/rehooking fine. Thanks for the info here guys since it made the job easy.
#55
08-25-2010, 11:46 AM
1995 blazer
This information is the best thing since sliced bread. The hole behind the carpet almost worked for me, but the leaver had fallen down. I spent alot of time trying to use the hole. Took the advise and went in from the top, use a screwdriver to hold back the plastic cover, good light to see, and a wire hanger. Once I got the leaver up, used a screwdriver in the hole, pushed to the left and POP it was opened. I ordered the part from NAPA $5.49, one day to ship. I will pick up the part today and finish the job.
Thank you much!
Brian
Thank you much!
Brian
#58
09-25-2010, 05:50 PM
open pictures
Hello, sometimes i can't open them either. I have a 2003 s10 blazer and my rear window would not open. It could be one of two things wrong. The electric actuator that moves the latch might have quit working. if You cannot hear the actuator when you push the release button, then you know what the problem is. on the 2003 models it is easy to manually open the window. take a small and medium size screw driver with you to the rear inside tailgate panel. you will notice a humped up area where the window latch is contained. if you go strait down from the center of that hump to where the carpet is, right there is a access hole behind the carpet, pull the carpet back at the top. you will notice a 1/2 inch by 1 inch access hole. look in there with a flash light and you will see the lever. using the screw driver push the lever to the right or left and the the window will open, then open the tailgate, remove all the panel screws and you will have access to the actuator. If you can hear the actuator working when you push the release button and the window does not open, then most likely a little plastic retainer clip has broken. when it breaks, the lever that you would manually move with a screw driver has flipped down-and you will not be able to see the lever. what you will need to do is fish the lever back up by using a flexible wire as a hook through the hole. Its hard to do but it can be done with a little patience, after moving it back up then use a screw driver pushing in the other direction to release the window. hope this helps Joel
Originally Posted by hdhunter
I cannot seem to open the pictures about fixing the rear window. How does one open them to view?
Paul
Paul
#59
10-29-2010, 04:27 PM
This thread saved me big time, great info! I would add that at least in my '03 4 door there is a 3rd screw located under the "hump" that will prevent you from trying to pry it. the screw is only accessable from the outside so you must use the factory access hole to open the glass. Took me several tries through the access hole, when you feel the actuator moving to the left, push up and presto - open! I founde that sliding a golf 7 iron under the panel and gently prying up, released the metal clips quite easily under the plastic panel. only took half an hour tops, and I used the replacement part from NAPA for $5.75
Put it all back together and you could never tell it was apart. Thanks again for this thread and good luck.
Put it all back together and you could never tell it was apart. Thanks again for this thread and good luck.
#60
12-16-2010, 12:56 PM
Originally Posted by e602
This might already be somewhere on here but I didn't see it. This is for all of you, like me, that had the rear window stop opening on your Blazer. You press the button to open the rear window and you hear the actuator, but nothing happens. It's a very easy process to fix yourself. It'll take you $13 in parts (that includes shipping) and about an hour of your time. If you call the dealer, they will charge you about $450 to replace the actuator. If you can hear the actuator working, then you can fix it for the $13. If you don't hear a sound, buy the Actuator and you can still get to it using the steps below. There are two brass screws that hold the actuator to the panel.
A philips head screw driver and a 9/32 socket screwdriver are the only tools you need to replace the retainer.
This is how to replace it on a 1996 Blazer 4dr.
First, go buy the part you need at Rockauto. The link is for a 1996, but make sure you order it for your vehicle. Just do a search for a Window Actuator Rod Retainer. Rock Auto requires you order a pair of these, so make sure you order two. Each one has two of them in there so you will have 3 extras.
Window Actuator Rod Retainers - RockAuto.com
To open the window in the mean time while you are waiting for the part, do the following.
1. Remove the two screws on the door handle so you can pull back the door panel.
2. Pull back panel on top in the middle where it rises.
3. Reach in with a screw driver or your fingers to push down the lever. It's a metal piece on the left side against the wall to the inside of the truck.
SEE FIRST AND SECOND PICTURES
4. Open window and tailgate and remove screws on the sides of the tailgate. There is one on each side. Make sure it is the one fartest out and on the plastic panel.
5. Once the screws are removed, pull up on half the panel that is farthest out from the truck. Slide out away from the truck. The panel should come off with a little effort. Do not pull up on the panel closest to the truck, you will break the hooks that hold it in. I broke two on mine. The panel will slide away from the truck pretty easily.
6. Remove the screws holding the middle metal panel down. There are about 12 screws. They are the 9/32 socket screws.
SEE THIRD PICTURE
7. Pull the metal panel up, first dislodge the metal poles connected to the two white clips on each side in the center of the panel.
8. You will now see your actuator with the broken blue clip.
SEE FOURTH PICTURE
9. Pop off the blue retainer from the actuator. This will take some effort but it will pop off. (here's where you can replace the actuator if it's not making a sound)
10. Place one end of the retainer into the loose metal piece that rotates (left arrow in third picture) and then pop the other end back on to the actuator.
11. Replace the metal panel and clip the poles back into the white clips.
12. Make sure your door handle rod is clipped into the lock before you close the tailgate. If not, you have to work at opening it again by sliding you arm down between the plastic panel and it's not easy.
SEE FIFTH PICTURE
13. Replace everything. Before you close the door, make sure the door handle works and make sure the actuator is connected.
14. You should now be able to use your tailgate window again!
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A philips head screw driver and a 9/32 socket screwdriver are the only tools you need to replace the retainer.
This is how to replace it on a 1996 Blazer 4dr.
First, go buy the part you need at Rockauto. The link is for a 1996, but make sure you order it for your vehicle. Just do a search for a Window Actuator Rod Retainer. Rock Auto requires you order a pair of these, so make sure you order two. Each one has two of them in there so you will have 3 extras.
Window Actuator Rod Retainers - RockAuto.com
To open the window in the mean time while you are waiting for the part, do the following.
1. Remove the two screws on the door handle so you can pull back the door panel.
2. Pull back panel on top in the middle where it rises.
3. Reach in with a screw driver or your fingers to push down the lever. It's a metal piece on the left side against the wall to the inside of the truck.
SEE FIRST AND SECOND PICTURES
4. Open window and tailgate and remove screws on the sides of the tailgate. There is one on each side. Make sure it is the one fartest out and on the plastic panel.
5. Once the screws are removed, pull up on half the panel that is farthest out from the truck. Slide out away from the truck. The panel should come off with a little effort. Do not pull up on the panel closest to the truck, you will break the hooks that hold it in. I broke two on mine. The panel will slide away from the truck pretty easily.
6. Remove the screws holding the middle metal panel down. There are about 12 screws. They are the 9/32 socket screws.
SEE THIRD PICTURE
7. Pull the metal panel up, first dislodge the metal poles connected to the two white clips on each side in the center of the panel.
8. You will now see your actuator with the broken blue clip.
SEE FOURTH PICTURE
9. Pop off the blue retainer from the actuator. This will take some effort but it will pop off. (here's where you can replace the actuator if it's not making a sound)
10. Place one end of the retainer into the loose metal piece that rotates (left arrow in third picture) and then pop the other end back on to the actuator.
11. Replace the metal panel and clip the poles back into the white clips.
12. Make sure your door handle rod is clipped into the lock before you close the tailgate. If not, you have to work at opening it again by sliding you arm down between the plastic panel and it's not easy.
SEE FIFTH PICTURE
13. Replace everything. Before you close the door, make sure the door handle works and make sure the actuator is connected.
14. You should now be able to use your tailgate window again!
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