What purpose does the window auto-scroll serve?

[joe strummer]

Originally Posted by Mike&Ike

It is to help release pressure when closing the door so it isn't hard to close.

I've owned/currently own seven Toyota vehicles, and perhaps 20 cars/trucks total, and this is the first with this feature. None had doors that were hard to close, so I doubt that's the reason.

[Bergen23]

Originally Posted by joe strummer

I've owned/currently own seven Toyota vehicles, and perhaps 20 cars/trucks total, and this is the first with this feature. None had doors that were hard to close, so I doubt that's the reason.

Back in my college days, I inherited my dad's 2004 Camry. Before I got it, we'd had it for 5 years or so (this was back in 09). I used to slam the shit out of those doors when he first got it, since I was used to his banger ass '89 Dodge Ram.

I cannot count how many times I was yelled at by him for slamming the doors on the Camry. Then, when I got that car, the yelling had been seared into my brain to the point that I'd yell at friends about it.

"No, my son, let me show you the way of gentle closing doors. For this is a Toyota"

[Gunman]

Originally Posted by Mike&Ike

It is to help release pressure when closing the door so it isn't hard to close.

Agreed.

If you have the freezing problem, I had the TSB for that done on my BRZ, and they haven't frozen up since.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by joe strummer

I've owned/currently own seven Toyota vehicles, and perhaps 20 cars/trucks total, and this is the first with this feature. None had doors that were hard to close, so I doubt that's the reason.

You are correct it has nothing to do with pressure. There is not enough air moved to even register on a meter. It is just to prevent the glass from smacking full force against the seal.

[Packofcrows]

Originally Posted by NOHOME

It is a useless function. If you live in a climate where it snows, it will eventually jam and leave your window down a bit on a snowy night.

I will never buy another car with this feature unless I move south.

Try some side window visors/guards? Some rain repellent may help.

Originally Posted by NOHOME

Wind noise is terrible in my car regardless.

Did you test drive it before you bought it? Driving from one parking space to another does not 'justify' or count for that matter as 'test drive.'

Originally Posted by joe strummer

I've owned/currently own seven Toyota vehicles, and perhaps 20 cars/trucks total, and this is the first with this feature. None had doors that were hard to close, so I doubt that's the reason.

I agree. IMHO, I'm not engineer, this feature may be there so that the glass does not smack into the door at the top. Cars with the top frame don't have this. If I recall correctly, one of the latest Corvettes also shares this feature. Then again maybe this feature makes our vehicles cost $5k more?
@Tcoat, man you're everywhere. You also read minds now?

[Zhangy]

explained here at 4:05

[lupindub]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

You are correct it has nothing to do with pressure. There is not enough air moved to even register on a meter. It is just to prevent the glass from smacking full force against the seal.

I respect most of the advice you give but this just flat out seems wrong. I have seen dozens of frameless car doors that don't have this ridiculous auto scroll feature and the weather strip is completely fine. So is the window. Also as you suggested, the pressure build up theory is completely ridiculous. So i'm still left scratching my head why in the world Toyota decided to add this unnecessary-over engineered-POS feature on this car that in my experience, does only negative and no good as far as I can see.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by lupindub

I respect most of the advice you give but this just flat out seems wrong. I have seen dozens of frameless car doors that don't have this ridiculous auto scroll feature and the weather strip is completely fine. So is the window. Also as you suggested, the pressure build up theory is completely ridiculous. So i'm still left scratching my head why in the world Toyota decided to add this unnecessary-over engineered-POS feature on this car that in my experience, does only negative and no good as far as I can see.

Some place in the vehicle features write up from Toyota they explain that they have it to stop the window from hitting. I totally agree that it is gross overkill, over engineered and totally unrequiired but that does not negate the fact that that is why it is there. It is quickly becoming a standard feature on all frameless windows and it is a thing I for one could live without.
I have had at least 10 cars with frameless windows and some of them were 20 years or more old not one of them showed any damage to the seals from the windows closing against it.
The sound of them going up and down still freaks me out every single time it happens because in my classics that noise always mention the window had just jumped the track and I had a 2 hour project ahead of me.

[lupindub]

I'm curious how many of you guys had/have pinched weather strips from the window auto scrolling? Mine is currently pinched on my driver's side but as long as no water is getting in, i'm fine.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by lupindub

I'm curious how many of you guys had/have pinched weather strips from the window auto scrolling? Mine is currently pinched on my driver's side but as long as no water is getting in, i'm fine.

Mine is still pristine but I had both the TSBs done so that may have helped.

[cycleboy]

I always assumed it was so the pressure of closing the doors didn't make your ears want to pop. I've experienced that on other cars and it can get annoying. I'd think it could be worse on a small cabin like the 86.

Originally Posted by Fishbed77

On my Nissan Xterra (which is also a tightly-made car - even after 15 years!)

Congrats on your Xterra! Mine is about to turn 16 in Sept. and I still love her. Nissan is going to end the X after this year. That truck has been so good at hauling all my outdoor junk and taking us wherever we want to go. There hasn't been another truck created since then that has the same mix of inexpensive, go anywhere, rugged, and long lasting. I almost got an FJ to replace it, but didn't like the interior space comparatively. I've had a head gasket replaced and an oil leak fixed and the manifolds are prone to cracking (I just ignore them now), but she has 206K on the clock now and keeps rolling along. Took us to the eastern Sierra to backpack this summer.