🔧 CR-V - Rear Window Regulator Replacement

The rear window regulator raises and lowers the rear door glass. On your CR-V, the regulator and motor are accessed by removing the rear door trim panel, carefully peeling back the vapor barrier, supporting the glass, and unbolting the regulator assembly.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours per rear door

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the rear window glass before removing the glass mounting bolts. The glass can drop suddenly.
• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable after positioning the glass.
• ⚠️ Wear gloves because the inside of the rear door has sharp metal edges.
• ⚠️ Keep fingers away from the regulator tracks and cable drum during testing.
• ⚠️ Do not tear the vapor barrier. It prevents water from entering the cabin.
• ⚠️ If working on the left rear door, keep the fuel door area clear and do not pinch wiring near the rear body harness.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 10mm wrench
• 10mm socket
• 1/4-inch drive ratchet
• 1/4-inch drive extension 6-inch
• Phillips #2 screwdriver
• Flat-blade screwdriver 1/4-inch
• Plastic trim removal tool set
• Panel clip removal pliers
• Needle-nose pliers 6-inch
• Pick tool 90-degree
• Torque wrench 20-200 in-lbs
• Painter's tape 1-inch
• Suction cup glass holder 4-inch
• Shop towel
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear window regulator with motor - Qty: 1 per door
• Rear door trim panel clips - Qty: As needed
• Butyl sealing tape - Qty: 1 roll

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your CR-V on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• 🔽 Turn the ignition ON and lower the affected rear window until the glass mounting bolts line up with the access holes in the door.
• 🔋 Turn ignition OFF, then use a 10mm wrench to disconnect the negative battery cable.
• 📌 A window regulator is the cable-and-track assembly that moves the glass up and down.
• 📌 A vapor barrier is the plastic sheet behind the door panel that keeps rainwater out of the interior.
• 📌 If the window will not move, tape and support the glass in its current position before loosening anything.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Protect The Rear Door Trim

• Use painter's tape 1-inch around the switch panel and inner handle trim to reduce scratch risk.
• Place a shop towel below the rear door to catch small screws and clips.

Step 2: Remove The Rear Door Handle Screw

• Use a plastic trim removal tool set or taped flat-blade screwdriver 1/4-inch to open the small screw cover behind the inside door handle.
• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to remove the screw behind the cover.

Step 3: Remove The Rear Door Pull Screw

• Use a plastic trim removal tool set to lift the cover inside the rear door pull pocket.
• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to remove the screw inside the pull pocket.

Step 4: Remove The Rear Window Switch Panel

• Use a plastic trim removal tool set to gently pry up the rear window switch panel.
• Lift it only enough to access the connector.
• Press the connector release tab by hand and unplug the switch.
• Set the switch panel on a clean shop towel.
• Do not pry with metal if avoidable.

Step 5: Release The Rear Door Panel Clips

• Start at the lower rear corner of the door panel.
• Use panel clip removal pliers or a plastic trim removal tool set to pop the clips loose.
• Work across the bottom edge first, then up the sides.
• Do not pull the top edge straight outward because it hooks over the window ledge.

Step 6: Remove The Rear Door Panel

• Lift the rear door panel straight upward to unhook it from the window ledge.
• Use needle-nose pliers 6-inch to release the inner handle cable retainers if needed.
• Unplug any remaining connector by pressing the release tab by hand.
• Place the trim panel on a clean shop towel.

Step 7: Peel Back The Vapor Barrier

• Use a plastic trim removal tool set to slowly peel the vapor barrier away from the black butyl sealer.
• Use a pick tool 90-degree to separate stubborn sticky spots without tearing the plastic.
• Peel back only enough to access the regulator, motor connector, and glass bolts.
• Keep the sticky sealer clean.

Step 8: Support The Rear Window Glass

• Attach a suction cup glass holder 4-inch to the rear window glass.
• Use painter's tape 1-inch to tape the glass to the upper door frame on both sides of the glass.
• If the regulator cable is broken, keep one hand on the glass while taping because it may be loose.

Step 9: Remove The Glass Mounting Bolts

• Locate the rear glass mounting bolts through the door access holes.
• Use a 10mm socket, 1/4-inch drive ratchet, and 1/4-inch drive extension 6-inch to remove the glass mounting bolts.
• Slide the glass fully upward by hand.
• Secure the glass at the top with more painter's tape 1-inch.

Step 10: Unplug The Rear Window Motor

• Find the electrical connector on the rear window motor.
• Press the connector release tab by hand and unplug it.
• If the connector is stuck, use a flat-blade screwdriver 1/4-inch only on the locking tab.

Step 11: Remove The Regulator And Motor Bolts

• Use a 10mm socket, 1/4-inch drive ratchet, and 1/4-inch drive extension 6-inch to remove the rear regulator mounting bolts.
• Use the same 10mm socket to remove the rear motor mounting bolts.
• Support the regulator with one hand while removing the final bolt.

Step 12: Remove The Old Rear Regulator

• Turn the regulator slightly inside the door to clear the access opening.
• Remove the regulator and motor assembly through the large opening in the inner door shell.
• Use needle-nose pliers 6-inch to release any wire harness clips from the old assembly.

Step 13: Install The New Rear Regulator

• Feed the new rear regulator with motor into the door through the access opening.
• Align the regulator and motor bolt holes.
• Start every bolt by hand first so the threads do not cross.
• Use a 10mm socket, 1/4-inch drive ratchet, and 1/4-inch drive extension 6-inch to snug the bolts.
• Use a torque wrench 20-200 in-lbs with a 10mm socket to tighten the regulator and motor bolts.
• Torque to 9 Nm (80 in-lbs).

Step 14: Reconnect And Position The Regulator

• Reconnect the rear window motor connector by hand until it clicks.
• Use a 10mm wrench to temporarily reconnect the negative battery cable.
• Reconnect the rear window switch panel connector by hand.
• Turn ignition ON and tap the switch to align the regulator glass clamps with the glass bolt holes.
• Turn ignition OFF before reaching into the door.

Step 15: Attach The Glass To The Regulator

• Remove enough painter's tape 1-inch to carefully lower the glass by hand onto the regulator clamps.
• Install the glass mounting bolts by hand.
• Use a 10mm socket and 1/4-inch drive ratchet to snug the bolts.
• Use a torque wrench 20-200 in-lbs with a 10mm socket to tighten the glass mounting bolts.
• Torque to 8 Nm (71 in-lbs).

Step 16: Test Before Reassembly

• Turn ignition ON.
• Use the rear window switch to move the glass fully down and fully up.
• Use the driver master switch to test the same rear window.
• Watch that the glass stays straight in the front and rear channels.
• If the glass binds, loosen the glass bolts with a 10mm socket, center the glass by hand, and retighten to 8 Nm (71 in-lbs).
• Turn ignition OFF.
• Use a 10mm wrench to disconnect the negative battery cable again before closing the door panel.

Step 17: Reseal The Vapor Barrier

• Press the vapor barrier back into the original butyl sealer by hand.
• Add butyl sealing tape anywhere the sealer is missing or no longer sticky.
• Seal the bottom edge carefully because water drains through the inside of the door.

Step 18: Reinstall The Rear Door Panel

• Reconnect the inner handle cable retainers using needle-nose pliers 6-inch if removed.
• Reconnect any electrical connectors by hand.
• Hook the top of the rear door panel over the window ledge.
• Line up the clips and press around the edges until each clip snaps in.
• Replace broken clips with rear door trim panel clips.

Step 19: Reinstall The Switch Panel, Screws, And Covers

• Reconnect the rear window switch connector by hand.
• Press the switch panel back into place by hand.
• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to reinstall the inner handle screw.
• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to reinstall the door pull screw.
• Snap the screw covers closed by hand.

Step 20: Reconnect The Battery

• Use a 10mm wrench to reconnect the negative battery cable.
• Torque to 5 Nm (44 in-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Test the repaired rear window from the rear door switch.
• ✅ Test the repaired rear window from the driver master switch.
• ✅ Check the rear window lock button on the driver switch panel.
• ✅ Relearn auto function if equipped: fully lower the window, hold the switch down for 2 seconds, fully raise it, then hold the switch up for 2 seconds.
• ✅ Confirm the rear door lock, speaker, and courtesy light work.
• ✅ After rain or washing, check the rear floor carpet for water leaks.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $325-$600 per rear door (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $80-$240 per rear door (parts only)

You Save: $245-$360 per rear door by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours per rear door.

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