--- title: "What should you do when your car window falls inside the door?" url: "https://maviautoglass.com/blog/what-should-you-do-when-your-car-window-falls-inside-the-door/" description: "What to do when a car window falls inside the door, why it happens, whether the same glass can go back and what the repair involves" content_signal: ai-train=yes, search=yes, ai-input=yes --- # What should you do when your car window falls inside the door? What to do when a car window falls inside the door, why it happens, whether the same glass can go back and what the repair involves When a car window falls inside the door, the glass has usually come loose from the window regulator, the mechanism that raises and lowers it. Common causes are broken clips that hold the glass to the regulator and a regulator cable that has stretched or snapped. Parts maker Dorman, for example, describes a cable-type regulator that can fail when the cable stretches and binds, after which the window can fall into the door or get stuck. Stop pressing the window switch, cover the opening and have the door inspected, because the glass has to be reattached and aligned and the regulator may need to be replaced. A dropped window is different from a window that is simply slow or stuck: the glass is loose inside the door and can be damaged further if the mechanism keeps running. This guide is written by Mavi Auto Glass, a locally owned, 100% mobile auto glass company based in Roseville that repairs window regulators and replaces door glass across Sacramento, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove and the rest of Greater Sacramento. It explains what to do right away, why it happens and what the repair involves. ## What should you do right after the window falls into the door? Protect the car and avoid making the damage worse. Do this in 5 steps. - **Stop using the switch:** pressing it again can run the mechanism against loose glass. - **Keep your hands out of the door:** loose glass and the regulator parts inside can cut or pinch. - **Cover the opening:** tape clear, heavy plastic over the window frame to keep out rain and dust. - **Secure the car:** remove valuables and park in a garage or a busy, well-lit spot. - **Note what you heard:** a snap, a grinding sound or a motor that keeps running helps the technician. For more on the temporary cover, see [how to cover a broken car window until it is replaced](https://maviautoglass.com/blog/how-do-you-cover-a-broken-car-window-until-it-is-replaced/). ## Why does a car window fall inside the door? Because something between the glass and the regulator gave way. The table lists the usual causes and what each one tends to look like. CauseWhat you may noticeWhat the repair usually involvesBroken clips holding the glassThe glass drops while the motor still runsReattaching the glass, sometimes with new clips or a new regulatorStretched or snapped regulator cableA snap, then the glass drops or bindsReplacing the regulatorRegulator damaged by broken glassThe window fails after the glass shatteredNew door glass and a new regulatorFailed motor or electrical faultNo sound, or the window stopped before droppingInspection of the motor, switch and wiring Symptoms alone do not confirm which part failed. The inspection checks the regulator, the motor, the switch and the wiring to find the cause before any part is replaced. ## Can the same glass be put back? Often, yes, if the glass did not break when it fell. When the glass is intact, it can usually be reattached to a repaired or new regulator. Dorman sells window glass clips for some vehicles and says they restore proper up and down operation without replacing the entire regulator ([Dorman](https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-32305-38480.aspx)). If the glass broke inside the door, it is replaced, and the regulator is checked at the same time. Mavi Auto Glass replaces door glass and a failed regulator in the same visit when the correct parts are available, as explained in [whether door glass and a regulator can be fixed in the same visit](https://maviautoglass.com/blog/can-door-glass-and-a-window-regulator-be-fixed-in-the-same-visit/). ## What should you send before the appointment? Send the details that help bring the right parts on the first visit. - Year, make, model and VIN - Which door: front or rear, driver or passenger side - Whether the glass is intact or broken inside the door - What you heard when it dropped - Whether the motor still makes a sound when you press the switch Learn more on the [window regulator repair](/service/window-regulator-repair/) and [door glass replacement](/service/door-glass-replacement/) pages. Window regulator parts, motors and electrical components follow the specific warranty disclosed at the time of the estimate. ## Getting ready for the repair Keep the opening covered and leave the switch on that door alone. Empty the door pocket and the seat next to the door so the technician can reach the door panel. Send the vehicle details and a short description of what happened, and ask for the warranty terms for the regulator and the glass in the estimate.