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Honda Civic: How to Repair Window Track

Has the window on your Civic suddenly decided that it wants to go off on its own? This article will show you how to get your side window back on track.

By Tom Cavanagh - March 23, 2015

This article applies to the Honda Civic (1990-2000).

Whether your Civic's side window is controlled mechanically or electronically, it should still ride up evenly and fit snugly into the window's run channel. Having a window come off its track is not that incredibly rare a condition, given the number of times it's been raised, lowered, and bumped out of place when the door slams shut. Fortunately, it's fairly easy and quick to repair yourself.

Materials Required

  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Flat head screwdriver or putty knife (optional)
  • 10mm socket wrench
  • Needle nose pliers
  • White lithium grease (WD-40, Gunk, or Loctite)
  • Duct tape

Step 1 – Unscrew the door panel

  • Open the door and roll down the window.
  • If your Civic's model has a speaker located at the bottom of the door panel, gently pop it off its cover.
  • Then, remove the screws behind the door handle and at the bottom of the armrest well.
  • If you have power door locks or windows, make sure to unsnap the wiring harness from the back of each one.
  • If you have manual windows, push the panel toward the crank base to access the clip holding the crank to the winding mechanism.
  • Use the needle nose pliers to remove the clip.
Figure 1. Remove the screw behind the door handle.

Step 2 – Remove the door panel

  • Remove the three screws holding the speaker assembly to the frame.
  • Remove the speaker and molding assembly, making sure to disconnect the wiring harness.
  • Now, remove three screws from around the speaker assembly. These are the only screws holding the door panel to the frame.
  • Pull back on the door panel. You will hear the plastic clips popping loose from the frame.
  • Once the clips are off, gently lift the panel up and away from the door to reveal the moisture liner.
  • Figure 2. Remove the six screws surrounding the speaker.
  • Figure 3. Moisture liner behind the door panel.

Pro Tip

If you need to, carefully use a flat head screwdriver or putty knife to pry the bottom of the door panel off. Pry it enough to create space to grab onto the panel.

Step 3 – Remove the moisture liner

  • There is adhesive holding the moisture liner to the frame, so carefully peel it off.
  • When the liner is reapplied, you may have to secure it with some duct tape.
Figure 4. View of the glass slipping out of the vertical track.

Step 4 – Place window back onto the track

  • With the 10mm wrench, loosen the bolt holding the front track. This will allow you to move the window back and forth a little bit.
  • Do the same for the bolt near the rear of the door, which holds the other track.
  • Apply some grease to the rubber grooves of the track, as well as to the base of the window frame that scissors up and down. This will help keep the window from sticking in the future.
  • Jiggle the front of the window back into the front track. Make sure the window is first placed in the track at the rear of the door.
  • Lastly, tighten the front and rear bolts.
  • Figure 5. Loosen the front track bolt.
  • Figure 6. Loosen the rear track bolt.

Step 5 – Reassemble the door components

Reassemble the door in reverse order to the steps above.

  • Re-apply the liner. Use duct tape to hold it up, if necessary.
  • Screw the door panel back onto the frame.
  • Re-install the speakers and speaker harnesses.

Featured Video: How to Repair Window on Honda Civic

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