Replacement of a rear power window regulator assembly on a 2024 Model X Plaid. Note: the Model X rear doors are conventional hinged doors (not falcon-wing — those are the second-row doors); confirm which door is being serviced before ordering parts, as second-row falcon door regulators are a different assembly entirely.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear power window regulator assembly (with motor) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified rear regulator for 2024 Model X — confirm falcon-door vs. conventional rear door variant
• Door vapor barrier / butyl sealant (if existing barrier is damaged on removal) × 1 — OEM butyl rope sealant
• Replacement door panel clips (commonly damaged on removal) × 1 — OEM door card retention clips

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, and engage the parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with the key fob taken away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Open the frunk and disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery negative terminal (frunk location, similar to Model S). Isolate the terminal so it cannot spring back into contact.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. Confirm which rear door is being serviced. If it is a falcon-wing door, place the vehicle in Service Mode (via touchscreen) and disable the falcon door before beginning, then prop the door securely — do not rely on the door's own actuator to hold it open with 12V disconnected.
7. Before disconnecting 12V, raise the affected window fully and tape the glass to the door frame with painter's tape to prevent it from dropping during regulator service.
8. Lay out a clean work surface for the door card and fasteners; Model X interior trim is easily scuffed.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove interior door panel trim pieces
   Using a plastic trim tool, carefully pry off the inner door pull/switch bezel and any speaker grille trim. Disconnect the window switch harness and any tweeter/ambient lighting connectors as the trim lifts away. Work slowly along the perimeter — Model X uses a combination of plastic Christmas-tree clips and hidden fasteners.
   ⚠Do not pry against painted aluminum body panels — only against the door card itself.
2. 2

   Remove door card fasteners
   Locate and remove the Torx/Phillips fasteners hidden behind the trim pieces removed in Step 1, typically at the door pull pocket and lower edge. Retain all fasteners; some are different lengths and must return to their original locations.
3. 3

   Detach and remove the door card
   Lift the door card upward off the window belt-line, then tilt the bottom outward. Reach behind to disconnect any remaining harness connectors and the interior door release cable (rotate the cable retainer, then unhook the cable end). Set the door card aside on a padded surface.
4. 4

   Peel back the vapor barrier
   Carefully separate the plastic vapor barrier from the butyl sealant along the access opening. Peel back only as much as needed to access the regulator fasteners and motor connector. Preserve the butyl bead for reuse if possible.
5. 5

   Verify glass is secured
   Re-confirm the painter's tape on the outside of the door is firmly holding the window glass in the fully raised position. The glass will be unsupported once the regulator clamps are loosened.
6. 6

   Release glass from regulator carriers
   Through the access holes in the door inner panel, locate the regulator's glass clamp bolts (typically two). Loosen them just enough to release the glass from the carriers. Slide the glass up clear of the carriers if needed and re-tape it securely to the door frame.
7. 7

   Disconnect the window motor harness
   Unplug the electrical connector from the window regulator motor. Release any harness clips routing along the regulator rail.
8. 8

   Remove regulator mounting fasteners
   Remove the bolts/nuts securing the regulator assembly to the door inner panel. Support the regulator assembly with one hand as the last fastener comes out — the assembly is heavier than it looks due to the integrated motor.
   Torque spec

   Module Mounting Bolts8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Extract the regulator assembly
   Maneuver the regulator (with motor attached) out through the large service opening in the door inner panel. Note the orientation and any harness routing for reinstallation.
10. 10

    Compare and prepare the new regulator
    Lay the new regulator next to the old one to verify carrier spacing, motor orientation, and connector type match. Pre-route any harness pigtail before installation.
11. 11

    Install the new regulator
    Feed the new assembly into the door cavity in the same orientation as removal. Hand-start all mounting fasteners before torquing any of them, so the regulator can self-align to the door panel.
    Torque spec

    Module Mounting Bolts8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reconnect glass to carriers
    Lower the glass into the new regulator's carriers, align it square in the door frame, and tighten the glass clamp bolts to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual. Verify the glass is centered in the run channels and not cocked fore/aft.
13. 13

    Reconnect motor harness and test before closing up
    Plug the motor connector back in. Temporarily reconnect the 12V battery (observing the safety preamble in reverse), and cycle the window up and down several times using the switch to confirm smooth travel, no binding, and full seal at the top. Disconnect 12V again before reinstalling the vapor barrier.

Reassembly

1. Reseat the vapor barrier into the original butyl bead, adding fresh butyl sealant where the original is degraded. A complete seal is critical — a leaking barrier will cause water intrusion into the cabin and can damage door electronics.
2. Reconnect the interior door release cable to the handle mechanism and verify the retainer is fully seated.
3. Reconnect all door card harness connectors (window switch, speaker, tweeter, ambient lighting as equipped).
4. Hang the door card onto the belt-line first, then press the perimeter clips home with palm pressure — do not hammer.
5. Reinstall all door card fasteners in their original locations and reinstall the switch bezel and trim pieces.
6. Reconnect the 12V battery negative terminal and torque per spec.
7. If a falcon-wing door was serviced, exit Service Mode and allow the door to perform its self-calibration cycle as prompted by the touchscreen.

Verification

• Cycle the repaired window fully up and down at least five times. Travel should be smooth with no grinding, ticking, or hesitation.
• Re-initialize the auto up/down (express) function: hold the switch in the full down position for ~1 second after the glass bottoms, then hold it in the full up position for ~1 second after the glass tops out and the window reverses/seals. Procedure may vary — confirm by attempting a single-press auto-up afterward.
• Verify the pinch-protection / anti-trap function by lightly obstructing the closing window with a soft object (e.g. rolled towel) — the window must reverse on contact.
• Check the touchscreen for any door, window, or (if falcon door) door-system fault alerts. Tesla-specific door faults often require Toolbox/diagnostic software to fully clear — if a persistent alert remains, refer to a Tesla-certified technician.
• Spray-test the door seal area with low-pressure water and check inside the door card for leaks; the vapor barrier integrity is critical on Model X.
• While the door card is open is also a good time to confirm cabin air filter service interval (every 2 years, or every 3 years for HEPA/Bioweapon Defense-equipped Model X) — unrelated to this job but commonly deferred.

More procedures for this vehicle