This is a strange one. My power windows don't work at all for about 5 minutes, then they work normally. Happens everytime. Anyone have a clue?

 

Where do you live? Is it extremely cold? I have heard of situations where the windows freeze due to extremely cold temperatures. Not likely, but without more info thats all that comes to mind.

 

Thanks Chandler, but it happens in all temps. You are right about the cold though. If it sits out in real cold temps, the windows won't go down sometimes.

 

I'm in AZ. My windows did that same thing before they broke. Time for new regulators. You'll find your window down soon. Better to not have the surprise on a rainy day.

 

To the OP: I assume you have an '04 by your screen name. I heard that the 2004 (new body style obviously) and some 2005 trucks have issues with the window regulators. I have heard horror stories about the cable in the regulator snapping, letting the window fall to the bottom of the door with no indications of failure.

I have a 2006. I have an issue when its cold with the driver's side window. It rolls up about 4 inches then creeps to a stop. If I keep holding the button down, I hear a click, then the motor shuts off. I think its like a circuit breaker to avoid burning out the window motor. If I wait about 10 seconds then try again, I can hear the motor straining to lift the window. A little "assistance" by lifting the front of the window and it closes completely. I did notice that I can rock the window forward and backward about 3/16". I found this TSB on the issue: https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/fulltext/show_article.php?tsb=07-2-6

Hope this helps!!!

 

I had one window go down. Seems that cable came off wheel for some reason (wheel wore out) and proceeded to break cable. Fix: Replace whole regulator (expensive!). Seems like it was over $100 installing it myself. Sure wished I could just buy a toy wheel and some wire cable from Home Depot or something. Was wondering if lubricating window guides would help prior to parts wearing out. Best of Luck.

 

2004 ford truck, always repacing the regulators. I have a window now waiting to get in the shop?

 

A more detailed description of the problem would help. Would 4 window regulators fail all at the same time then mysteriously fix themselves? Not very likely. What can cause problems at all 4 windows at the same time? How about the master control switch in the drivers door. That's where I would start. Power windows are a master/slave relationship with the driver door switch being the master and the other 3 being the slaves. The master can work without the slaves, but if the master doesn't supply power/ground to the slaves none of them will work. The master switch pod in the drivers door is your starting point with MOST power window problems.
As far as windows going down on their own or making noise it could be the regulator, but you will also find that Ford uses plastic planetary gears in the window motors. The motors are just fine, but the planetaries in the gear drive on the inside of the motor break into small pieces. I don't replace the motors because the new motors have plastic planetaries too. I take a 3/8ths" shoulder bolt and cut 3 sections from it 1/2" long. I take the motor apart and remove the plastic chunks and put the metal slugs I've made in their place(cost 5 cents for the bolt). Put the motor back together and button everything up. No problem and it lasts forever. You think they put plastic gears in there by mistake? Yeah, right.

 

Is only the right front window this time. Have had trouble with all of them, some fixed more than once. I'm impressed with your idea about re-building the motor?