98 ford explorer window goes half up, then make a grinding noise?

Can pull window and will go up.

Well (no offense) , but its a ford explorer most gas Fords are unreliable, but the answer too your problem is either something is jamming it so check bellow the window crevasse, and look for dirt grim, and aged oil clean with a rod and rinse it, this fixed my windsheild I hope it fixes yours.

The gears off the motor are stripped. Or you maybe lucky and the window is just binding up somewhere either way pull the panel and look.

Yep, you have a stripped gear. You need a new window regulator, the part is about $60, about $250 installed. You probably don't want to do this yourself, it's a messy and bloody job.

Likely there are four possibilities for the noise:

1. The motor has a device that prevents serious injuries if someone gets their head stuck in a window while it is being rolled up. That causes the motor to slip. This is accomplished in some modern cars by using springs and ratchet gears. Older cars used Teflon rollers (the rollers would break to relieve tension, and that would require rebuilding the window motor and replacement of the rollers). So, if excessive force is needed to close the window, it would stop and make a grinding noise. (This is the same symptom that you mentioned). It is possible that the window assembly (where the window slides) needs to be lubricated so the window could roll all the way up.

2. The motor has a gear on it, and it has to mesh with the gear on the regulator. If it is the wrong gear (wrong number of teeth, or not aligned), it will make a grinding noise and stop. It is possible that the gears are stripped, though they are usually pretty tough and that is not very likel.

3. The window regulator might be defective or in need of lubrication. It is not such a "bloody Job" (as Jerri said). The regulator is not very hard to put in (but be careful, it can cut you). Sometimes regulators have nylon rollers, and nylon wears out easily.

4. Leaves and dirt could jam the tracks of the regulator, or build up in the bottom of the window and prevent the regulator from moving when the window is halfway down. You might need to clean and lube it (perhaps use a vacuum cleaner or toothbrush?).