Part 4 of 6: Repairing the door lock actuator
- Use a razor blade to open up the actuator. Start on the corner by slicing your razor through the seam. ...
- Remove the electric motor from the actuator. Pry up on the gear and pull it out. ...
- Take apart the motor. Using a sharp pry tool, pry out the metal tabs that hold the plastic backing in place. ...
- Clean and reassemble the motor. Use electrical parts cleaner to spray off old grease that has built up on the brushes. ...
- Test the motor. Place your test leads on the motor contact points and connect the leads to a nine-volt battery to check the motor operation.
- Reinstall the motor and gears. Place the parts in reverse order from that in which you took them out. ...
How do you replace a door lock actuator?
how to install fuel door actuator......
- bdotfer. And if i can.....how and where do i remove it?
- Rajaie. Here is something I wrote for the E39. ...
- jdelsesto. Thanks a ton for this post. ...
- ctxspy. It helped me to diagnose my 1999 528i's non-responsive key fobs. ...
- poppenhe. Wow.. ...
- Alex7003. It was great posts, it took me about ten minutes to replace the actuator. ...
- 45carspat. ...
- Alex7003. ...
- Woolshire. ...
- rolltide78. ...
How to replace the door lock?
What to Do
- Check if the lock needs cleaning or repairing Before you start dislodging the lock, check first if it needs to be replaced or cleaned only. ...
- Remove the lock’s handle by unscrewing the screws and get the measurements of the lock To purchase the right lock for your sliding door, you need to remove ...
- Install the new lock
How to replace door actuator?
Steps to replace the Ford blend door actuator
- Purchase the right spare part and tools. You need an OEM replacement actuator and a toolset that features screwdrivers, a ratchet handle, and a 5.5mm socket for Ford ...
- Safety precautions. It is recommended that your car battery could be disconnected before removing or replacing the blend door actuators.
- Locate the old actuator. ...
How to disable the automatic door lock?
use PA Soft 1.4 to set the door to not autolock. They are probably set to autolock after vehicle startup, this can be disabled. I have a 2002 525i with the auto door lock feature turned OFF. I had to replace my GMIII module from a donor vehicle and then had to reprogram my keys. When complete, the auto door lock "feature" was turned ON!
Can a door lock actuator be repaired?
The actuator mechanism operates using a motor and gears working in sync. So, when there is a problem with the motor, it may cause the gears to make an abnormally loud sound. The door lock actuator needs to be replaced or repaired.
How do you troubleshoot a door lock actuator?
Door Lock Actuator TroubleshootingPut on your safety glasses.Remove the door panel to access the door lock actuator.Visually inspect the actuator to ensure it's mounted properly and the linkage is not binding. ... Remove the actuator connector.Set your meter to the 20 volts DC scale.More items...•
How do you take apart a door lock actuator?
0:299:09How To REPAIR A Door Lock Actuator Motor -LOW COST WAY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere just take your flat-headed screwdriver and pry the little trim piece out. Take the screw. Out.MoreThere just take your flat-headed screwdriver and pry the little trim piece out. Take the screw. Out.
What causes door actuators to fail?
(If there is no voltage, the problem is separate and electrical). There are several factors that can cause a door lock actuator to fail. One is corrosion. Over time, moisture, oil, dust, and debris can enter the actuator or the mechanical links.
How do you test an actuator?
To test a linear actuator's current draw, simply connect a multimeter in series with one of the leads of a powered linear actuator, and watch the amperage reading as you extend/retract the rod. Based on the reading, you can determine a power supply that will be able to handle that current draw.
How do I know if my door lock switch is bad?
Usually a bad or faulty door lock switch will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential problem.Door lock functions intermittently. ... Broken door lock button or rocker. ... Door locks do not function.
How long do door actuators last?
There's no telling how long a blend door actuator will last since carmakers don't really specify their lifespan. However, it should last the car's lifetime and it's one of those car parts that rarely goes wrong.
How much does a new actuator cost?
The average cost to replace an AC actuator in a vehicle is about $350. This cost is inclusive of the prices of both labor and parts, where labor costs an average of $220, and parts cost an average of $130.
How much is a door actuator?
Answer provided by. Luckily, this repair isn't too expensive or complicated! The average car actuator replacement cost is $300, depending, of course, upon your car's make and model. In most cases, a mechanic will remove the malfunctioning actuator and replace it with a functioning one.
Is there a fuse for door locks?
There are three primary components of the power door lock system that can fail, resulting in a useless power door lock: Blown fuse: A fuse is a low resistance resistor that creates overcurrent protection.
Why my automatic door locks stopped working?
Possible Causes There are many issues that can cause your power locks to stop working: Your key fob is faulty or has a dead battery. Sometimes the answer is in your hand! Many people stress about the functionality of their doors not realizing the only issue was the key fob.
Can a faulty door lock actuator drain battery?
The door lock actuator has a battery drain. The lock rods are pushed up and down by the auto door locks. The battery runs down when the interior lights stay on longer than normal. ... It's a bad actuator if it doesn't work 100 percent of the time.
Is there a fuse for power door locks?
1:122:43POWER DOOR LOCKS FUSE LOCATION (2008 - 2016) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst and main fuse to check will be fuse number 38. Which is a 25 amp fuse responsible for theMoreFirst and main fuse to check will be fuse number 38. Which is a 25 amp fuse responsible for the power to the door lock unlock motors in all of the doors.
Where is the door lock solenoid located?
It is bolted to the inside of the door frame by the door latch. Remove the electrical plug that supplies power to the actuator. It should come out by hand.
Why is my car door lock not working?
If the battery dies, the fob chip loses power and will not open or close your car doors. To avoid such frustrations, ensure you are stocked with spare batteries or a backup key. Another major issue in the key fob is misaligned buttons and broken contacts. You can open the key fob to check if it has any issues.
How long do door actuators last?
There's no telling how long a blend door actuator will last since carmakers don't really specify their lifespan. However, it should last the car's lifetime and it's one of those car parts that rarely goes wrong.
How to unlock a car door with a lock actuator?
There are a number of ways that you can unlock car doors that have door lock actuators, including: Using a key. Pressing the unlock button inside the car. Using the combination lock on the outside of the door.
What happens when the actuator moves the door latch up?
When the actuator moves the latch up, it connects the outside door handle to the opening mechanism. When the latch is down, the outside door handle is disconnected from the mechanism so that it cannot be opened. This makes the outside handle move without moving the latch, preventing the door from opening.
Why does my door lock actuator make a noise?
In some cars, a door lock actuator becomes noisy and produces a squeaking or buzzing noise when the power door locks are locked or unlocked.
How to open actuator?
Step 1: Use a razor blade to open up the actuator. Start on the corner by slicing your razor through the seam. Warning: Be very careful not to injure yourself with the sharp razor blade. Position the actuator on a solid surface and tap the blade with the hammer until it gets in pretty deep.
Can a door lock actuator lock but not unlock?
In some cars, a failed door lock actuator may lock but won’t unlock, or the other way around. In most cases, the problem with a door lock actuator is limited to only one door. In some vehicles, the cable that connects the door lock actuator to the inner door handle may be built into the actuator assembly.
What is a door lock actuator?
Each door has its own actuator. They can fail completely, where they don’t lock or unlock the door but don’t make any noise, or they can fail partially.
Why does my door lock actuator erratically operate?
Erratic operation can also be caused by a frayed wiring harness in the door hinge area or inside the actuator itself. Another symptom of a potential problem with the power door lock actuators are door locks that behave erratically.
What to do if you don't see the voltage toggle?
If you don’t see the voltage toggle, work backwards to the switch to isolate the problem.
What happens if the rubber bumper breaks?
If the rubber bumper breaks or fails in any way, the controller won’t be able to tell when the lock has finished its travel. In some cases the controller interprets the lack of current spike as a sign of a problem, causing the door lock actuator to lock and then immediately unlock.
Do late model vehicles have actuators?
Late model vehicles have the actuator built into the door latch assembly, forcing you to replace the entire latch. Older vehicles usually have a separate actuator. The actuator can be located away from the latch and operate the latch via linkage, or it can be attached to the latch by plastic clips or screws.
Why is my door lock not unlocking?
If your electronic door locks aren't unlocking when you hit the remote button or the door lock switch, it may be your remote. If you still have problems after swapping the battery, then it's likely the door lock actuators. This is a massive annoyance on vehicles around a decade old, and it will only get worse over time until you end up manually ...
How to remove a door panel on a car?
1. With the windows rolled up, disconnect the battery. 2. Remove interior door trim. Depending on what you drive, you may need a door-panel-pulling tool that's specific to your vehicle; be very gentle because you don't want to break any connectors or end up with any missing parts or a rattle after the job's completed.
What are the weak spots on electric locks?
While electric locks are convenient, their weak spots are the remote battery, and the solenoid and plastic gears inside the lock actuators. Think of an older vehicle that you may have had where the door panels, plastic trim, and dashboard were dried and degraded.
Where to find bolts and screws on a door?
Start at the inner door handle bez el and look for bolts or screws holding the trim to the door frame. Another common location for bolts and screws is in the bottom of cup holders and door handle pulls, behind mirror or speaker trim plates, and the bottom edge of the door trim. 4.
Can you hear a clunk when you unlock a door?
After pressing the unlock button and hearing the expected “click," the door remains locked. In some cases you might hear a loud "clunk" that's not normal, but the doors still don't unlock. The remote did its job and the lock tried, but you're still locked out.
Can a rapid sequence of unlock/lock/unlock get the door unlocked?
Sometimes a rapid sequence of unlock/lock/unlock will get the door unlocked, but this will only work for a while. The symptoms will get worse. A quick test can be performed from the driver's seat by using the electric lock button.
What is a door lock actuator?
As you might imagine, a door lock actuator plays a vital role in your ability to lock and unlock the doors to your vehicle. If a door lock actuator ever goes bad, it could make it difficult, if not impossible, to lock and unlock a car door. It’s why it’s going to be so important for you to pay the door lock actuator replacement cost in ...
How much does it cost to replace a door lock actuator?
But the parts that are necessary to replace a door lock actuator can cost over $200 in some cases. It’s what makes door lock actuator replacement on the costly side.
How many times do you lock and unlock your car?
Depending on how much time you spend driving your car around, you might do it more than a dozen times each day. And that can really take a toll on your door lock actuators over time. When you’re constantly locking and unlocking your car doors, ...
Can you drive around with a bad door lock actuator?
But one piece of good news is that if you absolutely have to drive around with a bad door lock actuator, it’s not going to put you or your fellow passengers into any danger. You can manually lock and unlock a car door with a bad door lock actuator in it and not have to be too concerned about it causing any issues.
Can a door actuator go bad?
When a door lock actuator goes bad in your car, it’s usually not too hard to tell that it needs to be replaced. You’ll find that a door in your car won’t lock and unlock like normal when you have a bad door lock actuator on your hands.
Do you have to worry about putting a door lock actuator in place?
You might not ever have to worry about putting a new door lock actuator into place. At the end of the day, it really all depends on how often you use your door lock actuators, what type of car you have, and how well you maintain your car as a whole.
Do door actuators wear out?
And that can really take a toll on your door lock actuators over time. When you’re constantly locking and unlocking your car doors, it’s eventually going to wear your door lock actuators out and put you in a position where you need to replace them.
