How to Change Door Lock Actuator There are many reasons why you will need to replace your vehicle's door lock actuator. One reason is that one or more of your front doors will no longer work when you turn the door handles or use your key. Or you may want to replace your door lock actuator because you can no longer use your remote door key. If you need to replace the door key actuator that controls your power locks, you can do it yourself with a few easy steps. Disconnect your negative battery cable with an eight-millimeter wrench before you get started. Remove the two Phillips screws under or above the door handle and any other screws that are holding the door handle panel. Once the door handle panel comes off, the switches are still connected and need to be removed. Push in the thumb tabs to push out the switches that are connected to the door handle panel. Use your flat screwdriver to release the mirror switch from its clip. Do the same for all of the switches. The power switch may also have screws that you need to unscrew.

Use your screwdriver to unscrew them. Pop out the window switch. Once you do this, pop off the top and the bottom bezel with a flat screwdriver so the switch can go through the hole on the door handle panel. The door handle panel is now completely off. Remove the screws on the door panel itself and the side rear-view mirror panel using your Phillips screwdriver if it has Phillips screws. Push the door panel upward to slide the door panel off. Remove the plastic shield from the door gently. Use your flashlight to locate the door lock actuator, which is inside the left corner of your door. You may need to unscrew screws that are holding the actuator in place. Remove the old actuator. Some door lock actuators are held in place by a bracket. Use your flat screwdriver to push in the arm of the actuator to release it from the bracket, and remove the harness from the actuator if there is one attached. Attach the new actuator and replace any screws. Before reassembling the plastic shield and the door panel, it's important to test the actuator to make sure it is working properly by pressing your key's remote.

Once you confirm it is working, you can reassemble all of your pieces, including reattaching the negative battery cable, and you're done. Honda Tech: Accord D.S. Lock Actuator - Microswitch Repair/Reset? AcuraZine Community: How to Replace Front Power Lock Actuator How to Find an Actuator for a Bad Door Lock on a Honda Odyssey. A bad door lock actuator on a Honda... Find out how stepper motors work with help from an ASE-certified mechanic in this free video on car actuators. How to Replace a Honda Accord Door Lock Actuator. A bad door lock actuator on a Honda Odyssey can prevent the... How to Replace a Door Lock on a 2001 Jetta. ... the first thing you should do is change the door locks... The door locks on a Honda Civic are the same whether they are manually operated or power actuated. Late-model Honda Accord door lock actuators are integrated into the door latch mechanisms. How to Fix Power Lock Actuators Troubleshooting GM Door Lock Actuators

How to Replace a Power Door Lock Actuator on a Dodge Caravan Power Door Lock Actuator Removal: Ford Explorer Lift Gate Repair How to Troubleshoot Electric Door Locks How to Remove an XL-7 Lock ActuatorWhat is the Door Lock Relay all about? Power door locks used to be a luxury feature on vehicles, but they've become so mainstream that nearly every vehicle is now equipped with them. Mobile Home Movers In Ravenel ScThe lock’s function is to make securing your vehicle, as well as passengers, simple and easy. Homes For Sale Wilmington Nc ZillowInstead of reaching across the vehicle to lock or unlock the doors, it can be done by simply pressing a button. Craigslist Homes For Sale Huntington WvPressing the button completes a circuit, enabling the lock actuator to receive power which activates the locking mechanism to the desired position.

The circuit is routed through a door lock relay, which acts as a switch to direct the power to actuators on the door locks. When unlock is pressed, the door lock relay switches from a neutral position to activating a pulse of power to the unlock circuits on the actuators. When the lock button is pressed, a pulse of power is switched to the lock circuit of the actuator to lock the doors. When the relay for the door locks is not working properly or sticking, either the lock function, the unlock function, or both are inoperative. When service is performed on any electrical system, the battery should be disconnected to prevent accidental damage or injury. If the door lock relay needs to be replaced, it can be indicative of an underlying concern with the power door locks. Some vehicles equipped with remote keyless entry will find the key fob operates the driver’s door lock even while the door lock relay is defective. Test the operation of electric door locks. Test the fuse for that circuit.

Replace the faulty relay. Test for proper operation of electric door locks. If you are experiencing problems with your power door locks, have one of our expert technicians diagnose and repair the system. Relays and electrical systems can be complex, and a broken wire or door lock actuator problem can easily mimic the symptoms of a door lock relay and vice versa. What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Door Lock Relay? Power door locks don’t lock when you press the button, while the unlock feature works. Neither the lock nor unlock functions work. Power door locks are a convenience feature on your vehicle. If the power locks aren’t working, you can use the key to unlock your door and the locks can be manually operated as well. Have the power door lock system repaired at your convenience. Wiring can cause door lock problems, but switches and actuators are more common. © Summary: A quick common sense way of thinking about and pinpointing the most common door lock problems on many vehicles.

There are several things that can cause the power door locks not to work properly. The most common cause of a single door lock not to work, is a bad door lock actuator (also called a door lock solenoid or door lock motor). Another common problem or cause of door locks not working is simply a bad door lock switch. Many cars today have computers that are also in the loop when it comes to controlling the door locks. Fortunately, body computer systems are pretty dependable and give problems very seldom. It seems as though the most troublesome vehicles regarding door locks related to computer control issues, are Chrysler’s; Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country vans sometimes have BUS related issues (BUS means “a collection of wires through which data is transmitted from one computer to another”)… but this is still rare. Ford Explorers also have a few BUS issues that can be related to door lock security module, or wiring shorting out that goes from the door into the body.

Usually when checked with a scan tool in the body control or security section, there will be a code indicating if there’s a BUS fault. Problems can also include other failed parts that aren’t high-tech, like a linking rod connector. Sometimes the linkage can pop off during the process of a locksmith using a slim jim or someone using a hanger to unlock a door. It’s easy to hook onto a rod and disconnect a link. In this case it’s just a matter of removing the door panel and maybe adjusting the linkage and replacing the plastic rod retainer if it was weakened or broken. Door latches can wear, some have the door lock actuators built-in and others don’t, but a worn latch in either case can cause problems. If there is too much play or excess movement, the door lock may not work dependably. When replacing door lock actuators, a lot of times they are only available as an assembly including both the door latch and actuator as a unit. It depends on the make and model how they are which design they have.

First think about the problem logically. 1. If there is only ONE door lock not working, the problem is more than likely isolated within that particular door, barring some unusual wiring issue. 2. If all the door locks work with the passenger side door lock switch, but not the driver’s door lock switch; then the problem is likely the driver’s switch. 3. If a single door lock only works in one direction, either to lock or unlock but not both, then the problem is likely to be the door lock actuator. 4. If ALL door locks work only in one direction, either to lock or unlock but not both, then the problem is likely to be a bad door lock switch. Question – I have a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the right rear door lock makes a loud buzzing sound when I try to unlock the door. Can you suggest what the problem could be? Answer – This is a common symptom of an actuator that has gone bad. It could be the gears inside that are worn not meshing properly, although the exact cause of failure doesn’t really matter since the part is replaced as a unit and not taken apart and repaired.

Question– After replacing an exterior door handle on my Mercury Mountaineer, the door locks will not work properly. The locks worked before, what could be the problem? Answer – Since the door locks worked before the door handle was replaced, the problem most likely is the link adjustment from the handle to the door lock actuator. If the adjustment is too tight or too loose, it will not work properly. A little free movement of the handle should be felt if the adjustment is correct. It’s best to notice where the positioning is on the threaded part of the rod prior to taking it apart, then check the door lock operation before putting the interior door panel back on. Question – On my 2003 Ford Explorer, the power door locks go on and off while driving down the road. The door ajar warning comes on the dash and chimes, what could be the problem? Answer – It’s possible that one of the door ajar switches located in a door latch could be going bad. Another possibility is a wire that goes from the door through the body could be shorting sometimes (see the picture at the top).