passenger side door lock actuator issue

**x2xtreme360** · 05-12-2011, 01:12 PM

Recently, my passenger side door would lock just fine, but stopped unlocking. If I held the door switch (driver or passenger) in the unlock position, the motor would just make a humming noise, like it was spinning but not engaging. I took the door panel off today to check it out. Held the unlock button down, the motor starting making an awful grinding noise, and then voila, the door unlocked.

Is the actuator a gear driven motor? It sounds like the motor free spins when in the unlocked position and then it finally "catches". Lock ALWAYS works, never have a problem with it.

**DocWalt** · 05-12-2011, 01:48 PM

There's probably a stripped gear inside. It's possible to take it apart and confirm that.

**x2xtreme360** · 05-12-2011, 03:43 PM

That's the answer I was hoping to get. Just found the testing procedure in the manual, looks pretty straight forward. I'll do this tomorrow. Thanks.

**speedy25** · 05-13-2011, 04:51 PM

Mine has a sillier problem- When the key is used to unlock the door it ulocks and relocks until the door is opened. It does it ONLY when using the key in the passenger door and works properly in all other scenarios. Any ideas?

-SP

**x2xtreme360** · 05-18-2011, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by speedy25

Mine has a sillier problem- When the key is used to unlock the door it ulocks and relocks until the door is opened. It does it ONLY when using the key in the passenger door and works properly in all other scenarios. Any ideas?

-SP

My issue is that the motor doesn't engage when unlocking.

I had a chance to get it out and open it up today, and lo and behold, I canNOT get it to do the issue

Just my luck.

I did have a chance to see how the motor works though. And no matter what I did, the motor engaged correctly every time.

I guess I'll put it back in and see if it does it again. At least the phillips heads have been out so if I need to remove it again it wont be such a PITA with vice grips

**Gearheadvr4** · 05-20-2011, 01:45 AM

The problem you guys have is actually related. It's the same switch box. The gear can strip and also not lock unlock properly.

Btw the screws are #3 Phillips. Could have been partially the trouble with removal since a #2 will be a pain to use.

I posted a guide on this not long ago.

**DocWalt** · 05-20-2011, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Gearheadvr4

The problem you guys have is actually related. It's the same switch box. The gear can strip and also not lock unlock properly.

Btw the screws are #3 Phillips. Could have been partially the trouble with removal since a #2 will be a pain to use.

I posted a guide on this not long ago.

I couldn't find it, but I didn't exactly spend a lot of time. Link it up

**x2xtreme360** · 05-21-2011, 02:32 AM

Originally Posted by Gearheadvr4

The problem you guys have is actually related. It's the same switch box. The gear can strip and also not lock unlock properly.

Btw the screws are #3 Phillips. Could have been partially the trouble with removal since a #2 will be a pain to use.

I posted a guide on this not long ago.

That's the thing. All the gears inside my actuator appear perfectly fine. All teeth are there, it's like the actuator arm sometimes doesn't grab the big gear in the middle and just sits there and spins.

Idk, so far it's been working since I reinstalled it. Not really sure what's going on with it.

And btw, my issue wasn't the screws. It was the fact that I didn't have an offset screwdriver and nothing would fit in the door to get them loose

**Gearheadvr4** · 05-21-2011, 04:48 AM

Here is the guide, I plan to add more detail and some troubleshooting tips.

I had hoped Alan would add it to the how to section since this issue is common and annoying.

I used a small socket wrench and a 1/4 socket and #3 bit. Worked OK but an offset would have been smoother.