Driver Door Locking (unlocking really) Issue

Oh Tacomaworld, I use to live here. Now i feel dirty asking for help when I rarely find myself surfing and contributing like I use to. ("contribute" is a questionable word choice haha).. The college bachelor days full of free time are long behind me though!

Ive read every thread I can. Not trying to make a new one when there's others that have answered the question, but i think I have a very specific problem Im trying to solve.

2007 4 door TRD Off Road.

The driver door is giving me a fit.

My driver door, about once out of every 20 locks will not unlock for anything. Not with the key, not with the manual lock inside. Not with me crawling in from the passenger side and cycling back and forth between electronic lock-then-unlock and snatching the inside and/or outside handle. Ive tried everything. Eventually I get it. I'll just do some magic unknown combination, often by sitting in the driver seat with the window rolled down, cycling back and forth from lock to unlock, snatching the outside handle. Sometimes its a 2 minutes. Sometimes it's half a day of crawling in from the passenger side haha.

Ive ordered the door lock actuator online. So once i tear in to it, i may as well replace it even if its not the problem . It just seems like there's likely, or possibly a linkage issue as well. The other threads i read just have electronic issues when it's the actuator. Or at least i think that's how i understand it. My door locks just fine electronically. Every time. But it's when i want to unlock it that it give me fits, and manually attempting to unlock it helps none. I might add I destroyed my key fob years ago, so i only unlock the driver door with my key usually.

The only thing ive done so far is oil and grease everything i can access. Doesnt help.

Anyway, any input is appreciated. My fear is that I tear into this thing and nothing is wrong or looks wrong and i replace the actuator motor and the problem continues. Figured I cant be the first with this very specific issue.

TL;DR: DRIVER DOOR CHOOSES TO STAY LOCKED AND WONT UNLOCK WITHOUT HOURS OF EFFORT, SWEARING AND EMBARRASSMENT IN USUALLY A VERY PUBLIC PLACE.

Thanks all.

 

I might add.... The electronic locking and unlocking "noise" is all there. I hit the lock button - everything locks and makes a firm click/clunk noise on all doors. I hit the unlock button, everything unlocks with a nice loud unlocking noise. .... it's just when im having this issue, which is intermediate, the driver doors fails to follow orders. It sounds like it does... but there I am having to crawl in from the passenger side haha.

 

I don't have experience with this, but I would bet a box of Voodoo donuts that the problem is not the actuator motor. If you can't unlock it with the key or the flipper lever, it surely must be a mechanical problem and not an electric motor problem.

 

All I can offer is to remove the inner door panel and actually observe what is happening when you cycle the lock. Usually the manual function of using the key will work regardless of the motor function working.

I agree you have a strange issue that effects both.

 

I see once again we are on the same page!

 

Thanks to you both.. yeah i think it’s mechanical as well.. I got to snooping quickly last night and read up on the actuator replacement and heck, 6 bucks, I ordered one. Why not.. but further thought and reading has kind of led me to what you said. There’s very clearly a mechanical/linkage issue. Hoping tomorrow or within the upcoming week I can tear into it.. Again, my biggest worry is getting in there and finding no obvious problem. Cause it works 90 percent of the time. I’ll take pictures and update this thread. Thanks again. Further advise appreciated.

 

Good luck and keep us updated.

 

If it were me, I would pull the door panel off like, yesterday. If it fails completely, you'll be screwed trying to get the door panel of with the door closed. In case you need inspiration,...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yjhYKzE_yBg

 

I'm inspired. I think I'll pull mine off too.



Wait that didn't come out right.

 

I had a similar problem on my 07 except the motor inside the actuator failed. The door wouldn’t lock or unlock unless manually switched from inside. I’m not sure where you found an actuator for $6 because Toyota wanted over $100 for it! I initially just replaced the driver’s door, but two weeks later the back door did the same thing. Ended up replacing all four doors with new motors and all has been well. I can attach the link to the motors if all else fails. Hope this helps.

 

My initial research came from this thread and corresponding threads. Most members have luck replacing the 20mm flat shaft actuator motor. Which, if i need to go in that far, i'll replace as well. My rear driver door likely has this problem honestly. For years now. Rarely locks or unlocks electronically. But never have a problem manually like i do with the front door.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bad-door-lock-actuators.198658/

For some reason i want to go work on it NOW! ... very funny. . Ive changed out the speakers before, so im confident going in that far.
Im not too worried about getting in a bind. i'll just get some valuables out and live on the edge and leave it unlocked. Never far away from my truck, and not a lot of crime where I go. It NEVER has a problem unlocked. There's just something that's not disengaging when i want to unlock.

 

99% of the time its the 20mm flat shaft motor witch you can find online very cheap. My rear door was doing this and I bought the motor took it apart changed the motor and put it back in . But that’s were things went wrong for me. I re-assembled the actuator apparently wrong and when i closed the door to try it . It wouldn’t open from outside or inside. I ended up destroying the lock into two parts to get the door open just be careful.so i got one off Ebay already refurbished for $60 bucks popped it right in and everything works perfectly.and the seller offers a lifetime warranty if you return your old one. This is my luck trying to fix it for $10

 

I gotcha. . yeah that's my plan B right now. . . I couldn't work on it this weekend as i was traveling, but im hoping to this weekend. Again, really suspecting/hoping its an obvious linkage issue. . Well, i guess im not hoping it's linkage/mechanical, but it seems the most likely.

Im pretty mechanical and i have a good workspace and back up vehicle if things do go wrong haha. What you described is certainly my biggest fear!

 

Instead of closing the door to test after you fixed it try just keeping the door open and flick the door latch closed with your finger then check the function of it ,I hope this makes sense.

 

oh for sure! .... ive thought i might also make up a simple rig with a metal rod the same size as the one in the door frame for it to latch and lock/unlock to.

 

A phillips screwdriver works perfect for this.

 

nice, thanks... I will probably do just that. . I just want something the same size, and that I can remove if it gets stuck. That checks those boxes!