'01 Power Door Lock Grinding Noise

Recently, my 2001 has suddenly started to consistently make a really bad grinding noise in the driver's door when power locking. No forewarning sounds at all. It does not make the noise when unlocking, and it does lock the door. Any ideas? Is it overly complicated to remove the door panel and or any proprietory tools needed ? I am a relatively good shade tree mechanic but presently unemployed so I would like to D-I-Y the repair before it turns bad to worse.
Thanks !

 

Sounds like the door lock actuator is going bad. The whole job is real straight forward, and can be done in the driveway.

Remove door panel
Remove clips from door handle, lock rods, etc. (DO NOT BREAK ANY CLIPS)
Unplug actuator
Remove 3 screws from door latch, on outside of door
Remove latch, and repeat in reverse order for install

 

Thanks for the excellent advice kevhogaz. I'll give it a whirl.

 

It's the least I can do for a guy that lives where I was born! (El Cajon)
Just watch out for the sharp edges on the inside of the door, nobody wants stitches for X-mas!

 

Way cool. I grew up ( or at least tried to ) in La Mesa and went to Helix. When I first moved out from home I lived in El Cajon on Jamacha Rd. near Stony's Rock n Roll Market. South of Washington near the intersection of Gustavo. It was all hay trucks then before all the condos were built.

 

Oh man, now you're making me feel old. I lived over in Santee until I was 7 years old, or until about 1975 or so. We lived on Pebble Beach drive, and that's all I remember.

I've never even been back for a visit!

 

Hey all. I know this forum is a bit old but I’m having the same issue and am in need of a new part. Where’s a good place to look for it? And what is the name of the exact part. TIA