Door lock actuator

I have a 2009 trd sport tacoma. Both front door lock actuator went bad, according to toyota dealer. Anyone have this problem? Cost $1000 to.fix at dealer. Any help appreciated.

 

If you're mechanically inclined, check out this thread for a fix (it's about 1/2 way down the page).

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/198658-bad-door-lock-actuators.html

I just did this fix last weekend and my 'dead' locks are working good as new. The issue is the little motor gets gunked up and no longer has the power to drive. If you tear into the actuator assembly, clean the motor's contact points and reassemble, it's good as new.

If you'd rather replace the whole actuator, I believe you can buy them for $225/ea but then you'll be doing the install yourself (it's not hard to do, just takes some patience to work the actuator in there). $1,000 is outrageous and your dealership is screwing you big time. It's about $450 - $500 in parts and shouldn't take a mechanic more than 30 minutes to install (I base this on it not taking me that long to do mine and i'm not a mechanic).

 

Today I finally decided it was time to start working on my drivers door of my 2006 Taco, I started around 1:30 and got the actuator out. After messing around with the stupid clips I finally got it in two pieces. I pulled the little motor out and cleaned up all the black carbon off of the shaft. I thought I put it back together correctly and everything seemed to be running smoothly until I put the door panel and everything back on. The actuator now made a noise which it would never do before but if would not lock the door, then I tried the key which I always used to lock my door. That failed as well, so I took everything apart and tried to figure out what was wrong I opened the actuator again and couldn't find anything wrong with it. So I put it back together and made sure all the rods were in the right place, after adjusting one rod everything still didn't work. I called all the local auto parts stores (O'Rileys, Napa, Autozone, Pepboys) and no one seems to carry a drivers door actuator. So i decided to call a local Toyota dealerships, which quoted me $340 and the guy said he would work me a deal and give it to me for $280. I decided to call another dealership and they told me $315. after hearing these outrageous prices I tore everything apart and tried one more time, I found one little plastic piece in the actuator that was causing everything to fail. I put everything back together and now after almost 5 hours everything is working just fine. And it cost me nothing but a few hours of work. Now I'm done ranting.

Hope anyone else who has this problem tears apart the actuator before taking it to the stealerships

 

I hear you on that one Cody. The first time I tore apart the actuator, I didn't see where things went and I assembled it incorrectly. I finally got it put together right, and then installed it wrong (didn't get the top part for the lock to line up with the actuator). Third time was a charm and it's not back in and working perfectly

I think you can buy that actuator through Camelback Toyota for around $225 ish (I'd have to double check to confirm the price).

 

Thanks you for this thread. It saved me hundreds of dollars. I am mechanically inclined and found the whole process (except for bending the pins holding the back of the electric motor) very easy. I fixed both front door actuators in about 2.5 hours. I took my time and was careful when oulling apart the door panels and unhooking the actuators.

 

I got everything together and working, except now my door doesnt open from the outside

 

Try here
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-remove-door-actuator-for-replacement-or-service.418261/

Check the - Handle Rod Connector
There are also pictures of it in the link.

 

That was connected correctly. Not sure what's going on

 

That’s strange.
I haven’t personally been into the door latch mechanism.
I’ll have to see if I can figure out anything off the diagrams.
Hopefully someone can help you out soon.

 

Ya I'm pretty annoyed so far. This is a pain in the ass to keep taking in and out. And I still have to do the other side as well