 | | 
08-26-08, 12:32 PM
|
 #1 (permalink)
| | mmm.....beer.
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Not in Cali no more
Posts: 141
| Door Lock Actuator Replacement
I had the normal symptoms of a door lock actuator gone bad (many threads on this) so I went about investigating this issue over the weekend. I was hoping I could find something that could be remedied by a little bit of cleaning / maintenance, but that wasn't the case.
Removal of the door trim wasn't bad, but getting the door lock assembly out was a bit of a pain (kept getting my arm hair stuck in the tar-like adhesive for the plastic sheeting). Once I got the lock assembly out, I detached the actuator (held on by 3 screws). The actuator itself is not a solenoid as some other threads state. I popped off the cover.....it is actually a small DC motor.
Actuator: 
Actuator exploded: 
I plugged in the actuator (without the cover and not attached to the lock assembly) to the electrical connector and operated the door lock switch. I could see the motor spinning strongly the first few presses of the switch, but then it would slowly die down. I tried cleaning all the contacts / moving parts, but nothing improved. Since I realized I had to replace the motor, I decided to take it apart and investigate. I immediately saw that the graphite brushes were almost completely disintegrated....not sure if this was the only problem.
So, in an ideal world I could just replace this little $8 hobby motor. The really unfortunate thing is that not even the actuator itself is sold by itself. I tried every avenue for parts searching and can only find the actuator sold with the entire lock assembly (lock mechanism, cables, actuator). This is really annoying since the actuator is a separate component and bolts (screws) on to the assembly. I didn't want to go the junk yard route since who knows how long the used actuator would last.
So I did find the lock assembly cheapest on CruiserParts.net for $169. I called my Lexus dealership to get a price on the assembly just for my own edification. They sell the assembly for $330 and would probably charge $500 total for them to do the job.
A few cents worth of graphite in the brushes of a motor results in a potential $500 repair.
If anyone ever finds a way of just buying the actuator and not the whole assembly, I would love to hear how you did it.
| 
|  |
|
08-26-08, 12:37 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | Forum Lifer
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 2,641
| You are the man! Thank you for the research. The question is where can we source that little motor. Are there any kind of markings on the little motor that would help in the search?
Thanks again,
uzj100 | |
| | |
08-26-08, 12:45 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | mmm.....beer.
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Not in Cali no more
Posts: 141
| Quote:
Originally Posted by uzj100  You are the man! Thank you for the research. The question is where can we source that little motor. Are there any kind of markings on the little motor that would help in the search?
Thanks again,
uzj100 | No markings on the motor, but I think the problem is that the motor is a very specific shape with a very specific connector (two prong....see photo).  | |
| | |
08-26-08, 01:43 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | mmm.....beer.
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Not in Cali no more
Posts: 141
| I think I may have found the motor. JOHNSON ELECTRIC Product Catalog
Dimensionally, the motor seems to be the same (or very close.....+/- .2mm). Its application is listed as "door lock".
Other than how to purchase the motor, the only remaining issue is the copper colored collar on the motor shaft that engages the worm gear (see photo). 
I'm hoping the collar is just press fit on to the shaft splines. I will try to remove it and see what happens. | |
| | |
08-26-08, 01:46 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
| | mmm.....beer.
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Not in Cali no more
Posts: 141
| Quote:
Originally Posted by uzj100 | Wow.....YOU are the man. That looks like the exact motor, with the copper colored collar. The dimensions match exactly. 5 motors for $4.98!!!! I'm going to buy these and see what happens. | |
| | |
08-26-08, 01:53 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
| | Forum Lifer
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 2,641
| Now we need to figure out how to fix the windows and those motors!
Thank you for the great pictures and write up. | |
| | |
08-26-08, 01:55 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
| | mmm.....beer.
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Not in Cali no more
Posts: 141
| I just ordered the 5 door lock motors from eBay for $10 shipped. My door lock assembly order had not yet shipped from CruiserParts so I just cancelled it. If these motors work, I think we found a $10 solution for all 5 door locks failing on our cruisers. Thanks for the eBay link UZJ100!!! I will follow-up on this thread once they arrive and I try them out. | |
| | |
08-26-08, 04:14 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
| | Supporting Vendor
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington
Posts: 772
| Nice work!
Nice work on this one. Looking forward to the results.  | 
| | |
08-26-08, 05:43 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
| | Zenmaster
Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Conch Republic
Posts: 544
| Quote:
Originally Posted by uzj100 |
Amazing! What did you use for search terms to find them so quickly? Great thread!
__________________ Travis
1999 UZJ100, TJM T-3, OME 866 Heavy kit, dual batteries, Engel fridge, pin 7, Custom Sliders, 4X4 Labs Rear Bumper, Onboard Water & Mombasa Penthouse. www.RealEstateBook.com | |
| | |
08-26-08, 06:26 PM
|
#11 (permalink)
| | Forum Lifer
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 2,641
| I just googled, "door lock mini dc motor" and the Club Lexus - Home started popping up all over and then on to Ebay.
I hope it works. My door lock is driving me crazy. | |
| | |
08-26-08, 06:47 PM
|
#12 (permalink)
| | mmm.....beer.
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Not in Cali no more
Posts: 141
| I already got a notice from the eBay seller that he put the motors in the mail today. I'll be on vacation for a long Labor Day weekend until Tuesday night. I'll try the motor out first thing Wednesday and post back the results. | |
| | |
08-26-08, 08:45 PM
|
#13 (permalink)
| | Site Addict
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 1,383
| Quote:
Originally Posted by socalsuv I just ordered the 5 door lock motors from eBay for $10 shipped. My door lock assembly order had not yet shipped from CruiserParts so I just cancelled it. If these motors work, I think we found a $10 solution for all 5 door locks failing on our cruisers. Thanks for the eBay link UZJ100!!! I will follow-up on this thread once they arrive and I try them out. | Let us know if this works as my drivers door is acting up occasionally. You da man!
__________________ 2000 UZJ100, OME 865, OME T-bars, Slee Diff Drop, Slee SliderSteps, TJM T3, PowerStop Cross Drilled & Slotted Rotors, 295 Terra Grapplers, Misc scratches, etc - Sold
M101 Trailer with stuff - Sold
Currently Cruiserless and making plans for the next one...
| |
| | |
09-03-08, 02:22 PM
|
#14 (permalink)
| | mmm.....beer.
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Not in Cali no more
Posts: 141
| So I got the 5 new DC motors in the mail from eBay. They fit perfectly in to the actuator. 
I applied some dielctric grease on the contacts of the actuator clamshell and then epoxied both halves of the clamshell back together in a few spots. There is a lot of torque in that little motor and if you don't secure the clamshell together, it will blow apart. You don't want to go overboard on the epoxy / adhesive either or else you won't be able to open it up again to replace the motor if/when it dies.
I then plugged in the actuator (disconnected from the assembly) to verify that it worked and worked strongly....it did. 
Here is the "actuator" attached to the door lock assembly. This is the entire assembly that all dealers will want to replace. 
SUCCESS!!! I now have a perfectly functioning door lock!
So as a recap.....the 5 motors cost me $4.98 plus shipping. | |
| | |
09-03-08, 02:24 PM
|
#15 (permalink)
| | Forum Lifer
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 2,641
| Sweet. How did you get the little gear off the original motor and on the new motor? | |
| | |
09-03-08, 02:30 PM
|
#16 (permalink)
| | mmm.....beer.
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Not in Cali no more
Posts: 141
| It just slides right off....almost too easily if you ask me. There is a flat spot on the shaft collar that drives the gear. | |
| | |
09-03-08, 02:35 PM
|
#17 (permalink)
| | Forum Lifer
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 2,641
| Thanks for all the leg work on this. I am ordering motors now.
uzj100
Ordered!
Last edited by Trunk Monkey; 09-04-08 at 09:16 AM.
| |
| | |
09-03-08, 03:21 PM
|
#18 (permalink)
| | Site Addict
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,056
| Here is another way. Order the rear door lock actuator from an lx450 at cruiserparts.net. These cost $30 a pop. Inside is the little motor you need. I have replaced 2 door lock actuators this way, and keep a few of these actuators in my spare parts bin. In fact almost any toyota product uses these little motors - my wifes rx needed the rear actuator replaced and I ordered a new one (it had mechanical issues not elector-mechanical) and the left over one has that little motor in it as well.
Cheers,
Karl
__________________
1997 LX 450 202000kms, locked, 285 Revos, Supercharged.
2004 lx 470 61000kms stock
You cant kill yourself on a pogostick. (Harry Parker, world famous geostatistician)
| |
| | |
09-03-08, 04:05 PM
|
#19 (permalink)
| | mmm.....beer.
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Not in Cali no more
Posts: 141
| Quote:
Originally Posted by knorrena Here is another way. Order the rear door lock actuator from an lx450 at cruiserparts.net. These cost $30 a pop. Inside is the little motor you need. I have replaced 2 door lock actuators this way, and keep a few of these actuators in my spare parts bin. In fact almost any toyota product uses these little motors - my wifes rx needed the rear actuator replaced and I ordered a new one (it had mechanical issues not elector-mechanical) and the left over one has that little motor in it as well.
Cheers,
Karl | Good to know, but don't think that its necessary to pay $30 for a motor when we've found them for under $1 a peice.
If the eBay seller runs out of these motors, they are made by Mabuchi. The Mabuchi part number is: fc-280pt-22125. You can google the part number and find them many places. | |
| | |
09-03-08, 04:26 PM
|
#20 (permalink)
| | Forum Regular
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central Mississippi
Posts: 85
| WOW! You guys are amazing!
Not a solenoid, huh? Must be a fast motor, or geared up to actuate the lock quickly.
Might have to buy me a few motors as spares...
And, to think that the Club Lexus forum found about this before IH8MUD!
EDIT: I noticed on the Ebay listing the motor is 14,500 rpm! Fast motor indeed!
__________________
BillWms01
'08 FJ Cruiser
'04 uzj100
'00 uzj100
'79 4x4 Mini Truck
'88 FJ62 (Sold)
Last edited by BillWms01; 09-03-08 at 04:31 PM.
| |
| | | |
| Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
|  | |
socalsuv
ringpinion.biz
