This might seem like a silly question, but is it necessary to replace all 5 motors? Is there a way to isolate the broken one(s)?
Door Lock Actuator Replacement (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter socalsuv
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
You can replace any or all.
TheLCProject
SILVER Star
The door that doesn't unlock or lock is the one that needs to be replaced.
I hoped that by replacing the "main/master" (driver front), I could get away with just replacing that one. No dice. Had to replace all 5....
Thanks for the quick reply. Both of my front doors suddenly dont work, seems odd - original owner 2000 LC. Never had any issues before.
They all go bad about the same time. Extreme heat exacerbat we s the failure. Mine worked in the winter, but not in summer. I've done the driver door and the rear hatch. Rear hatch much easier. I recommend starting with the rear hatch. 2 down, 3 to go.....
One bit of advice for people doing this now... These new motors are super strong, so if you don't use enough JBweld or don't give enough time for whatever epoxy to cure, it will work itself loose. Ask me how I know... Didn't use enough and had to go back in to fix 2 of em. Made sure to double up on the JBweld and left them clamped for a day.
Given the amount of effort to replace the motor, for me it makes more sense to go to Rock Auto and purchase the AISIN assemblies. Yearly motor failure is not an option.
Is there a good thread or tutorial for the hatch?
TheLCProject
SILVER Star
There's this one but no idea if it's helpful or not:
Replacing the motor is an hour and $5. Replacing the assembly is 45 min and $125.
The replacement motors are the same in both, so they will fail the same. If you don’t trust your jb weld skills, then I guess the extra $600 could be worth it.
TheLCProject
SILVER Star
As is the case with some of the 80 series actuator assemblies, which are available from Aisin at a less than $30 price, replacing only the black sub-assembly (the actuator itself) and not all the rods and linkages and such is the way to go. However, I'm not away of those smaller sub-assemblies being available for the 100 at a price that is less than the effort required to crack open the black case and replace the motor.
Thank you!
First of all it’s nowhere near $600. It’s less than $300 (for 2). If you think there is only a 15 minute difference between the to methods you are just being silly.
I just replaced the motor on my driver’s door. Took me about 30 min to dissemble the door and remove the entire lock assembly. I let the motor housing sit in the sun for about 45 minutes and it came apart with ease. I let the Jb plastic bond cure for 24 hours. Hopefully it will last.
Reassembly took about 20 minutes.
I did disassemble the original motor as I found some videos on how to fix the original. The fix involves wrapping the metal contact plate in foil. I did it but just went ahead and replaced the motor with the $5 eBay one. The plate was black with carbon. Cleaning it revealed a bright copper finish on one side and sliver metal on the other.
Reassembly took about 20 minutes.
I did disassemble the original motor as I found some videos on how to fix the original. The fix involves wrapping the metal contact plate in foil. I did it but just went ahead and replaced the motor with the $5 eBay one. The plate was black with carbon. Cleaning it revealed a bright copper finish on one side and sliver metal on the other.
Ok, I don’t count the time it’s sitting there curing. I’m doing other things, not babysitting it. My $600 figure was for 5 of them. Yes, it only take 15 minutes to remove and replace the motor. I’ve done 5 of them.
cbbr
SILVER Star
Silly question, but mine all intermittently quit working recently in the 100 degree heat. I read some of this thread and ordered the motors from eBay (better to have spares...) but now I'm thinking that I will just use the key for a month because I don't like working in the heat either. Will they "self cure" when it cools down?
Yes. I’ve been putting this off for 2 years. When I leave it parked outside in the heat of summer they don’t work. Fortunately, I park in the garage and they work fine when not 100+ degrees.
That’s my plan of action.
