@ayaws - your instructions were great. I did not check the tongue and groove part of the window rail step, but the window goes up and down just fine. I had to wrestle the lower part and push up to get the holes (door and rail) to line up enough to thread the bolt. Hopefully that's enough of an indication that its hooked up right. I would rather not pull the door panel again to check. (See rant below)
You mentioned the outside handle rod, but its worth mentioning that its a blind operation. The rod just inserts into a cup/hole on the actuator but it requires patience and several tries. Just learn by feel where the hole is before putting the actuator in the door.
Also, had to pull the lock cylinder to seat the key lock in the actuator. Its not a big deal... remove the rubber cover on the jam and loosen the torx screw holding the cylinder in. I wasnt able to get the actuator to line up right until I pulled the lock cylinder.
If you're going to replace your actuator, once you get everything back together, and BEFORE you put the door panel back on, test everything. Buttons, fobs, door handle inside and out, lock button, lock lever. Dont forget the emergency key as well.
Whole process wasnt too bad. Very similar to my 99 Lexus GS400 . I SHOULD have been done in little over an hour, taking my time and keeping things organized. BUT DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT!!!!!
I was very careful, or so I thought, to put the screws, trim pieces and clips in a safe place. But while I was putting the inside door panel back on, one of the white plastic press fit connectors popped off. It ricocheted around the interior and blasted the carefully placed trim pieces, clips and screws around the cabin and out the door and into the garage. Of the three screws that hold the door panel on, I was only able to find two. Rather than use my normal method of finding screws using my tires, I searched for almost an hour and never found the damn screw. Magnetic wand all over the interior. All the usual tricks. Even resorted to moving around all the crap and sweeping the garage. Finally gave up after one final check to make sure it wasnt under a tire. Fortunately my mechanic had one that fit. I'm going back to my magnetic cup for screws after this.
Its a fairly easy repair. No reason to put up with an intermittently failing door lock, hoping it will get better. I used an Asin actuator off Amazon. Same brand Toyota uses, but much cheaper. I also got some of those little electric motors. I'm going to practice on the old actuator and be ready for when the next one goes out. Which it will.
You mentioned the outside handle rod, but its worth mentioning that its a blind operation. The rod just inserts into a cup/hole on the actuator but it requires patience and several tries. Just learn by feel where the hole is before putting the actuator in the door.
Also, had to pull the lock cylinder to seat the key lock in the actuator. Its not a big deal... remove the rubber cover on the jam and loosen the torx screw holding the cylinder in. I wasnt able to get the actuator to line up right until I pulled the lock cylinder.
If you're going to replace your actuator, once you get everything back together, and BEFORE you put the door panel back on, test everything. Buttons, fobs, door handle inside and out, lock button, lock lever. Dont forget the emergency key as well.
Whole process wasnt too bad. Very similar to my 99 Lexus GS400 . I SHOULD have been done in little over an hour, taking my time and keeping things organized. BUT DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT!!!!!
I was very careful, or so I thought, to put the screws, trim pieces and clips in a safe place. But while I was putting the inside door panel back on, one of the white plastic press fit connectors popped off. It ricocheted around the interior and blasted the carefully placed trim pieces, clips and screws around the cabin and out the door and into the garage. Of the three screws that hold the door panel on, I was only able to find two. Rather than use my normal method of finding screws using my tires, I searched for almost an hour and never found the damn screw. Magnetic wand all over the interior. All the usual tricks. Even resorted to moving around all the crap and sweeping the garage. Finally gave up after one final check to make sure it wasnt under a tire. Fortunately my mechanic had one that fit. I'm going back to my magnetic cup for screws after this.
Its a fairly easy repair. No reason to put up with an intermittently failing door lock, hoping it will get better. I used an Asin actuator off Amazon. Same brand Toyota uses, but much cheaper. I also got some of those little electric motors. I'm going to practice on the old actuator and be ready for when the next one goes out. Which it will.
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