Failed Door Lock Actuator R&R (9 Viewers)

[fasteddie2015]

@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.

 

[Hatteras]

I realized I did not install the tiny screw that holds the actuator together.

HaHa, I just forgot to reinstall the same screw on my LC. I found it when I was cleaning up... I’ll probably take that door back apart tomorrow and install the screw, arghh.

 

[Loyota]

Just thought I would followup and reiterate a very important point. I replaced my actuator 2 years ago and never connected the emergency key rod. When the actuator failed again, I ended up getting locked out of car WITH the motor running. It wasn't cool. see below thread for details.

locked out but I have the keys!! - Root cause discovered!

Ok this is a strange one caused by multiple unlucky circumstances. My driver door actuator has been intermittent lately. I replaced it in 2018 but it appears to be failing again. To be honest I don't recall ever testing the mechanical key when I replaced actuator motor - I wish I did! Truck is...

forum.ih8mud.com

Anyway, anyone doing a driver door lock repair, make sure you check the key! BTW I was able to align the rods with only removing the window track bolt and nothing else. Its a blind install but there are features on the actuator case to help you guide the rods into place.

 

[aphextwin]

My driver side acutator just called it quits at 72K on '13 LX. Thanks everyone for posting these instructions and tips. I'll have to tackle it when I get some time.

 

[KC5]

Thanks all for this thread & the tips.
My front drives & passenger side locks on my 2015 LX with 95k miles have not worked for the last 10 months.
Bought the replacement motors on Amazon and replace them today. I’ve never removed door panels before and was pretty paranoid about breaking something. Almost 3 hours for the passenger door (watched a lot of YouTube videos). Less than 45 minutes to do the driver side door.
Like most things – it’s easy when you know what you’re doing.
Thanks

 

[jjtrou2072]

Front passenger door actuator went out a few weeks ago on my 2013 LX570. (Previous owner had drivers side replaced at dealer a couple years ago).
Info in this thread was a huge help so figured I would post about my experience for the next guy.

I used this guys video for a step by step on removing the door panel:
LX 570 Door Panel Removal Video

Ordered the motor that is linked earlier in this thread or here:
Door Actuator Motor

Once the actuator was out and on the table, it was just a matter of identifying the corner the motor was in and gently prying apart the plastic case.
I did NOT completely disassemble the actuator, I just pried it apart enough to slide the old motor out and the new one in.

In order to open the actuator case, I had to remove one small screw in the middle and gently pry open the clips on the perimeter of the case.
I thought the plastic may break but it held together.

Once the motor was out, I adjusted the shaft on the new motor in the same orientation as the old motor then slid the gear onto the blade. Not sure if this helps everything sync up or not but I did it anyway.

I then reinstalled the motor into the housing and started buttoning everything up.

So far everything is working as it should. It was a tedious process and I recommend buying a few of those plastic door clips before you take the panel off. I was careful and still managed to break a couple.

Below are some pics.

 

[Mbchance]

Reviving an older thread. I just replaced my passenger side actuator thanks to the instructions of those before me. Saved around a $600 quote from the dealership by ordering the replacement motor off of amazon. Thanks all!
Overall time was probably around an hour and a half due to stopping, watching videos and taking my sweet time.

 

[Str8Laced]

Reviving this great thread again, thought I would add to it so if someone is searching they can find everything here

As others have mentioned there are some very helpful videos starting with this one LX front door panel removal

After the panel is removed I found this video very helpful, the lock actuator replacement process was exactly the same on the LX as the GX here

For rear doors it should be easier as you don't have to remove the lock cylinder, in this video he's replacing the door handle but has to move the actuator aside so replacing it would be very similar steps here

Some notes on my replacement of the lock actuator in the drivers side front

as others mentioned once the main door panel is off you do have to remove this outer trim piece also to get to the torx bits that hold the actuator

I did remove the outer lock to make the install easier, once this screw is loosened from the outer side of the the door the cap can be pried off and the lock easily removed

you do have to remove the 10mm here once the outer panel is off

to move the window track bar out of the way to remove and install the actuator

when installing the actuator and fitting the emergency key rod as everyone said you have to get it set in blind but after a few minutes or what seemed like minutes I got it to go in

Lastly, to re-install the panel I did remove the top trim piece and placed it on with the window down and that made putting the rest of panel fitment easy

I did not attempt to replace just the motor inside, now that I have the old one I will get a motor and use the old one for practice on how to replace

Despite some online sites saying only the old part number, 69040-42250, would work, I found there is newer part number that replaced the old, 69040-0C050 and this is what I ordered, works great

 

[bloc]

Reviving this great thread again, thought I would add to so if someone is searching they can find everything here

As others have mentioned there are some very helpful videos starting with this one LX front door panel removal

After the panel is removed I found this very helpful, the lock actuator replacement process was exactly the same on the LX as the GX here

For rear doors it should be easier as you don't have to remove the lock cylinder, in this video he's replacing the door handle but has to move the actuator aside so replacing it would be very similar steps here

Some notes on my replacement of the lock actuator in the drivers side front

as others mentioned once the main door panel is off you do have to remove this outer trim piece also to get to the torx bits that hold the actuator

View attachment 3659117

I did remove the outer lock to make the install easier, once this screw is loosened from the outer side of the the door the cap can be pried off and the lock easily removed

View attachment 3659118

View attachment 3659119
you do have to remove the 10mm here once the outer panel is off

View attachment 3659120

to move the window track bar out of the way to remove and install the actuator

View attachment 3659121

when installing the actuator and fitting the emergency key rod as everyone said you have to get it set in blind but after a few minutes or what seemed like minutes I got it go in

View attachment 3659123

Lastly, to re-install the panel I did remove the top trim piece and placed it on with the window down and that made putting the rest of panel back on easy

View attachment 3659122

I did not attempt to replace just the motor inside, now that I have the old one I will get a motor and use the old one for practice on how to replace

Despite some online sites saying only the old part number, 69040-42250, would work, I found there is newer part number that replaced the old, 69040-0C050 and this is what I ordered, works great

View attachment 3659124

Great tech, thanks for posting

 

[ryanCA]

my right rear passenger door lock stopped working this week

if you lock unlock manually on that door, nothing happens

if i use the power lock button on drivers door, then we can open or lock rear passenger door

is this an actuator issue?

 

[Str8Laced]

my right rear passenger door lock stopped working this week

if you lock unlock manually on that door, nothing happens

if i use the power lock button on drivers door, then we can open or lock rear passenger door

is this an actuator issue?

Interesting, mine was the opposite, on the drivers side front door, using the power lock button on the door it would lock all doors except the drivers, had to manually lock it or use the emergency key to lock it manually when outside since it would not lock using the key fob

Does it lock when using the key FOB also ? sounds like maybe the door handle connector has come loose, I would pull the panel and check to make sure the connector is working for the inside door handle
You can see it here at about the 1:25 mark here
He doesn't show the actual panel removal of the rear door, but should be very similar to here

 

[Boston Mangler]

my right rear passenger door lock stopped working this week

if you lock unlock manually on that door, nothing happens

if i use the power lock button on drivers door, then we can open or lock rear passenger door

is this an actuator issue?

delete

 

[ryanCA]

Interesting, mine was the opposite, on the drivers side front door, using the power lock button on the door it would lock all doors except the drivers, had to manually lock it or use the emergency key to lock it manually when outside since it would not lock using the key fob

Does it lock when using the key FOB also ? sounds like maybe the door handle connector has come loose, I would pull the panel and check to make sure the connector is working for the inside door handle
You can see it here at about the 1:25 mark here
He doesn't show the actual panel removal of the rear door, but should be very similar to here

yes if i use master lock switch all doors unlock and lock

if i use remote all doors also unlock and lock

only issue is rear passenger - lock and unlock doesnt work on the door itself

 

[ryanCA]

Thats exactly what mine was doing

Do the lights flash and do ya get a chirp when you try the FOB?

how did you fix yours?

remote works, chirp happens, all 4 door locks and unlocks

 

[Boston Mangler]

how did you fix yours?

remote works, chirp happens, all 4 door locks and unlocks

Disregard, i misread this.

 

[Bajaknot]

Hi all,
Replaced the motor of my drivers side actuator yesterday (thank you @ayaws and all who have come before me). It actually went pretty smooth with the key fob working, the emergency key working and all doors locking when you place the LC200 into drive or reverse. The issue now is when I place it in Park, all doors unlock except the drivers side door. Even when I manually unlock the door from the inside it doesn’t unlock despite the lock moving to the unlock position. The door can be opened from the outside (which my 12-year old daughter helped with as she was laughing hysterically). Any thoughts before I remove the door panel? On the original install, I did have to remove the lock and realign it with the actuator. Emergency key is working.
Appreciate the help.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Hi all,
Replaced the motor of my drivers side actuator yesterday (thank you @ayaws and all who have come before me). It actually went pretty smooth with the key fob working, the emergency key working and all doors locking when you place the LC200 into drive or reverse. The issue now is when I place it in Park, all doors unlock except the drivers side door. Even when I manually unlock the door from the inside it doesn’t unlock despite the lock moving to the unlock position. The door can be opened from the outside (which my 12-year old daughter helped with as she was laughing hysterically). Any thoughts before I remove the door panel? On the original install, I did have to remove the lock and realign it with the actuator. Emergency key is working.
Appreciate the help.

You’re in luck. This happened to me on my first try

I’m willing to bet you missed the fork Into the little pin just like I did.

If ya look at an accuator, there’s a silver pin that slide onto a little fork of the actual mechanism of the door assembly that moves it to unlock and lock it.

It’s a little tricky to line up the first time.

If you have small kids, might be best to have them assist. I’m a big oaf with gorilla hands and it was a PITA getting into the inner door to line it up due to hand size

 

[Bajaknot]

Thanks for the info. The picture you posted doesn’t look like the actuator l pulled out. The pic by @jjtrou2072 posted earlier in the thread and looks like mine. Maybe it’s just the other side of the actuator? Also, not familiar with the fork and the pin.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Thanks for the info. The picture you posted doesn’t look like the actuator l pulled out. The pic by @jjtrou2072 posted earlier in the thread and looks like mine. Maybe it’s just the other side of the actuator? Also, not familiar with the fork and the pin.

Yes, my pic is the other side of the actuator than he posted

When you take the door panel off again, the fork and pin will make more sense. It’s hard to verbalize.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Here is a

See the bottom part of 69311A

The pin I circled in above pic has to go inside that