power door locks
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 194
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From: Port Richey FL.
power door locks
I have a 89 full size bronco with power door locks and windows..Whats the easyest way to get the power acuaters for the door locks out so i can change them ?
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO.
power door locks
I did this job on my 90. I once posted a very detailed set of instructions on how to do the job. Several people recommended to the admin that it be posted as a tech guide, and he wrote me and said it would be done and that I would also get a t-shirt. I don't know if it was ever posted, and I definitely never got a shirt!
Anyway, to make a long story very short, remove the door panel, reach in and find the actuator with your hand (you will not be able to see it). It is towards the back end of the door, directly under the lock and about 3/4 of the way down. It unsnaps from its holder by pulling straight down. Then, also by feel, remove the rod. Pull out the actuator and unplug the power lead. Installation is the reverse. DO NOT drill out the rivet on the outside of the door! It is not necessary!
Sounds easy, except that you are doing it all sight unseen, in a tight space. Skinny arms would help. I have Popeye forearms myself, I got a little scratched up while doing this. If it was not for the fact that the actuator is so hard to get to, the actual job is so easy that it would take about two minutes to change one out. Still, my first (and only) one took me about 45 minutes, including removing and replacing the door panel.
Anyway, to make a long story very short, remove the door panel, reach in and find the actuator with your hand (you will not be able to see it). It is towards the back end of the door, directly under the lock and about 3/4 of the way down. It unsnaps from its holder by pulling straight down. Then, also by feel, remove the rod. Pull out the actuator and unplug the power lead. Installation is the reverse. DO NOT drill out the rivet on the outside of the door! It is not necessary!
Sounds easy, except that you are doing it all sight unseen, in a tight space. Skinny arms would help. I have Popeye forearms myself, I got a little scratched up while doing this. If it was not for the fact that the actuator is so hard to get to, the actual job is so easy that it would take about two minutes to change one out. Still, my first (and only) one took me about 45 minutes, including removing and replacing the door panel.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Madison, AL
power door locks
If you happen to break the blasted bracket trying to snap out the actuator, you will have to drill out or chisel off that pop rivet to remove it. Then you will discover that it's a 1/4 inch pop rivet, which is bigger than most pop rivet tools handle.
You can get a large-capacity pop riveter from Harbor Frieght for $17. It comes in handy for other things on that Bronco, like the window regulators.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=41291
You can get a large-capacity pop riveter from Harbor Frieght for $17. It comes in handy for other things on that Bronco, like the window regulators.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=41291
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Austin
power door locks
My driver door actuator would pop out of its bracket every couple of weeks. I remedied the problem by feeding a plastic cable tie through the back of the bracket and around the actuator to snug it up in the bracket.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 0
From: Round Rock, TX
power door locks
My passenger actuator popped out all the time as well. I put two zip ties on it as well, but the rod kind of binds up, so I have to hit "unlock" 2-4 times to get the passenger door unlocked, and I don't use the key on that side very often so that I don't break it off. Having long arms makes it difficult to get your hand around inside the door, so try to shave a few inches off before you start...
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Austin
power door locks
You may want to check the positioning of the actuator rods. If I remember correctly, by feel only I might add, the rods are curved or have some sort of offset in them and I had to fiddle with them for a bit until I got them to work smoothly.
