Drivers side automatic door lock not working

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Oct 30, 2006 | 11:03 AM

dcwhipple

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Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 91

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From: Harrisburg, NC

Drivers side automatic door lock not working

Background…I just bought a 2000 7.3L F350 that needs a little work. I’m a shad tree mechanic who thinks that he can do more than he actually can

. Found your community and have really enjoyed what I’ve read so far.<O

</O

Issue #12 of many: Drivers side automatic door lock not working.
I pulled the drivers door apart, pulled the actuator (? little plastic black box with the motor and gears in it?) off and drilled out the rivets. When I separate the motor from the rest of the gears, it spins when current is passed through it. When I introduce the first gear to the work stream, the motor does not have enough umphhh to spin it.

Questions:
1) Do I need to check the current going to the motor or can I assume that if the passenger lock is working, the “system” overall is passing enough power?

2) Assuming I need to replace the motor (or whole actuator), is there an on-line source that I go to find out the model number and, more importantly, what years/models used the same motor/actuator?

3) What are the sources you guys use for new/used parts? Reason I ask…I tried a junkyard for a driver side mirror and they wanted $100+tax for a used one. I found a new (non-OEM) on the web for $110 total. Wassup with that?

4) Assuming I’m not getting enough juice, what’s the next step?
</O

Thanks!</O

Dan </O

Oct 30, 2006 | 11:16 AM

BowTieHatr

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Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 2,725

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From: Florence,SC

the actuator is just weak. i think they are like 50 bucks at the dealer.

Oct 30, 2006 | 04:31 PM

empiretc

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Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 5,250

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it is just so much easier to add aftermarket actuators and leave the oem ones there. i put the new ones in an easy place to get at so if i never need to replace one it will be a piece if cake. I paid ~$20 for a set of 4.

Oct 30, 2006 | 05:23 PM

SpringerPop

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Joined: Jan 2002

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From: La La Land

dcwhipple,

See: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...light=actuator

You have to go deeper. Inside the motor. Jumper the varistor with a piece of aluminum foil.

A piece of cake! Cheap, too!

Pop

Oct 30, 2006 | 08:38 PM

dcwhipple

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Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 91

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From: Harrisburg, NC

SWEET! Thanks Pop!

Oct 31, 2006 | 02:36 AM

empiretc

Lead Driver

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 5,250

Likes: 42

Pop, i read that thread many a times when I was having troubles with my door locks. Then I thought about the time it would take and the chances of me messing up (pretty high odds), and thats why I went the other route.

Oct 31, 2006 | 09:56 AM

SpringerPop

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Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 17,988

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From: La La Land

The actual fix involves some pretty tiny moves, and you sure can't be ham-fisted when retracting the motor brushes to replace the motor's end piece. A small dental pick works well.

The brushes are about twice the size of the head of a pin, to give some relative size to this discussion.

But if you have ever had the patience to work on tiny projects, this is a fix that definitely works well, and is cost-effective, too!

Pop