Car Door Lock Actuator Replacement in Sanger, CA
Car Door Lock Actuator 101: Everything You Need to Know About Actuator Replacements
Car won’t lock? Doors won’t open? If your car door locks are acting funny, or work unreliably, it might be worth checking the actuator. A door lock actuator is a part that triggers the locking and unlocking mechanisms on each of your car doors and is connected to a series of gears that carries out these actions. Some modern vehicles contain a complete door lock assembly that can’t be separated, but if your actuator can be repaired without replacing the whole system, you’re in luck and this article is for you. We’ll show you how to fix door locks by replacing the actuator.
What is a door lock actuator?
As discussed briefly above, a door lock actuator triggers the gears in the electronic door lock system which in turn locks or unlocks your doors for you. This is often a vertical motion, and without a functional door lock actuator, your doors will be unable to automatically lock and unlock. This will leave you locking and unlocking every door on your vehicle manually. Thus, a door lock actuator is the car part that locks and unlocks your doors, and without it, you’ll be doing more work than necessary!
What are common symptoms of door lock actuator failure?
If your doors lock and unlock sporadically, or you have broken car locks, your actuator may have been busted. This is also the case if your doors make an unusual noise when locking or unlocking, or if your car alarm goes off randomly. If any of these symptoms are present and you have reason to believe your car door lock actuator may be broken, contact Prieto Automotive to schedule an inspection and/or repair.
How can I fix my door lock actuator?
Car door lock actuators are not particularly easy to replace on your own, so we recommend booking a service with Prieto Automotive. This is not to say you can’t DIY this repair, but it’s best left to a professional. In short, the car door lock actuator is replaced by disconnecting the battery, removing the interior door trim and detaching the switch plate away from the door panel. Once the wiring is disconnected, there will be a bit more removal of various sealants and shields before you can replace the actuator. When the new one has been installed, you can reassemble the door in the reverse order in which you took it apart, and that’s it! Your car door locks will hopefully be functioning correctly from here on out.
How much does this service cost?
The cost of this service will depend on the type of car you have, the mechanic you choose and the cost of parts and labor. Most modern cars will run you between $240 and $600 for this service, but it only reaches that higher range on luxury cars like Porches or Audis.
How important is this service?
While your car’s engine will function properly with a failing door lock actuator, you’ll be dealing with the inconvenience of needing to lock each door individually, by hand. Your Mechanic writes, “When the actuator stops working, there is no communication between the door lock switch and the door locks, and you’ll be unable to lock or unlock the door.” In short, it’s not a crucial service by any means, but it sure is convenient.