Door Lock Actuators

Do y'all have issues with big brand store parts?
Feels like I've bought about 3 dorman products and they don't have enough oomph to lock/unlock both doors. Can't remember the brand on rockauto now, but they seemed beefier.
Driver side is original and it isn't powerful enough anymore to even lock itself. I replaced passenger side a few years ago after going through 2 or 3 in a single weekend (mind you, these are $50 a pop and store won't take a return on something electrical if you've hooked it up), so I feel like I want to go with rockautos product.
Any suggestions?

Have you unhooked the linkages from the actuator and see how free they move on their own? The grease hardens where the linkages snap in and make things tight. Cleaning these seems to help for some people and cleaning the latches and lubricating them. I had one on my truck that I sprayed the lock in the handle itself (1997) and it was the tight spot. The linkages without the actuator attached should move very very easy.

I had to have the dealership replace the passenger side door latch (it was too hard for me and frustrating) and while they had it apart, they regreased the linkage (sloppy job too, yellow grease all over the place), but it actually made the linkage harder to move. Idk...weird...
Anyways, when I use the passenger side door lock, it'll lock/unlock both doors just fine. But when I use the driver side to lock/unlock, it won't. It wants to, but it's too weak.

jjupiter100 said:

I had to have the dealership replace the passenger side door latch (it was too hard for me and frustrating) and while they had it apart, they regreased the linkage (sloppy job too, yellow grease all over the place), but it actually made the linkage harder to move. Idk...weird...
Anyways, when I use the passenger side door lock, it'll lock/unlock both doors just fine. But when I use the driver side to lock/unlock, it won't. It wants to, but it's too weak.

Click to expand...

I've been dealing with the same thing on and off since I got my truck a little over two years ago. After two lock actuators and a not that old door latch, I just kind of put up with it for the most part. When it starts to act up I take a can of brake clean and compressed air to clean out the latch as best I can, and reapply some fresh white lithium. After doing that it's usually good for a few months before it starts to get sticky again. Rinse and repeat...

jjupiter100 said:

Anyways, when I use the passenger side door lock, it'll lock/unlock both doors just fine. But when I use the driver side to lock/unlock, it won't. It wants to, but it's too weak.

Click to expand...

So tell me again why you question the actuator?

Richard

Well it's time for me to replace some actuators. Any recommendations on which ones I should get? I agree with the op that the dorman dont have enough mphfff. What would yal recommend? Amazon confusing lol and rockauto looks Chinese all the way

If you figure out which ones to get, let me know.

Don’t get these crap-boxes from Rockauto. Too weak, cannot lock more than halfway without repeatedly pushing the power button.

Skyward Automotive Product SKP SKDLA8




I bought some Delco/GMs a few years ago and they were perfect. Cannot seem to find them now anywhere.


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east302 said:

If you figure out which ones to get, let me know.

Don’t get these crap-boxes from Rockauto. Too weak, cannot lock more than halfway without repeatedly pushing the power button.

Skyward Automotive Product SKP SKDLA8

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I bought some Delco/GMs a few years ago and they were perfect. Cannot seem to find them now anywhere.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

I'm leaning towards 1aauto

I ended up getting mine through LMC Truck. Don't remember the brand, but it was $36.95 and it works perfectly. I changed it this past August. Holy crap, don't let your truck be out in the sun very long and try to do anything with the door. Metal got too hot to think about messing with after about 10am in the Texas sun.
Had to buy another interior door handle too. This is the third one my truck has gone through. I guess they're just brittle. I don't think I pull very hard on the handle to open the door to get out.

Some advice when you're changing these out - make sure to remove the window and interior metal door panel. Roll the window all the way down and then slide the window forward on its track until the front comes out, then slide it all the way back until the back comes out. There are some videos on YouTube to help out with the visuals.

I

jjupiter100 said:

Anyways, when I use the passenger side door lock, it'll lock/unlock both doors just fine. But when I use the driver side to lock/unlock, it won't. It wants to, but it's too weak.

Click to expand...

you do not have an actuator problem. Put away the credit card and think. you just posted that it works. If it works from one door it is not the actuator. It is something from the fusebox to the actuator connector on the side that doesn't make it work properly. I would have to look at a wiring diagram to know your vehicle, but many cars run the other doors thru the driver's side switches. A malfunctioning driver' switch may not be supplying voltage to the actuator. Print a diagram and grab a VOM and start checking.