Door Lock Acutuators DIY ???
#541
Sorry, no. The one I got from Ebay looked fine. I doubt we will be replacing the motors a second time unless you plan to keep the car another 9 years. Seems the life span is on average 7-9 years or so?
#542
#543
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What year is your car and what area of California do you live? I just moved to cali, I will do it for you if you are not too far away from me.
#545
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DOOR CLOSED and LOCKED w/o actuator or cable installed
REAR DOOR IS LOCKED. I removed the actuator to replace the actuator motor. I put the door lock mechanism back in, reassembled the door, and closed it. OOPS! Now I cannot open the door.
Can the door be jimmied open? How bad did I screw the pooch?
Thanks!
Michael
Can the door be jimmied open? How bad did I screw the pooch?
Thanks!
Michael
#546
You want to hear something that will make most of you cranky with Lexus? My Chrysler minivan also developed a problem with one door lock actuator. This was after I did the repair on the Lexus one.
So I planned to do the same thing on the minivan, until I looked up the cost of the replacement actuator.. and it was... $30, brand new from the dealer. Not the motor, but the whole actuator, the one Lexus wants $200+ for.
So I bought one, put it in, and just for grins decided to take apart the old one, thinking that it must be some simple solenoid thing, not like Lexus' "high tech" actuator. Wrong! Once I opened the actuator, I found a design almost identical to the Lexus - a small Johnson motor driving a lead screw. Except that the Chrysler actuator was assembled with several screws that I could remove, without the need to cut anything in half.
I could have easily replaced just the motor and reassembled the actuator; but for $30 for the whole actuator, it wasn't worth it.
So, I wonder why Lexus wants $200+ for a part that is actually inferior to a $30 Chrysler actuator? Maybe it's just me, but it made me cranky with Lexus .
#547
Lexus Fanatic
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You want to hear something that will make most of you cranky with Lexus? My Chrysler minivan also developed a problem with one door lock actuator. This was after I did the repair on the Lexus one.
So I planned to do the same thing on the minivan, until I looked up the cost of the replacement actuator.. and it was... $30, brand new from the dealer. Not the motor, but the whole actuator, the one Lexus wants $200+ for.
So, I wonder why Lexus wants $200+ for a part that is actually inferior to a $30 Chrysler actuator? Maybe it's just me, but it made me cranky with Lexus .
So I planned to do the same thing on the minivan, until I looked up the cost of the replacement actuator.. and it was... $30, brand new from the dealer. Not the motor, but the whole actuator, the one Lexus wants $200+ for.
So, I wonder why Lexus wants $200+ for a part that is actually inferior to a $30 Chrysler actuator? Maybe it's just me, but it made me cranky with Lexus .
i guess the dealerships/junkyards got onto the fact that these were POS and jacked the prices up on them....its simply a supply and demand issue. if we didn't need them they wouldn't be so high not to mention part of the cost is the name.....if Lexus and Chrysler shared a part # on a part 100% of the time the Lexus part will be 8 times higher, yes for the same part. just how it is...
my acura parts were always higher till i found i could to to Honda for most of them, i try going to my local Toyota place for ANY parts that will interchange or are universal from my gs but the door actuator happens to be one part that Toyota doesn't carry it is a Lexus only part (course it might help if our chassis had a doppelganger in Toyota's field but they don't)
#548
Racer
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You are right, the first time it took me 3 hours for one door but I have done it so many times now it is really easy. The most time consuming part is breaking open the clam shell housing and replacing the motor but if you are just replacing the whole actuator it is really easy and fast.
What year is your car and what area of California do you live? I just moved to cali, I will do it for you if you are not too far away from me.
What year is your car and what area of California do you live? I just moved to cali, I will do it for you if you are not too far away from me.
#549
I agree, but this is the funny part of the whole thing. The Lexus actuator is a POS, which means they fail a lot, which means they are in demand, which means they fetch a higher price... So the lesson is, build a POS part and you can sell it for more $$ than a quality part .
#550
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
I hate that people are trying to rip yall off now that some one showed you how easy it is to do it yourself. These are the same motors at a fraction of the cost.
I am not promoting these and have nothing to do with this auction. I am in SC...
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-x-12VDC-Mabuch...item51951a054c
Long time no post. I am glad to see my DIY is still suriving..
BP
I am not promoting these and have nothing to do with this auction. I am in SC...
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-x-12VDC-Mabuch...item51951a054c
Long time no post. I am glad to see my DIY is still suriving..
BP
#551
Instructor
iTrader: (16)
I hate that people are trying to rip yall off now that some one showed you how easy it is to do it yourself. These are the same motors at a fraction of the cost.
I am not promoting these and have nothing to do with this auction. I am in SC...
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-x-12VDC-Mabuch...item51951a054c
Long time no post. I am glad to see my DIY is still suriving..
BP
I am not promoting these and have nothing to do with this auction. I am in SC...
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-x-12VDC-Mabuch...item51951a054c
Long time no post. I am glad to see my DIY is still suriving..
BP
but for sure they are the same?
#553
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where to get 'em
I keep seeing people asking about where to get them, and talking about the expense... if you just search "fc-280pc-22125" on ebay, there are SEVERAL sellers selling the motor.. just sort by "Price + shipping: Lowest first"
It's not really expensive to fix.. do google searches for how to pop the door open on your specific model.. I did it with my lexus in 2 hours total time for 3 doors.
It's not really expensive to fix.. do google searches for how to pop the door open on your specific model.. I did it with my lexus in 2 hours total time for 3 doors.
#554
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Inexpensive and FUN, TOO!
OK, just finished replacing the rear lock actuator for my GS430. $10 sure beats $272!!!
A few lessons learned (that should save you some time):
Next time, once I have the replacement motor in hand... this is easily a 15 minute job!!!
A few lessons learned (that should save you some time):
1) I removed the motor to verify the specs before purchase on ebay, so I had to remove/replace twice. Next time, I'd buy the motor first, then install it in one shot.
2) I don't think you need to glue or expoxy the assembly together. It's very secure once you reinstall the assembly. I wasted time debating.
3) Be careful removing the green ashtray lights...they are fragile.
4) I replaced the panel and shut the door with the door locked and w/o the actuator assembly inside, and no cable attached. BIG MISTAKE! DON'T DO THAT! You can't unlock it w/o removing the panel, and you need the door open to remove the panel. Lexus shop said I needed to rip apart the panel and replace it. Whoops!
This DIY and my lucky drill bit saved me a whole lot of $$, THANKS to TRD911! 2) I don't think you need to glue or expoxy the assembly together. It's very secure once you reinstall the assembly. I wasted time debating.
3) Be careful removing the green ashtray lights...they are fragile.
4) I replaced the panel and shut the door with the door locked and w/o the actuator assembly inside, and no cable attached. BIG MISTAKE! DON'T DO THAT! You can't unlock it w/o removing the panel, and you need the door open to remove the panel. Lexus shop said I needed to rip apart the panel and replace it. Whoops!
I disected the opposite door and figured out that the internal lock mechanism is actually accessible through the child safety switch cavity, and the cavity is just inside the door well. Even with full view of the mechanism, it was hard to open it with a wire, but I was eventually able to hit it.
I decided to try a different approach. I pulled out the rear seat, estimated and drilled a hole from behind the seat, out through 3 panels, and into the door well. I stuck a coat hanger in and magically, on the FIRST push... the door unlocked. You can see where the drill touched the child lock in the photo. (pretty close for a guess!) And the hole in the door well is small enough that I just covered it with a piece of electrical tape. It's hardly noticable.
I decided to try a different approach. I pulled out the rear seat, estimated and drilled a hole from behind the seat, out through 3 panels, and into the door well. I stuck a coat hanger in and magically, on the FIRST push... the door unlocked. You can see where the drill touched the child lock in the photo. (pretty close for a guess!) And the hole in the door well is small enough that I just covered it with a piece of electrical tape. It's hardly noticable.
Next time, once I have the replacement motor in hand... this is easily a 15 minute job!!!
#555
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (182)
I hate that people are trying to rip yall off now that some one showed you how easy it is to do it yourself. These are the same motors at a fraction of the cost.
I am not promoting these and have nothing to do with this auction. I am in SC...
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-x-12VDC-Mabuch...item51951a054c
Long time no post. I am glad to see my DIY is still suriving..
BP
I am not promoting these and have nothing to do with this auction. I am in SC...
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-x-12VDC-Mabuch...item51951a054c
Long time no post. I am glad to see my DIY is still suriving..
BP
Last edited by sakataj; 09-21-10 at 10:40 AM.