How To Diagnose Door Lock Actuator

2004 honda odyssey ex passenger m.

How to diagnose door lock actuator.

Power door locks do not function. Unusual noises coming from inside the door. Door lock actuator problems use to be simple to diagnose and repair. Power door locks behave erratically.

Then use your test light or digital meter to check for power and ground at the connector when you operate the lock unlock switch. Helpful guide on diagnosing power door lock problems with the passenger multiplex control unit and the door lock actuators. Door lock systems operate the actuator by toggling positive negative voltage to the actuator. When the actuator fails or starts to fail you ll likely notice one or more symptoms that make your daily commute less pleasant.

In some cars the door lock actuator is positioned below the latch. How a door lock actuator works. Pictured on the right is a typical door lock actuator they installed on automobiles 20 years ago. You should see the voltage polarity toggle with each switch activation.

In the old days they remained a separate component mounted to the door shell. The concept of a door lock actuator works great until it doesn t. A door lock actuator is basically a reversible motor or a solenoid on some vehicles with gears that operate the door lock. On manual locks the locking function operates by pushing or pulling on the door lock.

Usually a bad or failing power door lock actuator will produce a few symptoms that can notify the driver of an issue that should be serviced. If the actuators have any sort of internal or wiring issue it may cause them to rapidly lock and unlock unexpectedly or cause them to function intermittently. A metal rod then made its way to the door latch to operate the lock mechanism. A quick test can be performed from the driver s seat by using the electric lock button.

The symptoms will get worse. If the unlock button fails to unlock the door you can rule out the remote and take a long look at the actuator. Car door lock actuators are designed to lock and unlock a door without the effort of pulling on a cable and rod.