MaxWgn

iTrader: (1)

Ok, I have searched, and not found anything definitive on this at all, so I am asking now...

In the last 4 months or so, all 4 of my lock actuators have stopped functioning correctly. They move the locks, but not enough to actually lock or unlock them. Now, assuming it's the actuators themselves, as the issue started with one, and gradually affected all of them.

Since I have a VERY tight budget (hell, i'm driving a 15 yr old car with 210k miles on it for a DD, here), but I do need to replace them, HOW would I wire in an set of aftermarket actuators. At this point, I'm not concerned about keeping the driver door priority, etc... I just need the damn locks to work. I know our OEM units have more than 2 wires, and the aftermarket units have only 2 - so HOW would I wire them in? Which wires do I use from the factory motors to operate the new ones?

rayrobot

Yea i have the same annoying problem when the weather gets cold. I even made a thread but there wasn't any helpful answer.

I'm assuming you want to use one of those universal aftermarket actuators that are hooked up to move the rod. You got to be creative and see where to mount it. As for the wiring , I would find the two power wires going to the original actuator using a light tester and use those wires for the aftermarket actuator.

MaxWgn

iTrader: (1)

Yes, I am needing to use the universal aftermarket ones. Mounting them, etc... shouldn't be too bad - I've done that in assisting a friend with his car that didn't even have power locks to begin with - but this is a little different.

And i'm a little leery of just using the two energized leads from the OEM unit, as they may not ground right, since the aftermarket's are 2-wire reversing polarity...

I have seen posts with people saying to do it this way, but no one ever says HOW? I'm looking for that information.

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

You could have a problem with lubrication. Since the solenoid is moving the mechanism part way, the solenoid is good. Does the door lock work from the lever by the inside door handle?

A solenoid is an electromagnet, a big coil of wire with 2 ends. Run electricity through it one way and the solenoid moves in one direction. Reverse the direction of electricity and the solenoid moves in the other direction. If you hook up the wires backwards, lock becomes unlock and unlock becomes lock. Nothing gets hurt or damaged. Just reverse the wires.