2005 SR5 - Door Locks stopped working

[espressoman]

Ok... so I searched the forum, and I've found a lot of unanswered threads about a similar problem I'm experiencing with my '05 SR5 4Runner:

It's seemed, one by one, the locks in my 4Runner stopped autolocking. It started with the driver, then the driver rear, and the passenger rear. So far the only one that auto locks is the passenger.

My 4Runner is set to lock the doors when put in drive, and it gets up to 5mph (or whatever that setting is). When it goes to lock, it's a crap shoot as to what doors actually end up locking. When I leave the 4Runner, and use the fob to lock the doors, nothing happens. If I manually lock all the doors, then hit the fob, the car will beep and the alarm will set.

I've got 62K on the 4Runner, so it's out of warranty. Any ideas on what steps I need to take? Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Zinarac]

I wonder if the battery in your 4Runner is weak? I would have it tested if it is the original 2005 battery.

 

[Mark86]

If it weren't that many locks affected, I would have said your actuators are shot. Something else seems to be up for all three to go though.

 

[espressoman]

If it weren't that many locks affected, I would have said your actuators are shot. Something else seems to be up for all three to go though.

Yah... they went one by one. But, at random times they do all work. I just didn't know if it was some known issue with the 4Runner. There are several other threads of people complaining of a similar behavior. I was hoping for a simple solution, like a fuse or battery... but it may just be the actuators have gone bad.

I do notice though that sometimes it half unlocks or locks. Like the mechanism didn't have enough strength to fully flick the lock open or close. Maybe spraying some WD-40 somewhere? Haha... That's like the miracle fluid.

 

[Mark86]

Yah... they went one by one. But, at random times they do all work. I just didn't know if it was some known issue with the 4Runner. There are several other threads of people complaining of a similar behavior. I was hoping for a simple solution, like a fuse or battery... but it may just be the actuators have gone bad.

I do notice though that sometimes it half unlocks or locks. Like the mechanism didn't have enough strength to fully flick the lock open or close. Maybe spraying some WD-40 somewhere? Haha... That's like the miracle fluid.

I don't think WD40 would work. From what you describe in the last paragraph, your actuators are not working.

 

[espressoman]

I don't think WD40 would work. From what you describe in the last paragraph, your actuators are not working.

Any idea on how difficult a task it would be to replace them? Or how expensive it would be?

 

[Joseph04]

My drivers front lock stopped working about 6 months ago, passenger went out about 2 months later. Stealership charged me $60 to "diagnose" the problem (actuators had gone bad), and then quoted an outrageous $785 to replace them incl labor. I now manually lock and unlock the doors. Would love to find a cheaper solution!

 

[drbiii]

i looked up the parts diagram for the door.

Front Door
Toyota Parts Cheap.com

Rear Door
Toyota Parts Cheap.com


Assuming it's not some kind of electrical glitch, it looks like it may be the lock motor which runs approx $200 per door.

 

[Joseph04]

drbii, Thanks for the links!

Im going to check a car yard this afternoon to see what I can find. I'm def not ready to dish $400 just for the button to work.

Anybody know the difficulty level of installation, or could speculate?

Espresso, made any progress on your locks?

 

[espressoman]

drbii, Thanks for the links!

Im going to check a car yard this afternoon to see what I can find. I'm def not ready to dish $400 just for the button to work.

Anybody know the difficulty level of installation, or could speculate?

Espresso, made any progress on your locks?

I haven't had a chance to deal with the issue yet. Just too busy with work, life, etc.... Hah. It's an annoyance, but I can get by manually locking the doors.

I'm starting to think it's power related because at random times the locks do work properly. I assume if the actuator was bad the locks wouldn't work, period. Since they do at times work, I'm thinking power (like a short or bad grround somewhere). However, I don't even know where to begin to test the theory.

 

[TThomas]

Take the door panel off, its no big deal...

Find the actuators, make a jumper wire and put 12 volts pos to the actuator pos lead and if it dont work you have a bad actuator...

Or get a test light and put it to the pos lead going to the actuator and hit the button..... If the test light lights up and actuator no workie?, you have a bad actuator....