Drivers Door Lock Problem?

B

blk-betty

New member
03 with just under 130K miles.

Noticed late last week using the key fob to lock the doors that the drivers door does not automatically lock or unlock.

Thought it might be a programming issue with the key fob but using the auto lock/unlock switch on the drivers door panel won't activate that lock either.

All three other doors and the rear lift gate will lock and unlock using both the key fob and the door panel switch.

The only way to lock or unlock the drivers door is manually on the inside with the lever near the door handle or outside using the key.

Anyone have suggestions where to look for a fix?
 
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Not a key fob issue. The key fob transmits the lock command to the radio receiver. This is all door issue, or some variant. I would focus on the door itself or perhaps the wiring. It could be that the computer is sending the power to LOCK/UNLOCK and the power signal isn't reaching the door. Ignore the FOB, that isn't the issue.
 
BlackWorksInc said:
Does the lock sound like it is trying to engage? If not then the actuator may be bad...
Click to expand...

Not really, I get no sound at the front door lock with both the fob or door panel switch.

Guess I have to pull the door cover panel off to look at the lock mechanism.

Any tricks to to getting the panel off and access to the lock or it's electronics?
 
Yea. So, first... ignore your fob. From where I am sitting, you seem fixated on it as a possible source of problem.

Ignore it. The problem is that actual door. So it is either 1 of 2 things, or both.

1. No electrical signal is reaching the door actuator - check wires. The bends at the door joint are places they can go bad. Or, you have a short somewhere along the way. A multimeter can help you determine this. Check for continuity.

2. The actual actuator.. The mechanism that physically locks and unlocks the door is stuck, or bad.

To check both of these, you want to pull the door panels off.

Go here: Index of /4runner/215/NCF


Doesn't matter the year. Doors were not changed. If you have a 4th gen, then this will show you how to take the panels off.

Then, it is all you. wd40 the actuator. Check wires. Tinker. Check for continuity and voltage. If you decide the actuator is bad, you can buy a replacement via a dealer or go to your local pick and pull and replace it.
 
DC runner said:
Yea. So, first... ignore your fob. From where I am sitting, you seem fixated on it as a possible source of problem.

Ignore it. The problem is that actual door. So it is either 1 of 2 things, or both.

1. No electrical signal is reaching the door actuator - check wires. The bends at the door joint are places they can go bad. Or, you have a short somewhere along the way. A multimeter can help you determine this. Check for continuity.

2. The actual actuator.. The mechanism that physically locks and unlocks the door is stuck, or bad.

To check both of these, you want to pull the door panels off.

Go here: Index of /4runner/215/NCF


Doesn't matter the year. Doors were not changed. If you have a 4th gen, then this will show you how to take the panels off.

Then, it is all you. wd40 the actuator. Check wires. Tinker. Check for continuity and voltage. If you decide the actuator is bad, you can buy a replacement via a dealer or go to your local pick and pull and replace it.
Click to expand...


Thanks DC runner.

Sorry if it seemed I was fixated on the fob, I was not, just clarifying that I get no noise or action with either it or the inside switch.

The tips you provided and the hyperlink is exactly what I was looking for.

You guys Rock!
 
My buddy's 07' passenger front door wouldn't lock or unlock, he was actually about to take it to the dealer, then I stuck my ear onto the panel and hit the switch. I could hear it wanting to work, just barely though. Turned out the little piece of plastic on the door itself was stuck. I just manually pushed the switch open and close and it finally loosened up.

I know you mentioned you couldn't hear anything but I could only hear it when I stuck my ear onto the door panel. Just wanted to share my story. You could hear it louder once it loosened up and the actuator was able to fully open and close.
 
My 04 has done the same thing. I could only lock and unlock the door with the key or manually. Fob would Lock/unlock all other doors. I also would get no confirmation beep when locked unless the door was already locked. I had to have the door lock actuator replaced. It was about $300-$350 at the dealer.

With mine I more than likely caused it to fail by accident. I grabbed the door handle and pulled it open at the same exact time I put it in park and the door tried to automaticly unlock and it became stuck in the middle for lack of a better discription. I could not open the door and it was not fully unlocked. I had to manually flip the lock to unlock and it went hard. It didn't work after that until I had the actuator replaced. Maybe in hind sight if I had hit the unlock button or keyfob maybe it would not have failed.
 
blk-betty said:
03 with just under 130K miles.

Noticed late last week using the key fob to lock the doors that the drivers door does not automatically lock or unlock.

Thought it might be a programming issue with the key fob but using the auto lock/unlock switch on the drivers door panel won't activate that lock either.

All three other doors and the rear lift gate will lock and unlock using both the key fob and the door panel switch.

The only way to lock or unlock the drivers door is manually on the inside with the lever near the door handle or outside using the key.

Anyone have suggestions where to look for a fix?
Click to expand...


I had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me this weekend ('04). Door lock/unlock stopped working with the FOB. When I pushed the unlock button via the remote - all the other doors unlock, but the Driver side wont budge unless I manually open it with the knob on the inside and/or the key from the outside.

The stealership wants $450+tx for Parts/Labor.

WOW...

gonna follow the thread - hit it with WD-40, check the wires, and hope for the best.

$500 for a door unlock actuator ...:uzi:
 
Well as of this morning I can't lock or unlock the front door anymore with the fob (which has been the case for a week) the manual switch on the door panel, or using the key. The manual switch is stuck in the unlocked position and the key will turn to lock all doors but it won't turn to unlock the drivers door or any others. Key worked this am when I left the house for work but 30minutes later when I got here it wouldn't work.

So....no way to lock my car anymore until I get it fixed.
 
Pretty sure it is your physical lock mechanism then. At this point, the only thing you can do is rip that door apart and look. Gunk or crud or rust has gotten in there and frozen it up..
Take an hour or two and rip it open and look.
 
DC runner said:
Pretty sure it is your physical lock mechanism then. At this point, the only thing you can do is rip that door apart and look. Gunk or crud or rust has gotten in there and frozen it up..
Take an hour or two and rip it open and look.
Click to expand...

Yep thats the plan.
 
had to replace mine this summer. the actuator was broken inside. pretty sure I did one of those lock/unlock/try to open at the same time, and something must've popped inside. it's a pain in the ass to change because of the cramped location and the fact that you can't watch what you're doing, but it is doable. just buy a new actuator, take the door apart and replace it. good luck.
 
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