Door lock actuator issues

tunez96 · 09-14-2009, 10:55 PM

Power door lock on drivers door of 96 Grand Cherokee is not working. It will move just slightly when first tried, then only makes a slight click after that. Replaced the actuator with a used unit and am having the same result. I inserted a wire tester into each of the two holes of the harness that goes to the actuator. One will light the tester when locked, the other lights when unlocked so it does seem that it's getting power. Would you guess that the used actuator that I got was bad as well?

**octaneman** · 09-15-2009, 02:09 AM

Hi tunez96

There is that possibility of the used actuator being weak or bad, but before you decide to count it out make sure that there is no obstruction of the solenoid and that there are no bent or misshapen rods. It would be a good idea to have it bench tested for excessive resistance to the solenoid and visually inspect the mechanism's push and pull operation.

**Raylo** · 09-15-2009, 05:37 AM

Did anything happen to the linkage (door get banged, window replaced, excess corrosion, etc?). Friction in the linkage can cause this issue.

tunez96 · 09-15-2009, 06:12 AM

The door did have some work done about a year ago around the latch area. The door sheet metal that has the mounting holes for the latch had to be welded up a bit with some washers after an inexperienced driver thought they could get a door shut by just slamming harder when the latch mechanism was tripped to shut. The only way I thought that could effect it is if the actuator is somehow grounded in that area and the reworking caused for a bad ground. But I get the same action whether I set the actuator on a block of wood (no ground there?) or have it mounted in the door. All the rods seemed to be the way they should, as I was able to replace the actuator very easily. The action of the lock and latch has never been sticky or offered more resistance than the latches any other door.

**octaneman** · 09-15-2009, 11:41 PM

It doesn't appear to be a ground issue, on your first post you said that it moves slightly. If it moves, then the circuit is complete and the actuator is working. My understanding is that the rod that pushes the plastic tab on the door panel hole isn't traveling high enough, but you can see it slightly moving. IMO the rod is either not making full contact with the mechanism or the latch distance from the door frame has shifted.

tunez96 · 09-16-2009, 02:22 PM

I was able to talk a friend with an identical Jeep into letting me try his actuator in my door. Behold, it locked and unlocked like a charm so a bad actuator it was. He had quite the time getting it back from me after that, hehe. Thanks for your help.

09-14-2009, 10:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
tunez96 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP Service Pack 2	Door lock actuator issues Power door lock on drivers door of 96 Grand Cherokee is not working. It will move just slightly when first tried, then only makes a slight click after that. Replaced the actuator with a used unit and am having the same result. I inserted a wire tester into each of the two holes of the harness that goes to the actuator. One will light the tester when locked, the other lights when unlocked so it does seem that it's getting power. Would you guess that the used actuator that I got was bad as well? Last edited by tunez96; 09-14-2009 at 11:19 PM.

09-15-2009, 02:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
octaneman Mentor Home Support, Gearhead Automotive Center Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 543 OS: WINXP	Re: Door lock actuator issues Hi tunez96 There is that possibility of the used actuator being weak or bad, but before you decide to count it out make sure that there is no obstruction of the solenoid and that there are no bent or misshapen rods. It would be a good idea to have it bench tested for excessive resistance to the solenoid and visually inspect the mechanism's push and pull operation.

09-15-2009, 05:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Raylo TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 525 OS: XP Desktop, Vista HP Notebook, XP Notebook	Re: Door lock actuator issues Did anything happen to the linkage (door get banged, window replaced, excess corrosion, etc?). Friction in the linkage can cause this issue.

09-15-2009, 06:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
tunez96 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP Service Pack 2	Re: Door lock actuator issues The door did have some work done about a year ago around the latch area. The door sheet metal that has the mounting holes for the latch had to be welded up a bit with some washers after an inexperienced driver thought they could get a door shut by just slamming harder when the latch mechanism was tripped to shut. The only way I thought that could effect it is if the actuator is somehow grounded in that area and the reworking caused for a bad ground. But I get the same action whether I set the actuator on a block of wood (no ground there?) or have it mounted in the door. All the rods seemed to be the way they should, as I was able to replace the actuator very easily. The action of the lock and latch has never been sticky or offered more resistance than the latches any other door. Last edited by tunez96; 09-15-2009 at 06:18 AM.

09-15-2009, 11:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
octaneman Mentor Home Support, Gearhead Automotive Center Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 543 OS: WINXP	Re: Door lock actuator issues It doesn't appear to be a ground issue, on your first post you said that it moves slightly. If it moves, then the circuit is complete and the actuator is working. My understanding is that the rod that pushes the plastic tab on the door panel hole isn't traveling high enough, but you can see it slightly moving. IMO the rod is either not making full contact with the mechanism or the latch distance from the door frame has shifted. Last edited by octaneman; 09-15-2009 at 11:43 PM.

09-16-2009, 02:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
tunez96 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP Service Pack 2	Re: Door lock actuator issues I was able to talk a friend with an identical Jeep into letting me try his actuator in my door. Behold, it locked and unlocked like a charm so a bad actuator it was. He had quite the time getting it back from me after that, hehe. Thanks for your help.