Can lock actuators be fixed?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
towsey956

towsey956

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,104
Location
Northyorkshire
hi all

I’ve got a lazy actuator on my 98MY d1 rear door, can they be fixed or got into for a look without ruining them? I seem to remember seeing something about it but can’t remember who it was and I cant find it

Cheers

Towsey
 
Yes, just split the case along the seam into two parts and spray the seized motor with WD to get it spinning again, put it back it together with the case held together with cable ties unless u can find a glue that will work, i took the easy option that works.
Or drill a small hole into the case near the motor and inject a splash of WD into the case that works i believe.

I mentioned it briefly on another thread of yours on the subject of your central locking.
 
Last edited:
Ah ha, yes i believe it was you kind sir!

So are we talking a bit of a pry apart with a flat screwdriver or cutting rite round with a junior hacksaw. If it’s easy enough I might just do them all seems I’ve got 3 door cards off already chasing down my problem, have you seen what I’ve found in the end?

Thanks

Towsey
 
towsey956 said:
Ah ha, yes i believe it was you kind sir!

So are we talking a bit of a pry apart with a flat screwdriver or cutting rite round with a junior hacksaw. If it’s easy enough I might just do them all seems I’ve got 3 door cards off already chasing down my problem, have you seen what I’ve found in the end?

Thanks

Towsey
Click to expand...
Once I had my penknife blade in the case joint line I then slowly prise apart.
Really the actuator isn’t manufactured to be service able, anyway as u open you’ll see how one side clips to the other, it’s the clipping arrangement that breaks off some do some don’t.
The actuators are powerful therefore all the clips need to be in place, as they aren’t the actuator will split easily apart when operated, and the motor will move out of it locating lugs, the only thing I had strong enough to stop the splitting apart was cable ties x 4 at least... which was my plan B, my plan A was electrical tape plus poxy resin was a waste of time.

Once the case is opened try turning the motor spindle it should spin with out any issues when connected to 12v as u will see the actuator is a rack & pinion, the rack is the bit that pops in and out.
 
Well...

...if I aren’t sick of this carry on!

Gets into the actuator and found nothing obvious and everything is free but cleaned, worked, oiled it all and put it back together...still the same

I did wonder at one point if the gears were catching the casing but nope

Towsey
 
It’s only faulty if it doesn’t move in - out or both, the one fitted to the tailgate which I repaired unlocked smartly, as they all do, but then refused to lock. The motor didn’t spin, although after turning it manually it did so a splash of WD and job done, no issues since.
 
If it’s been left a while like a couple of hours but worse overnight then for the first couple of presses it won’t move at all, lock or unlock it’s just like it’s unplugged, but then slowly gets better with use and by about 10 lock/unlock cycles it’s ok but never as good as the others but never really shapes itself at all to be honest

I maybe should of taken pics but it was all clean and tidy inside with a freely spinning motor that seems fine when operated on its own but then all gears are nice and free aswell but I went in with wd40 then blew it out and oiled it

Cheers

Towsey
 
I would be inclined to replace it with a good second hand one, plenty about at not much money,
There a point when the amount of time spent trying to fix it becomes uneconomical
,
 
towsey956 said:
If it’s been left a while like a couple of hours but worse overnight then for the first couple of presses it won’t move at all, lock or unlock it’s just like it’s unplugged, but then slowly gets better with use and by about 10 lock/unlock cycles it’s ok but never as good as the others but never really shapes itself at all to be honest

I maybe should of taken pics but it was all clean and tidy inside with a freely spinning motor that seems fine when operated on its own but then all gears are nice and free aswell but I went in with wd40 then blew it out and oiled it

Cheers

Towsey
Click to expand...
I have a a actuator on a rear door and usually on unlock first thing it stays locked, happens four or five times a year and usually unlocks after locking then unlocking for the second time, been like that for a few years. It never happens after a run of a few miles, so park up come back a few hours later and the disco unlocks and all doors instantly, this is due no doubt because my disco is only used at weekends and then maybe not, so I believe is due to a higher voltage now in the discos battery at the time of unlocking.

Recently the door is staying locked, I had to pull up the door pin to unlock, so a quick spray of silicone oil in the lock from the door edge seems to work... for now :)
 
Last edited:
Yeah well that's exactly what the other side does and how this one started...anyway capped it now
IMG_20201002_163200.jpg

My spare master was OK so wondered if I could just use the orange and pink and it would work as a normal actuator, so tryed it and bingo so its sorted for now

I was thinking of getting another actuator but couldn't be bothered with trying to send it back if faulty so thought I'd try this first

Towsey
 
towsey956 said:
Well...

...if I aren’t sick of this carry on!

Gets into the actuator and found nothing obvious and everything is free but cleaned, worked, oiled it all and put it back together...still the same

I did wonder at one point if the gears were catching the casing but nope

Towsey
Click to expand...
towsey956 said:
Yeah well that's exactly what the other side does and how this one started...anyway capped it now
View attachment 220371
My spare master was OK so wondered if I could just use the orange and pink and it would work as a normal actuator, so tryed it and bingo so its sorted for now

I was thinking of getting another actuator but couldn't be bothered with trying to send it back if faulty so thought I'd try this first

Towsey
Click to expand...

I have some actuators if you need one. ;)
 
Well it’s actually ok now with modified master in there thanks but it might not be a bad idea if you have enough to spare one, how much you want for one

Cheers

Towsey
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Central locking not working on all doors except drivers
Replies
6
Views
870
Stanleysteamer
Stanleysteamer
L
Very strange smell
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
Stanleysteamer
Stanleysteamer
Landylady666
Front passenger door on Disco 4 not unlocking with key fob
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
gstuart
gstuart
S
P38A Anyone got a ALR6963 Passenger Rear Door Lock/Latch
Replies
1
Views
698
RangeRoller dt
RangeRoller dt
MaxTheDog1
Freelander 1 Door mirror heater
Replies
13
Views
1K
MaxTheDog1
MaxTheDog1
Back
Top