Question about power door actuators

[Al Reynolds]

Morning all,

OK, so I have the problem of the screech/squeal after locking the doors on my 97 Accord Wagon. It's not the problem where the doors repeatedly try to lock.

It seems like it's the front passenger door actuator, and searching archives seems to confirm this is a distinct possibility, but before I shell out for a new one I'd like to check. As a result, I have two questions:

(1) Does anyone know whether the actuators in the two back doors are the same part as the front passenger door? If so then I might just switch one in temporarily to see if it fixes it.

(2) How do you get the actuator off? My shop manual includes a procedure for removing the latch but not the actuator. Even that looks tricky because the window channel looks like it's in the way.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Al Reynolds

 

[Randolph]

Al Reynolds wrote:

(1) Does anyone know whether the actuators in the two back doors are the same part as the front passenger door? If so then I might just switch one in temporarily to see if it fixes it.

No, the actuators are not the same.

(2) How do you get the actuator off? My shop manual includes a procedure for removing the latch but not the actuator. Even that looks tricky because the window channel looks like it's in the way.

I had the same problem on the rear, driver's side door on an '96 Accord. Getting the actuator out was such a pain (window channel in the way there too) that I gave up. I ended up cutting the wires to the factory actuator (but leaving the actuator in place) and installing an after market actuator (http://tinyurl.com/7x4wc, part number 330-010 from www.partsexpress.com) At $4.25 it was quite a bit cheaper than the OEM one.

 

[Al Reynolds]

Getting the actuator out was such a pain (window channel in the way there too) that I gave up. I ended up cutting the wires to the factory actuator (but leaving the actuator in place) and installing an after market actuator (http://tinyurl.com/7x4wc, part number 330-010 from www.partsexpress.com) At $4.25 it was quite a bit cheaper than the OEM one.

Much cheaper!

How did you fix the aftermarket actuator in place?
Was there enough room - looks a bit cramped in my door!

Al

 

[Randolph]

Much cheaper!

How did you fix the aftermarket actuator in place?
Was there enough room - looks a bit cramped in my door!

Since I did a rear door, my experience does not really apply to you. The actuator comes with a fairly long lock rod, and you can bend it into whatever shape you need. You can go to http://www.a1electric.com, click on "Installation Articles" and then "Power Door Locks". Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you'll see links to a couple of installations to use as a reference. The beige actuator shown above "Door lock actuators mounted in various vehicles" is the same size and shape as the $4.25 one from PartsExpress.

 

[Al Reynolds]

Since I did a rear door, my experience does not really apply to you. The actuator comes with a fairly long lock rod, and you can bend it into whatever shape you need. You can go to http://www.a1electric.com, click on "Installation Articles" and then "Power Door Locks". Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you'll see links to a couple of installations to use as a reference. The beige actuator shown above "Door lock actuators mounted in various vehicles" is the same size and shape as the $4.25 one from PartsExpress.

Cheers,
Al