1997 LS400 Door lock actuator motors
10-28-13, 05:58 PM
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1997 LS400 Door lock actuator motors
Marco at Moneyracer1@aol.com changed all 4 actuator motors last weekend.
He is in So Cal and a good contact for this.
The case that holds the little Mabuchi motors is screwed together and not glued.
My 1997 LS400 uses the long shaft motor. The shaft is round.
You can buy 4 replacement motors on Ebay for $22 from Zinky86.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11400...E:L:OC:US:3160
Now for the problem with this scenario.
1) The shaft on the original motors is slightly larger in diameter than the new motors.
So you pull off the gear on the old motor (press fit).
Then put it on the new motor and it just falls on. It needs a bushing or sleeve.
Measure how far the gear went on the original shaft and duplicate to new motors.
We made a bushing using some wire. Yes wire.
Strip any 110v cord to expose the stranded wires.
Best if it is NOT copper wire as it breaks too easy.
Put about 5-6 strands of wire in the gear and try to force it over the shaft with large channel locks. It needs to be tight to the shaft.
2) The new motor uses a spade connector. The old motor is soldered. Take the end cap off the old motor and pull out the connectors with the wires still attached. Then just grind the soldered connector to a spade shape to put into the new motor.
It worked for us but if I had known I would do it differently.
On the 2 fronts I would buy new actuators from the dealer at $300 each.
The aftermarket has both rears for about $80-100. Then just replace all as a unit.
On the GS forum there is a really long tutorial thread that is quite helpful as many things are the same.
You can send me a pm if you have any questions. Daniel
He is in So Cal and a good contact for this.
The case that holds the little Mabuchi motors is screwed together and not glued.
My 1997 LS400 uses the long shaft motor. The shaft is round.
You can buy 4 replacement motors on Ebay for $22 from Zinky86.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11400...E:L:OC:US:3160
Now for the problem with this scenario.
1) The shaft on the original motors is slightly larger in diameter than the new motors.
So you pull off the gear on the old motor (press fit).
Then put it on the new motor and it just falls on. It needs a bushing or sleeve.
Measure how far the gear went on the original shaft and duplicate to new motors.
We made a bushing using some wire. Yes wire.
Strip any 110v cord to expose the stranded wires.
Best if it is NOT copper wire as it breaks too easy.
Put about 5-6 strands of wire in the gear and try to force it over the shaft with large channel locks. It needs to be tight to the shaft.
2) The new motor uses a spade connector. The old motor is soldered. Take the end cap off the old motor and pull out the connectors with the wires still attached. Then just grind the soldered connector to a spade shape to put into the new motor.
It worked for us but if I had known I would do it differently.
On the 2 fronts I would buy new actuators from the dealer at $300 each.
The aftermarket has both rears for about $80-100. Then just replace all as a unit.
On the GS forum there is a really long tutorial thread that is quite helpful as many things are the same.
You can send me a pm if you have any questions. Daniel
11-23-13, 12:17 PM
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Update to original post.
IMHO, the 97 LS 400 is not a good candidate to change only the actuator motors.
The motors have soldered connections and the shaft is 2.5mm with a spline where the gear sits.
Replacement Ebay long shaft motors are 2.0mm with no spline.
Better to buy the OEM actuators and change it as a unit.
Rears are about $130 each delivered and fronts about $300 each delivered.
You will save yourself a lot of grief and labor by changing the complete actuator.
Daniel
IMHO, the 97 LS 400 is not a good candidate to change only the actuator motors.
The motors have soldered connections and the shaft is 2.5mm with a spline where the gear sits.
Replacement Ebay long shaft motors are 2.0mm with no spline.
Better to buy the OEM actuators and change it as a unit.
Rears are about $130 each delivered and fronts about $300 each delivered.
You will save yourself a lot of grief and labor by changing the complete actuator.
Daniel
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