PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

So, my door actuator is acting up.


When it's hot outside, and the car has been parked under the sun, the keyless system won't work. I need to use the physical key.

But if it's cool, or if it's parked indoors in shade, the keyless system works.


Is this something that needs to be replaced, or is it an easy repair? Summer's almost over, and it may not be an issue for another year...

JohnnyCake

Do you get the "beep" sound? Do you get any other sounds or clicks? If you put your hand on the door, do you feel any vibration from it trying to unlock? Any other symptoms?

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

If hot and attempting to unlock, it won't budge. Some clicking with the lights flashing, but it doesn't unlock.

When attempting to lock, there is no clicking nor sound beeping, no light flashing. Just unresponsive.



When cool, it works perfectly.

Bon

Does either door remotely unlock? If it's a bad locking motor then the other side of the car should work properly. After manually unlocking can the remote lock the car? Both sides?
Otherwise . . .

JohnnyCake

This is an excellent diagnostic question.

The part that really confounds me is the "lights flash, click sounds no unlock" but on "lock totally unresponsive."

I'm assuming that you have tried a different remotes with the same results and have fresh batteries.

Bon

My guess is that it's a bad locking motor in the drivers side door and the passenger side is operating normally. The locking motor assembly is EXPENSIVE from Lexus. I've heard it's from $300-$500 per door parts and labor. I personally have replaced these motors in our LX470 at a cost of about $5 per door by buying just the electric motor and replacing the original worn out motor inside the full assembly. I have pictures if there's interest.

mandyfig

Bon is on the right track.

Had this recurring issue with my 2000 Honda CRV. To this day, the actuator is still bad. I have just been ignoring the grinding noise it makes. Does the job but emits this nasty grinding noise that scares people.

Had 3 sets of the actuator already. It is so bad that you can get the actuator on ebay. Means the chinese version is so lucrative that it is an off the shelf. You can actually buy them in the auto BM stores. The original is so prohibitive in cost.

Most recently somebody came up with a DIY to replace the motor for this well known CRV issue. The process is so simple. The motor is a generic motor that can be had for cheap, replace it every couple of thousand miles. I am too lazy to do mine. The missus uses the CRV for her daily trips to the gym. She parks it anywhere and everywhere and do not care about dents! I count the new dents every week. I polish the marks from the dents every now and then. Keeps me away from the SC sometimes.

OBP

I can recommend a decent and honest paintless dent removal shop in the Roswell/Alpharetta area. Not cheap but straight talk and no BS. PM if you want the details ?

mandyfig

Got 2 minor dents on the SC and 3 on the MX. Care less on the CRV. PM me, thanks OBP.

OBP

Alright, my turn now. Drivers door will not lock or unlock using the key fob button. I hear beeps and clicks but I need to use the physical key to unlock or lock the drivers door. Happened after I left the car out in a sunny parking lot at 98 degrees for 2 hours. It is now in the garage cooling off so we will see if it will work better when cool. Let me see later if I get the same symptoms as the OP. Anyone with ideas feel free to chime in. Passenger side is perfect.

Bgw70

Your actuator is defective and I have the same problem when it's really hot.
you can either purchase a new one which is very expensive or replace the motor, very inexpensive and more labor.
i believe the information is somewhere in another thread.