I'm afraid the link you provided is for the wrong part. Here's a link to the actuator from the same site.
http://www.trademotion.com/parts/2005/LEXUS/LS%20430/index.cfm?searchText=Door+lock+actuator&siteid=214082&year=2005&make=LEXUS&model=LS+430&submodel=&vehicleid=1430994

 

Thanks for clearing that up lexie430. Looks like the DIY project is the route to go unless you have $450 laying around... I don't

 

I'm having the same exact issue on my 2001 LS430. Here in Cali, Los Angeles, the sun can really heat things up. Today when I went out to the car, unlocked all four doors, and I noticed my driver side rear lock didn't open. I had to manually open the lock from the inside. After driving for about 20mins, with the A/C blasting, the issue got a little better meaning I would press the interior lock/unlock button, but it would only respond fully to the first click. After the first click it seems to lose its strength to open the lock. The actuator sounds like its doing its job.

Is this something thats due to my extreme climate conditions?

I noticed this problem on my 96 LS400 as well. On THAT car it was worse. The rear doorslocks didnt even move at all, and sometimes in really hot weather, the front ones wouldnt work either.

Is there maybe a quick-fix to this problem? Maybe a DIY?
It's really annoying considering I had to problems with the car before this.

Any help is appreciated
Thx

 

You guys are all great!

I purchased the replacement motor on eBay ($5) just a couple days after I purchased my 04-LS and almost two months later it was still sitting on my desk… For some reason, today I decided to tackle it and about two hours later I have working door locks!

Thanks for the great tutorial and everyone else’s additions!

UPDATE: Looks like I spoke too soon. Work great when using the button/smartkey but its really hard to switch manually. From what I read above sounds like I have the white cup out of sync.

 

I changed the motor but now my door doesn't work at all. When you push the lock button inside the car all doors lock except the one I changed but you can feel it working. I can't open the drivers door from the outside or lock or unlock that door. Is this all because the key line was wrong or did I mess something inside when I had it apart

 

Sounds like you didn't line up the key receiver properly, and maybe other re-installation problems that are described throughout this thread. Check through the access holes adjacent to the key lock first, but you may need to remove the actuator to make sure the connection rod was reinstalled properly.

 

It's most likely the electric motor in the actuator. Extreme heat would cause older electric motors to fail. That's why electric motors for some applications have heat sinks and are open for air cooling, e.g., an alternator.

 

FOLLOW UP - A month or so after replacing the actuator motor, I started getting a grinding noise every time I unlocked the door. Assumed it was the small gear slipping on the self made D shaft so I went back in and put a dab of green Loctite glue on the shaft, although it could have also been the main gear moving out of place a bit due to the case not being taped up securely. Either way, I wrapped it up tight after glueing the gear on the shaft and all is well now.
I can't emphasize enough taking out the door key assembly before reinstalling everything. I found that I had to insert the key to get it to release and come out, after loosening the Torx screw of course.

Good luck.

 

My passenger side front door lock stopped working a few months ago too. Started off slow then got progressively worse until it wouldn't lock anymore with the remote and car wouldn't beep on locking.

Sadly in Australia, parts are not cheap and there's only 1 Lexus dealer in my entire state. Lexus took the door apart and quoted me $1400 and stated I needed a whole new door closer assembly and actuator - the part number was 69040-50220 which is only for RH drive vehicles and the part number was also for a series of parts. I was so shocked, I tried to seek help overseas from Lexus dealers and club vendors, but sadly either none could supply the part (due to LH vehicles) or even reply to my emails!! . Tried to get the part direct from an export company in Japan, but with postage and duty it was going to cost $900 just for the parts then I would have had to pay Lexus to install it anyway.

In the end I ordered it from the only dealer in my state and because they made a mistake with the day of my appointment, I negotiated the total cost down to $1070 and they gave me a brand new CT Lexus loan car for 2 days. Its a crazy price I know, and I'm willing to fix some things myself but not this!! I couldn't risk taking it all apart and breaking something else, plus I didn't have the time and if something went wrong with a part I supplied myself then they wouldn't honor any warranty etc.

Finally its fixed and I'm happy again, but I hope nothing else goes wrong like that again with my LS430. It's kind of left me still feeling annoyed. Over $1,000 for one door lock....GRRRR

 

I took apart the door again and the lock assembly and outside door handle were hooked up right but the assembly at the bottom had slipped off the tab for the thing to operate right. re-inserted the tab and everything is working great. Thanks for all the help. Great write up on how to fix this problem.
Mark

 

Bigcory, I'm now where you were back years ago, replacing your door actuator on your Lexus. My question is "did you ever find the D shaft in the actuator? If not, did you replace the shaft w/ the old D shaft and how did it work? Also, was it the correct Mabuchi actuator considering it has greater noise? Anyway, I'm buying the round shaft and filing to a D shaft. Done! Any suggestions would be appreciated. Charger69

 

I also have a 2001 LS430 w/ easy closer. I checked Ebay for the actuator I needed but they all had a metal shaft petruding thru each end of the actuator assembly. What did you do w/ the small shaft at the end where I only have plastic? I can't locate one w/ plastic only on one end and "D" shaft on the other? Can you advise? or email bryanjs@sbcglobal.net

 

I need to install a new actuator and read a few threads stating that others like you modified their actuator. I may need to get inside of the actuator, how do you open the actuator?

Bryan

 

Thanks for the DIY walk thru. Right now I need to change the actuator shaft to "D" configuration. How did you take the actuator motor apart or hold the shaft still while filing the flat side? Bryan

 

I now have an actuator problem. Did you take your actuator motor apart and remove the round shaft or did you file the "D' configuration shaft in place. How do I take the acturator motor apart or hold the shaft still while filing? thx, Bryan