Independent mechanic replaced my failing Lexus LS430 Door Lock Actuator (Toyota Part 69040-50181).

The key FOB works now to lock/unlock the driver door, but the physical key 🔑 won't turn much/easily and won't lock/unlock the door 😱.

What could have happened during the install? 🤔

 

The actuator replacement and locking mechanism is a fairly complicated assembly. Assuming the key worked well before the repair, either the actuator is bad, or the tech did not reinstall all the parts and cables correctly. Everything should have been tested for functionality before butting up the repair.

 

There is an extra rod on the driver's door actuator that connects to the back side of the key barrel. It's an installation error but it's easily fixable after removing the door panel.

 

Before installation, I did verify that the circular white plastic [key] receptacle on the new part turned easily and triggered the mechanism on the other end.

I'm curious how my car knows to only allow my custom-cut key to turn that thing and not anything that fits in the key hole.

The online videos that talk about a $5 motor replacement to fix the door lock actuator make it look easy to do.
No independent mechanic I spoke to wanted to do that. Most of them didn't even want the job to replace the whole unit!
Toyota and Lexus dealers wanted about $1500 for this job.

So I bought the new part for $250 from Amazon, and labor was 2 hours from this independent mechanic. FYI.
I've notified him of the problem, and will be taking it back.
Works ok for now, but if the car battery dies or my key FOB quits working (wet, battery issue, etc), I will not be able to get into the car.

 

Just an update that I took the car back to my independent mechanic and he fixed the door lock so that the manual key now works to lock/unlock the door too.
He said that something needed to be aligned properly when installing the door lock actuator (front left/driver-side).

I also discovered that my sensor key, which stopped sensing, was not caused by the failed door lock actuator, but possibly by the AAA battery replacement person who said something might be draining my battery when the car was left parked for a long time, and who might have disabled it. I located the obscure switch and turned it back on, and things are back to normal now.

I hate older car electronics/electrical problems...

 

What did you spend on the initial door lock actuator job? I have the same issue, my key fob does not unlock any of the doors, except the trunk.