My daughters is off to college and her SC430 drivers side door lock is acting up (sometimes it will work , other times it will not)

She reports that the key remote will not unlock the drivers side but it will the passenger side.
She could not get the key to unlock the drivers side
When she tried to manually unlock the door, after climbing in from the passenger side, she said the latch was very stiff and hard to move but was able to unlock it from the inside.
Then an hour later everything seemed to work ok (this has happened one time before last month)

I'm thinking it is the front door lock assembly
https://www.lexuspartsnow.com/parts/...040-24100.html

My questions are:
1. Does everyone agree with the likely issue
2. Since she is out of town(in a mid sized college town) Is this something I should have a local mechanic fix, Toyota Service Department, or Lexus Service Department
3. Does the link above look like the only part that would need to be purchased

 

It just might be a door actuator. There’re threads pertain to this problem. Here is one:


https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...-existent.html

Do a advice search for more infos.

 

Yes, it is the door lock actuator motor most likely. See the write up starting about post #15 by BGW and written instructions starting at post #29.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...ml#post9840480
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...ml#post9913097

Let us know what you decide to do. Good luck

 

FYI, my 03's driver side does not unlock using the remote on a hot day, but works just fine when inserting the key to unlock it.

 

Same issue MH6878. Replace the motors or the mechanism.