Posted on 27th Jun 2022
Let’s play a quick scenario. You go out in the driveway and hit the unlock button on your fob. Or maybe you go to the keypad on your door and type in the code.
Nothing.
It’s an uncommon, unfortunate occurrence, but it doesn’t always happen this way. Many times - perhaps most of the time - there are warning signs before there’s a complete failure of door lock components.
By the way, the culprit is likely your GM’s door lock actuators. These are small devices inside of the door that electronically controls the locks. Each door has one, and there are a number of things that can make them fail.
However, before you actually get to the point of failure, there are usually some signs that the operation of these electric components is flagging. Here’s what to look out for.
This is probably the biggest warning sign of GM door lock actuators that are going to fail. In this instance, we’re not talking about the normal noises that the actuator links make when they physically latch or unlatch the door.
Instead, keep your senses tuned for weird sounds like buzzing coming from inside the door, or other laboring noises like clicking or scraping. Also, if the normal noises your door lock actuators make are suddenly louder or it seems as if the volume is growing, the motor may be struggling. Since the motor is a common failure point, this may indicate that your actuators are soon going to fail.
In some instances, a faulty door lock actuator might lock the doors but be unable to unlock them. The reverse may also be true; you might be able to unlock the doors using a button but not lock them.
If this is inconsistent - as in, the problem happens sometimes, but not others - it’s a definite warning sign that something is wrong with your door lock actuators.
If you go to lock or unlock all of the doors, but one of the doors either does not respond, behaves erratically, or exhibits a delayed response, that is almost certainly a sign of a door lock actuator that’s on the fritz.
On the topic of delayed responses, that is also another big warning sign of failing GM door lock actuators.
Have you ever gone to lock or unlock your GM’s doors, but it takes a second or two before it happens? Sometimes, what happens is you press the button and the locks unlock or lock and then go through a few cycles, erratically and unpredictably.
This is more likely than not a sign of an electrical problem that can underlie issues with the door lock actuator. Either way, if your locks take a moment to seem to respond to what’s happening, or go through lock/unlock cycles a few times, that’s a bad sign.
If you’ve ever been sitting in your car and the locks start going without you touching anything, those random signals may belie an electrical issue or a problem with the door lock actuators themselves.
Sometimes, the symptom is similar to the one mentioned above - only, the doors will lock and unlock in random succession without you touching anything.
Either way, if the locks start engaging and disengaging without being activated, it’s something you should look into before your actuators just quit completely.
Electronic door locks contain sensors that activate the “door open” warning lights on the dashboards of some cars. This sensor is typically an integral component of door lock actuators.
So, if you’re in your car, and can’t help but notice that the “door open” warning light comes on, even with all the doors closed, then there may be a problem with the door lock actuator.
This does not automatically presage a failure of the actuator’s ability to lock and unlock the doors, but an electrical malfunction is never an indicator of something good. It’s better to replace potentially faulty door lock actuators before they fail, anyway.
Many GM models produced between the years of 2007 and 2014 were made with notoriously unreliable GM door lock actuators. Primarily, the following models are affected:
These vehicles were produced with GM door lock actuators with weak motors that are prone to burning out. Many units suffer motor failure which makes locking and unlocking the doors difficult at best.
So we developed something better. Our replacement door lock actuator has an updated high-torque motor with the factory-correct wiring. We also extensively tested it over the course of two weeks through 35,000 lock and unlock cycles.
There are four options at your disposal for replacing or repairing your GM door lock actuator.
For additional details, please consult the link at the beginning of this section. You can also find detailed information on the previous four options at the same link, as well as videos and instructions on how to complete the installation if you plan to do it yourself.
Do you have questions about your vehicle’s door lock actuators or about our replacement parts? Either contact us online or reach out to us directly at Paul@GruvenParts.com for more information.
Apparently, nearly three-quarters of Americans park their cars outside routinely, if not every day. Evidently, as much as 20% of cars parked outside will at some point or other be struck by gravel or other road debris.Many others are subject to incidental damage, either scraped by [...]
For many of us, washing the car or truck is something we enjoy doing. It’s a pleasant form of recreation the benefits of which we can personally identify with and take pride in.For others, keeping the vehicle shiny is more of a chore than an enjoyable [...]
You know what gets a lot of attention? Blacked out wheels, engine displacement, torque, and tinted window treatments.You know what doesn’t get a lot of attention? Your car’s cooling system - specifically the car cooling system parts that are doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes.And no, [...]
You hit the unlock button on your keyfob and nothing happens. You open the door with the key, manually, and try the power unlock buttons. Still no dice.You may have experienced door lock actuator failure. Back in the day, vehicle locks were intended to be locked and unlocked manually with keys. This is no longer [...]
It’s an all-too-common plight. You go to adjust your GM power folding mirrors (especially those on some trucks or SUVs) and nothing moves. Or, perhaps, the mirror starts to move but then stops. Is it jammed? Is it broken? Has the motor itself burnt out?It [...]
STAR House Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Roswell, Georgia. They provide after-school tutoring and mentoring for at-risk children throughout North Fulton County.Help us give a Gruven send off to a group of very special 5th graders at the STAR House Foundation who have worked so hard this past year as they head off to middle [...]
Check out the #swag section of the site for some newly released trucker caps, decals, and more !These wont be your run of the mill cheaply made garbage that you end up using to wipe off the oil pan and driveway after a messy 4 beer oil change...this is the stuff you will actually want to [...]
GruvenParts gives thanks to those who serve and protect this GREAT COUNTRY ! We are blessed by your hard work, sacrifice, and dedication helping to keep us all safe. If you are a Veteran or currently serving in the Armed Forces, Police, Fireman, or other 1st Responder, please hit Contact Us above before your order and [...]
Please note GruvenParts.com is open and operating fully at 100% !!Our machining facility also manufacturers critical medical equipment and as such our employees are allowed to continue working their shifts at a normal schedule. Your order will be processed and shipped in the same timely manner you have grown to expect over the 20+ years we [...]
ABOUT SSL CERTIFICATES |