1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Door lock actuator motor failure w/pics

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by Sumo91, Feb 6, 2020.

  1. Feb 6, 2020 at 11:10 AM
    #1
    Sumo91

    Sumo91 [OP] Busy with projects

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2019
    Member:
    #38726
    Messages:
    1,494
    Gender:
    Male
    TN
    Vehicle:
    2014 MGM Tundra Platinum 4x4
    Bilstein 8112/8100 3.25in lift Dobinson leaf springs 2.1in lift Level8 MK6 wheels Big ole dent in bedside
    Hey all! Just got around to replacing the motor in my door actuator, it works great now! Out of curiosity I decided to tear down the motor to inspect the brushes and commutator. The brushes still had life in them, but everything was pretty dirty, so there wasnt a good connection between the comm and the brushes, even though the motor spun freely by hand. but from my diagnosis, I believe the motor doesnt spin fast enough/long enough to expel the left over brush material, causing the comm to get dirty and built up with gunk. I took pictures of the motor as it is when took apart, and after simply wiping the comm with a paper towel. I used a small battery to power the motor after I cleaned it, and it works. So for those of you experienced with electric motors, it's worth a shot just to clean the existing one to get your actuator working again.20200206_124824.jpg 20200206_124832.jpg 20200206_124849.jpg 20200206_125004.jpg 20200206_125008.jpg
     
    Navi and AZBoatHauler like this.
  2. Mar 9, 2020 at 9:16 PM
    #2
    Tricky001

    Tricky001 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2018
    Member:
    #19776
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rick
    Was it hard getting out? did you have a guide/video...my 2017 is failing on the passenger side..
    Tks..
     
  3. Mar 9, 2020 at 9:22 PM
    #3
    Ely010606

    Ely010606 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2017
    Member:
    #9286
    Messages:
    4,031
    Gender:
    Male
    SPARKS, NV
    Vehicle:
    2017 QS SR5 CM TRD 4x4
  4. Mar 10, 2020 at 5:49 AM
    #4
    Tundragrappler

    Tundragrappler New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2019
    Member:
    #38946
    Messages:
    22
    Gender:
    Male
    northeast
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tundra TRD Pro
    stock
    I haven't had that issue on a tundra yet, but had it on an '07 FJ cruiser and an '06 Land Cruiser. There seems to be some sense that the failure is more prevalent in the south where you have hot humid environments. Those vehicles had spent a lot of time in South Carolina, and in the DC area.

    There are some threads on FJ/ landcruiser message boards about how to replace only the motor, which can be had for about a couple of bucks, but it requires disassembling the actuator module and is not worth it, IMO, after having done it. The module cost about $250 or so retail IIRC, and I certainly would buy one of those if I had to do it again. The modules on the FJ and Landcruiser were not designed to contemplate replacing any individual parts at all. Maybe the newer ones are different.

    Edited to add:

    Here's a video from a guy who replaced the motor in a 2008 actuator. It appears similar to the FJ cruiser actuator that I replaced the motor. Those who want to try for those models should watch carefully. I can't believe that I got it done, after watching this....had I seen it before I started, I would clearly have bought the whole assembly. Maybe the newer generation module is easier to get apart.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbRTg7L5nsE
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2020
  5. Mar 10, 2020 at 6:35 AM
    #5
    Navi

    Navi New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2018
    Member:
    #18533
    Messages:
    1,003
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 CrewMax Limited
    Good post OP. I've had this problem with our 4R and wish i would have know about this when i had to pay for the new part. The OEM are expensive
     
  6. Mar 10, 2020 at 12:51 PM
    #6
    Sumo91

    Sumo91 [OP] Busy with projects

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2019
    Member:
    #38726
    Messages:
    1,494
    Gender:
    Male
    TN
    Vehicle:
    2014 MGM Tundra Platinum 4x4
    Bilstein 8112/8100 3.25in lift Dobinson leaf springs 2.1in lift Level8 MK6 wheels Big ole dent in bedside
    It was easy for me to replace the motor in the case. Once you have the case out, just take some screws out and pop it open. Easy stuff. The next time one of my actuators fail I'm going to remove the actuator motor and clean it thoroughly and reinstall. The motors are cheap, yes. But if the brushes and commutator only needs to be cleaned. then I'll just clean it.
     
  7. Sep 27, 2021 at 3:32 PM
    #7
    grave

    grave New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2021
    Member:
    #62509
    Messages:
    295
    SD CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 4.7 SR5 4X4
    is there really any trick to doing this cleaning? i think all four of mine are toast (both passenger side never work, either driver's side lock works 7/10 times) and this thread popped up while doing my research before purchasing new motors.

    are there any specific solvents or materials (paper towel? microfiber? brillo pad?) to clean the commutator? and is that all you cleaned? it would be rad if this were a free fix. thanks!
     
    Sumo91[OP] likes this.
  8. Sep 27, 2021 at 4:16 PM
    #8
    Sumo91

    Sumo91 [OP] Busy with projects

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2019
    Member:
    #38726
    Messages:
    1,494
    Gender:
    Male
    TN
    Vehicle:
    2014 MGM Tundra Platinum 4x4
    Bilstein 8112/8100 3.25in lift Dobinson leaf springs 2.1in lift Level8 MK6 wheels Big ole dent in bedside
    Nothing fancy needed, if you want it to last awhile, use electronic cleaner and maybe some fine steel wool. The brushes should have plenty of life left, so it will get dirty and fail again eventually before you wear the brushes out
     
  9. Oct 5, 2021 at 8:40 AM
    #9
    grave

    grave New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2021
    Member:
    #62509
    Messages:
    295
    SD CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 4.7 SR5 4X4
    i attempted this fix on sunday night and succeeded... but also failed. i've never disassembled one of these before and my impatient ass was getting frustrated trying to take it apart... a little bit of prying and pulling and removing of screws later, i was in. I got the motor apart, cleaned the commutator (was surprised at how teeny tiny it was), and got it back together. plugged it back in, the lock snapped open & closed every time i hit the driver door button, stoke levels were trending upward. i plugged everything else back in, got the door trim back in place, shut my door... and it just bounced open. i messed with the lock & handle a bit before resigning myself to removing the door trim and taking everything apart... again. I took the actuator out, disassembled it, checked everything, reassembled, and reinstalled. same thing. i did this about ten times and could not figure out what was wrong with the thing.

    i finally figured out that it was something inside the latch mechanism itself. i bungled something somewhere somehow. when i attach it back to the door frame with the three T30 torx bolts, it doesn't work. it works just fine with just the top screw in, but as soon as i put the bottom two (i tried doing just the left one, then just the right, all that) in it just bounces open. i could not figure it out, so after about three hours of installing, removing, disassembling, fucking with, reassembling & reinstalling it i went on ebay and purchased a refurbished OEM unit for $62. oh well. at least now I know my way around these units and can disassemble the two on the passenger side much easier to clean or replace the motors ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #9

Products Discussed in

To Top