Door lock actuator replacement

[locke1064]

Hi everyone. Over the past few weeks I found that my 2002 pathfinder would not unlock the front driver door all the way. It'd take a few cylces of unlock/lock/unlock via clicks of the FOB or switch to unlock. Now it doesn't unlock at all. The other 3 doors unlock just fine, and it locks just fine, but does not unlock via button or fob (I have to use the key).

I'm pretty sure the door lock actuator needs to be replaced. I see them available for around $70, but wondering if anyone has replaced it before and how difficult it is. I already have the door apart and it looks pretty intimidating if I have to remove the latch assembly and all the linkages.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks

Ben

[Slartibartfast]

I've only been into a WD's door panel, but that's a bit of a PITA... not horrible, just a bit of work where you can't see what you're doing. Unless yours it making grinding noises or something, it might just need some grease on the gears/joints.

 

The WD's door has these nifty little plastic clips in the linkages... you twist it and the metal push rod comes right out. I don't know if the R50's set up similarly.

 

That said, I cleaned/greased the actuator in mine... and it made the problem worse.