yesterday, when i swung the driver's side door closed, it wouldn't latch and popped back open. the latch is either broken or needs lube. i opened the door panel per Tech's instructions:

To remove the door panel
1. Remove the screws along the bottom of the door panel.
2. Remove the insert above the door handle to open the door.
3. Remove the 2 T-30 screws
4. Remove the speaker and all 4 screws around the edge of it.
Then you should be able to work the panel off.
Also you have to remove the door lock **** and the **** on the inner door handle.

but I couldn't get the metal latch piece out. do these things go bad? do i have to open the door panel even more to replace this latch? i tried wd-40 and got the door to stay closed a couple times but then it goes back to malfunctioning and when i try to close the door it just pops back open. any advice?
thanks a lot.

 

So i figured the latch is broken. i think it's also called a door lock actuator. buying a new one is ridiculously expensive ($288) but i found one on ebay for $25. ha. waiting for it to be shipped so i can try and install it. i figured out how to remove the actuator. you have to disconnect the electrical wires and unscrew a few more screws on the end of the door. then you push the electrical wires through the door into the inside of the panel and pull the whole thing out.

when i took the actuator out, the thing the ensures the WINDOW slides in the right way (lined by velvet) fell out. there were no screws or anything. does this just pop back in or is there a screw that holds it in place?

Thanks a lot

 

The window guide on the back of the door?
There is supposed to be a bracket off the side that normally breaks.

 

exactly. it's the window guide. do you know where i can get that bracket?
thanks a lot. still waiting for the door actuator to be delivered.

 

Not sure of you can get it aftermarket yet. I know the dealer usually stocks it.

 

Thanks a lot.

 

Ok, so the window guide wasn't actually broken, i had just removed the screw that holds it in place. doh! the top part of the window guide fits into a rubber piece that the window is held with. The bottom part of the window guide has a whole that is secured with a screw.

as for replacing the door lock actuator--definitely not easy (for a newbie) but doable. the hardest part was getting the outside door handle to fit back into the door lock actuator. there's a piece on the outside door handle mechanism that functions as a "key" (to visualize--it's like your real door key causes this internal "key" to twist). This "key" fits into a plastic "keyhole" on the door lock actuator. I found that in order to put it back properly you have to take the two screws out that hold the door lock actuator AND the two screws that hold the outside door handle and then wedge the two together at an angle. before you replace the four screws, test the key function to make sure it works.