Hey guys,
The power lock on my driver's door is getting very weak. Sometimes it almost won't pull the lock button down, and when it does it's very slow. I can measure it in seconds. Most of the time I push the driver's lock button down by hand and use the power control for the passenger door, which slams down like it's supposed to. What does this sound like? Can the little power motor be replaced that locks/unlocks the door? I've never pulled the door panels off, and don't look forward to doing it, but I guess that'd be the first step. If anybody's had this same problem, please reply and tell me what you had to do to fix it. Thanks a bunch!!

P.S. The truck's a '98 SC Lariat 4x2 w/ 65k miles on it.

 

I have no idea what it is. That being said, I wonder if the actuator is on its' last legs.

 

take the panel off and look it just might need lube

 

bad actuator, be lucky its not a 99 or newer, they are a pain to r+r. On a 97,98, you just have to drill the rivet out and move the lower window run to get it out. 99 and newer you have to take the latch out (i made a tool out of a old screwdriver to break the old one off and you can just barely slide the new one on without taking the latch out since ford only pays .4 to put it in)

 

Hey everyone,
Thanks for the replies. 'jefflaws', if it's a while before I'm able to get this job done, is the actuator eventually going to quit working altogether? Each time I do use it, it gets a little slower, but it eventually makes it. I just bought this truck last August, and it was like this when I got it. There's no telling how long it's had this condition. Is this actuator expensive? I've never even removed the door panels in a late-model F150 and am kinda scared to try (I've heard stories about people breaking lots of clips pulling the panels off). Do you have any pointers? That's why I haven't installed my component speakers in the doors yet, either. I'll kill two birds with one stone. Thanks for your help.

 

those actuators are about 50-60 i think, its hard to remember all the prices, some are as cheap as 30 and some over 100, and they could look the same.

Its not that bad getting the door panels off, im sure someone has a guide somewhere on here, if not i can post, but it will take several paragraphs, just let me know if you cant find anything on it.