Car Door Lock Actuator Circuit

A rod con nects the actuator to the latch and another rod connects the latch to the knob that sticks up out of the top of the door.

Car door lock actuator circuit.

The concept of a door lock actuator works great until it doesn t. In some cars the door lock actuator is positioned below the latch. This manipulates a series of rods that slide back and forth opening and closing the locking mechanism at the door latch. In this car the power door lock actuator is positioned below the latch.

On a vehicle with electric locks the process is a bit different. If there are no external door lock switches you will most likely have a vacuum type system or an aftermarket door lock system with relays or have an added actuator that needs relays. Car door lock actuators are designed to lock and unlock a door without the effort of pulling on a cable and rod. A door lock actuator is basically a reversible motor or a solenoid on some vehicles with gears that operate the door lock.

Next with your multi meter probe each of the wires in this harness and write down the readings during lock unlock and at rest positions of the switch. When the actuator fails or starts to fail you ll likely notice one or more symptoms that make your daily commute less pleasant. On manual locks the locking function operates by pushing or pulling on the door lock.