How do you replace a door lock actuator on a 2001 Ford Expedition?

Answer 1

1. Take off the little plastic triangle cover from the side mirror area ontop of the interior door liner. Pull the top toward you and you will feel the top pop-rivet pop off. Then lift up. Take out the Phillips screw completely.

2. With a straight blade screwdriver, pop off the electric window/door lock plastic cover straight up. Disconnect the 2 wiring harness by pushing the button and pulling straight off.

3. Use the same scredriver to pop off the door handle trim piece. Use a metric nutdriver (I think 8mm) to disconnect the door handle and remove. Locate the screw inside the handle area(it is hard to see but look in the hole upwards to see it) and uncrew Phillips screw completely.

4. Take the same screwdriver and remove the lens cover on the door light at the bottom. Take out the long torx screw inside the light housing. Give the bulb a 1/4 turn to disconnect it from the light assembly.

5. Lift upward on the door liner, do not force. Should come off up first than out.

6. Disconnect the actuator by taking off a 10mm nut/washer combo/ there is no rivet on the 2001 model. The actuator has a rod that sticks up and connects to that latch with a U shaped end. It is located towards the middle of the door near the bottom. Disconnect the rod from the latch. Take out the old actuator and throw away. Taking the latch off should not be necessary on the 2001. If more room is needed, you can take off the window slide track with one nut.washer combo also.

7. The new actuator comes with the complete housing but no rubber boot around it. It also comes apart in 2 different place to make it easy to install without taking the latch off the door.

8. trial test by plugging the switch in and unlock/lock.

9. Put it all back together in reverse order....

7.