Door actuator
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,234
Likes: 646
From: Orange County Ca
Door actuator
The passenger door actuator on my '09 intermittently doesn't work. I took it out to make sure the electrical connector/pins are in good shape. They are. The rest of the unit is riveted together, so, other than trying to lube it, nothing to service. The only other major part in this system is the presure pad on the door. I think this is ok because when the pad is pressed and the actuator doesn't work, the window drops 1/4" and I can hear the actuator motor hum.
So, my best guess is it is the actuator latch.
Of course, GM doesn't make new ones any more so it's used oem for $45+ or new chinese for $25+.
I really don't have a lot of confidence in after market chinese parts, but, sometimes they are good oem quality.
Has anyone used the china ones on ebay?
Or, should I buy a used one and hope it's good?
So, my best guess is it is the actuator latch.
Of course, GM doesn't make new ones any more so it's used oem for $45+ or new chinese for $25+.
I really don't have a lot of confidence in after market chinese parts, but, sometimes they are good oem quality.
Has anyone used the china ones on ebay?
Or, should I buy a used one and hope it's good?
Last edited by Sayfoo; Aug 6, 2024 at 05:47 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,505
Likes: 3,634
Short of motor brushes worn out, and not wanting to replace the brushes, or replace the motor, 99% of the time, the problem with them are just the grease has dried up, and just need to re-grease the gears and pivots points to get them back to working again
If such is beyond you, then import unit if fine, since most of the parts on the car are imported from the start as well.
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If such is beyond you, then import unit if fine, since most of the parts on the car are imported from the start as well.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,234
Likes: 646
From: Orange County Ca
Yea, import/after market parts are interesting. I've bought brand new oem GM parts that are marked china. Could be a good part if they are made correctly. Could even be oem. But how can you tell??
I just bought a used part from a 2012, 18k mile car from a junk yard on ebay. 99% seller rating and a 90 day warranty. $12 more than the import part. I should be ok.
As for as the gummy grease, I think Dano is right. And if the part wasn't riveted together, I'd have taken it apart to work on it. I didn't want to drill out the rivets to work on it, and maybe ruin it, and not be able to open the door till I got a new one. I did take it out and apply a liberal dose of spray lube, but who knows if it got to the right area? It still only worked intermittently.
I could be a dick and sell the old one on ebay. Used, no warranty. Na, no way.
But that is why I'm leary of some parts from private sellers.
FYI the new chinese part's sell for $25-$45+ on ebay. Many different brands, but they all look the same. Probably are all the same, from the same manufacture??
I just bought a used part from a 2012, 18k mile car from a junk yard on ebay. 99% seller rating and a 90 day warranty. $12 more than the import part. I should be ok.
As for as the gummy grease, I think Dano is right. And if the part wasn't riveted together, I'd have taken it apart to work on it. I didn't want to drill out the rivets to work on it, and maybe ruin it, and not be able to open the door till I got a new one. I did take it out and apply a liberal dose of spray lube, but who knows if it got to the right area? It still only worked intermittently.
I could be a dick and sell the old one on ebay. Used, no warranty. Na, no way.
But that is why I'm leary of some parts from private sellers.
FYI the new chinese part's sell for $25-$45+ on ebay. Many different brands, but they all look the same. Probably are all the same, from the same manufacture??
Last edited by Sayfoo; Aug 6, 2024 at 09:42 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 119
Likes: 40
From: Metro Detroit, MI
I have the same issue you discussed. I went with the $35 part off of Amazon and have had 0 issues ever since. I was getting really frustrated with the faulty OEM equipment and decided to cheap out and try the Amazon ones. So far so good and it's been over a year.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,234
Likes: 646
From: Orange County Ca
It's really hard to guess about the quality of chinese parts. Some are oem quality, and some are crap.
This must be a common problem, as used and aftermarket parts are redially available.
I dred future electrical problems with my car.
