Easiest Door Lock Actuator Replacement for 2008-2016 Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Caravan

Рет қаралды 23,866

Күн бұрын

This is not an easy job! I discovered this trick or secret and would like to share how to install a 2008-2016 Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country Sliding Door Lock Actuator the easiest way! There are plenty of other videos out there that show you have to remove the inner door panel assembly, but I couldn't find any that show the worst part of this job. The worst part is getting the inner door panel assembly back into the door. The trick that helps tremendously is to remove the black trim piece on the outside of the door. This allows you to see where that window channel piece is going. It helps to have someone on the outside watching and guiding that piece into the right place so it gets aligned with the window glass while another person is inside and maneuvering the panel into place. The panel can be difficult to get off, but a trim panel removal tool from Harbor Freight worked great to pop the clips loose and tear through the double sided tape. They don’t seem to need the tape to hold them on when you're done, but it wouldn't hurt to reapply new tape.

Пікірлер: 32

@karenperez2698 Жыл бұрын

This was a game changer! I was ready to give up until I found your "secret". Thank you, thank you, thank you!

@mjspiess Жыл бұрын

It absolutely is a game changer! I recently did this repair myself for a customer and it's still hard with this trick, but waaay easier!

@CalebMiskin 11 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing this! I would not have gotten it back together without this. I was stuck for over an hour until I found this. You were right. This is NOT an easy job. Not for the faint of heart.

@mjspiess 11 ай бұрын

You're welcome! The whole job isn't too bad except for this part and it's very frustrating! The last one I did took me 2 hours start to finish. My uncle did it without taking off that panel and it took me 5 hours... Yikes!

@chadslaybaugh8954 2 ай бұрын

Jeeezus!! Why the HELL dont these other guys tell you about the secret freaking access hole 🤦 Thanks man!!

@mjspiess 2 ай бұрын

I don't know. My friend Stu read it in the comments, so we gave it a try and after he fought with it for 3 hours, I got it installed in 5-10 minutes. I did one other since this and completed the entire job in 2 hours by myself. My own minivan's just stopped working, so I plan to record a video from start to finish and include this hardest step.

@doug5855 Жыл бұрын

I fought for hours trying to get this back in before coming across your video. It kept getting twisted while trying to hurdle the cross brace. Got it back together in around 30 minutes after finding this video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

@mjspiess 6 ай бұрын

You're welcome. Glad I was able to help!

@kevinmoloney3835 2 жыл бұрын

More helpful video than the extremely long ones which show the removal of each bolt. However, it’s nearly impossible to get that trim piece off without breaking it, so might plan to have a replacement handy when you remove it.

@mjspiess 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yeah, that plastic piece is hard to remove without breaking it, but nearly impossible to do the job without removing it. Good advice!

@user-fw2jo7iw7k 12 күн бұрын

Great Tip.

@mjspiess 10 күн бұрын

Thanks!

@timothyr1868 3 жыл бұрын

I’m doing this tomorrow couldn’t get it back in now I know why thank you

@mjspiess 3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

@Fitter562lu 2 жыл бұрын

Check to see if your vehicle is part of a recall for rear sliding doors that won't or that make a buzzing noise when the door lock is activated. If you have already paid to have this done you may be eligible for a reimbursement. My letter from Chrysler just came yesterday.1/10/2022

@bsrcat1 2 жыл бұрын

Great you showed the tool but you didn't show how you use it. That would be really helpful for people who have never removed one before.

@mjspiess 2 жыл бұрын

The tool is a trim removal tool, so I thought it was fairly self-explanatory. It just provides more precise leverage on each side of the fastener. I just did this job again this week and used a long flat head screw driver and was able to remove the panel as well.

@mikehaesche 14 күн бұрын

I said to myself there has to be an easier way or an access somewhere I had to do the actuator twice and was almost not able to open the door again😂 the new actuator needs to slide into the pin inside the lock assembly and the metal lock bar with red or blue plastic snap lock make sure you do this or if the door shuts youll have a very tough time like I did getting the door back open then i put the door together and the metal lock bar with the foam twisted tubing was bent behind the door panel and it was binding it from locking and unlocking i wonder if thats why they fail to begin with the constriction behind the door pannel make sure thats also in the right orientation and not bent or youll be taking the panel off again like i had to the most difficult part is not the window track its removing the plastic plate with the slide tabs and then reinstalling it trick is to remove rubber access panels to hold it and leave the 3 t30s on the rear door latch loose after puting the two 10 mm bolts in the rear window track it gives you just enough wiggle to slide it in also make sure the whole plate is in the top and bottom slots and sitting flat to the door panel you could think its in and the top will still be sticking out and i think thats about it no more sheep noises coming from your soccer mom van doors

@mjspiess 14 күн бұрын

@@mikehaesche ha! Yeah, it is a bear to replace. My van is making the sheep noise now, so it's my own turn to replace it on my own van. I plan to record a video of this from start to finish so you don't need to reference a couple videos to get it out. Thanks for the tips! Glad I could help!

@Dave-jc6ky Жыл бұрын

I didn't locate that tool pn Harbor Frieghts website. Do you have a link to locate it? Thanks!

@padilla2435 3 жыл бұрын

Service information says to remove door glass and trim.

@TheEclecticHandyman 2 жыл бұрын

Did you tape the window to keep it in place, or how do you keep it from falling during the repair?

@mjspiess 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, masking tape works well. It's not too sticky, but sticky enough to hold it up.

@kriswarloe6646 2 жыл бұрын

@@mjspiess I just did this same job and we used a suction cup from harbor frieght to keep the window from sliding down which also worked well. I agree that without removing the outer trim piece it is basically impossible to do the job.

@mjspiess 2 жыл бұрын

@@kriswarloe6646 Thanks for the tip! Great idea!

@fernandoguzman4488 9 ай бұрын

The passenger door on my 2013 Chrysler town and country does not open manually or automatically. Tried to remove the interior panel but nothing. Will there be another solution? Help me 🙏

@mjspiess 9 ай бұрын

I’m sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with your passenger door. Based on your description, it sounds like there may be an issue with the door lock actuator or latch assembly which is pretty common with these vehicles. My video just covers the hardest part in the process. The video below shows you what you'll need to do step by step. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oNWIobB6mpynnn0.html