Hey all. Please somebody help me out. My wifes windstar GL is having problems with the door locks. They won't lock or unlock from any of the switches on the doors. The switches all make the sound as if they are working but all that happens is the ***** jiggle a bit. It's as if there isn't enough power to force the ***** into the opposite position they are in. Could it be the actuator? Is there a single actuator for the whole vehicle or a seperate one for each door? Please help. Thanks!

 

Each door has its own actuator. Did they all start having this problem simultaneously?

 

All the doors have the same problem. I bought the Windstar used about 2 years ago and the locks were working on and off but have gotten progressively worse since I owned it. At first, they would work fairly well when it was warmer weather. Then I had to press "Unlock" or "Lock" about4 or 5 times in a row and each press of the button would kinda make the ***** jiggle a little further and further up or down until they finally reached the point where the door was open or closed. Now, they don't work at all. They make the sound as if they are locking or unlocking but the ***** barely wiggle now. This problem is symptomatic of every door regardless of which switch I use. Each switch acts the same way. Is there a central unit that powers all of the doors? It seems odd that all 3 actuators would all go at the same time. Please write back. Thanks.

 

I think you can buy the switch assy, it maybe just dirty contacts in the switch. They oxidize with time, and build up carbon deposits, this causes resistance and therfore less votage to the actuator.. if you are careful, and I mean careful you maybe able to take the switch apart and clean it with contact cleaner availible at a local electronics shop like radio shack.. I did that to my 01 Honda, and my windstar the driver door was doin the same thing, it worked better in the heat because the lube in the linkage is thiner.. when it gets colder the the lube thickens up and is harder for the parts to move... works fine now. Good luck!!!

 

subjuct of door lock activators does anyone know if other years windstar activaters are interchangeabe ? i reallize i may have to go to the dealer to find this out .most of the time the dealers have young people at parts that dont know much about it or take all day to look it up.


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i just installed an actuator in our 98 windstar passenger side front door .my van was made in may 97 , but the ford garage told me any actuator from a 95-early 97 model. unless you have one made after i guess june of 97 .you will have to check on that with the garage. i know i got one and it does work.
if you know someone with a rivet gun to help you put it back in its not a bad job .thats after you drill the old rivet out.like i said its not a bad job. the door is not bad to get off.


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The one reply was right about drilling out the exsisting rivot holding the malfunctioned actuator. But I just got a nut and bolt the right size to anchor it in. It works just fine. I believe theres 3 actuators. One drivers side, one passengers side and one located in the back.

Hope that helps

 

i found the motor on the other end .


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well my window and door lock on the passenger side wont work now.
is the motor the thing the actuator is plugged into?.some companies on here call the actuator the motor. there is another motor right? if so i guess i'll replace both this time. any information would help. thanks.


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