Rear Door Actuator Broken

[Jeffrey0708]

Working on a 2018 Wrangler JL Sahara - rear door lock actuator is broken - removed the panel and bolts connecting lock to door but still unable to get lock out as it seems to be connected to the door handle mechanism - is there some other item that needs to be removed? Has anyone worked on this that can provide procedures after panel is off?

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[mwilk012]

Yes there is a hidden bolt behind the weatherstripping on the edge of the door, located deep inside the door. You need a long reach torx bit, i think its a t25. then you remove the outer door handle, so you can remove the complete regulator assembly and pull the glass up out of your way. The job really sucks.

 

[Jeffrey0708]

Thanks @mwilk012 - I believe the rear outer door handle can be removed with a thin 6” extended T20. Once I do this, and have the window taped in the up position, will the inner panel (that has 9 or so bolts) come out along with the lock actuator? Or are there other obstacles to consider? I could not find any online DIY video for this process. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[mwilk012]

Thanks @mwilk012 - I believe the rear outer door handle can be removed with a thin 6” extended T20. Once I do this, and have the window taped in the up position, will the inner panel (that has 9 or so bolts) come out along with the lock actuator? Or are there other obstacles to consider? I could not find any online DIY video for this process. Thanks in advance for your help.

They come apart separately, and IIRC there is some other crap in the way but nothing as obnoxious as that hidden bolt.

 

[Jeffrey0708]

Thanks again. Hopefully, once the outer handle comes out the rest will be obvious. There isn’t much room to get my hand in there so I’m concerned if anything else is in the way it may require a special tool that I don’t own. I’m still waiting for the door actuator to be delivered so may be another week or so before I can work on this. Please send any links that you think may be helpful. Thanks!!

 

[mwilk012]

Thanks again. Hopefully, once the outer handle comes out the rest will be obvious. There isn’t much room to get my hand in there so I’m concerned if anything else is in the way it may require a special tool that I don’t own. I’m still waiting for the door actuator to be delivered so may be another week or so before I can work on this. Please send any links that you think may be helpful. Thanks!!

I can get you the service procedure from the manual tomorrow. It's pretty obvious once you get that big regulator out of the way.

I had to do my right rear door and I just carried the door into my living room and did it on the couch. It made it less annoying.

 

[Jeffrey0708]

I was also thinking of just taking the door off and completing the job inside my home. So nice to know that’s what you did. Look forward to receiving the service procedures from the manual tomorrow . Your help is very much appreciated.

 

[Jeffrey0708]

I can get you the service procedure from the manual tomorrow. It's pretty obvious once you get that big regulator out of the way.

I had to do my right rear door and I just carried the door into my living room and did it on the couch. It made it less annoying.

@mwilk012 any success finding the service procedure in the manual?

 

[mwilk012]

@mwilk012 any success finding the service procedure in the manual?

I started snapping pictures and then got busy as hell today. The first several steps of the procedure are each to perform a completely separate procedure, it's a very annoying and poorly written procedure. I'll compile them into a usable format.

 

[Jeffrey0708]

I started snapping pictures and then got busy as hell today. The first several steps of the procedure are each to perform a completely separate procedure, it's a very annoying and poorly written procedure. I'll compile them into a usable format.

Thanks!!

 

[Jeffrey0708]

Since I couldn't find any DIY Online video, I wanted to share that once you remove all relevant bolts & wires and the rear exterior door handle (along with the small screw underneath the door handle), the entire inside door panel comes out with the door lock actuator/mechanism.

Once you remove the lock cables and disconnect the wire from the lock actuator, the only challenge was figuring out how to push back the four black clips holding the locking mechanism to the black plastic mounting frame. I sprayed the clips with WD-40, turned the unit around, and gently pushed down on each clip with a very small screwdriver, sliding the lock mechanism away from each clip one by one.

After that, it was just a matter of reassembling everything. The total job took about an hour.

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