1992 Previa Driver's Side Door Locking Issue

[Unclegrumpy]

My 1992 Previa has had an annoying issue with the driver's side door lock...maybe power actuator....for many years. Many years, because over the last ten years or so, the problem comes and goes, but now seems to have decided to stay.

The problem is the driver's door now stays locked. In the past, with some fiddling, usually my wife's factory key would just about always open the door, but my cheap key would not. The issue seems more to be with the internal throw of the power lock actuator. The inside door lock switches at one time would sometimes kick enough to make the lock unlock, but not anymore. Over the years, I have also used a variety of products for lubing locks and lock mechanisms...that sometimes helped for a while...but sometimes didn't.

I have had the door panel off before, but have not been able to see the problem. I know people have mentioned a small spring in the lock mechanism, but in the past that was okay, and the door would again unlock and work normally for a while. Am not saying that is now not the problem, but I guess I am saying this has been a long suffering issue that I need some help with.

Also need some tips to get the door unlocked to work on it.

Thanks!

[Unclegrumpy]

I got my door open and think I found my problem. There is a black plastic box that the locking mechanism hooks to. Guessing that is the power lock actuator.

The problem is it seems to be jamming up inside at the base of the attaching shaft. I did not do a great job with my arrow, but this is the place it is hanging up. The problem...like it has been for a long time.... is intermittent. Now that I have dittled with it, the thing works fine...but that was after getting the door open and experimenting and having jam again.

That all said, is the black AISIN marked piece replaceable? And does anyone know where to get one?

Thanks!

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[Unclegrumpy]

So I decided to go the auto wreckers yesterday and hunt for a locking actuator. In looking at it on my bench today, I saw the infamous spring. Turned out the reason I could not see the spring on mine was because it wasn't there. I had run a magnet in the door looking for the old one, but it never turned up.

I almost put the spring from my new actuator on, but then decided I did not want to risk losing it in the door or stretching it. Decided to look for a new spring...no luck at NAPA...but found the below at Lowes. It was too long, but about the same diameter and metal thickness...also close to the same tension. It was not hard to shorten and make with the good one as a guide. Everything works again now, so I am good for the moment. I do have a replacement unit now so not all was wasted.

Anyway, I decided to post a picture of the locking actuator where you can see the spring. There are many posts online about this problem, but not one with a good picture of the spring. With this, you can see where that little bastard goes, and have a guide to making one....just count the coils and you will be about right. I should have taken a picture of my little creation, but I did not know if it would work...but it did.

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[Unclegrumpy]

Something else I noticed...

The locking unit I got came out of a very nice Previa...one that had been clearly in a garage most of it's life...but it surprised me how much rust and grit there was on the upper half. The photo above is after some careful cleaning...I wanted to leave what factory grease was still there, but I stopped before I added any myself....but after enough time looking at the little spring that I decided to attack that first.

The unit in my van was in much better shape...cleaner and no rust. Over the years I had sprayed...flooded...a lot of various lock lubricants and things like Triflow in it. For awhile that got the door opening again. I'd opened the door panel up before and recall seeing a spring, but must have zoned out on that this time...more accurately...could not see it...and then had a brain fart.

Anyway, my little revelation is two fold. First, I think the upper part of my locking unit was originally binding up. I suspect that is one big reason the springs break...and door handles too. Second, all the stuff I sprayed in probably helped, and my plan is to start doing the same to my passenger door. I was spraying into both the lifted door handle and through the door jam...using an extender nozzle.