AU central locking problem & questions

Gibbering Fool · 24-08-2007, 03:02 PM

Hi, I know the actuators in AU's central locking have a history of screwing up. Well neither of my back doors would lock and it refused to remote lock. I took it into an auto electrician and he tells me all four will need to be replaced because there's some kind of feedback problem between the front door actuators and the back.

Now I was expecting to have to replace the back door actuators, since they won't lock and make a groaning noise every time I open the doors, but not the front doors. I'm a little bit sus he may be trying to take me for a ride.

Actuators are a bit pricey new (about $170I'm told) and to get four is going to cost me. Add that to labor and I'll be paying close to a grand to get the whole system fixed. What I want to ask is would it be difficult to do it myself? I've never done any work on the doors or electronics but I watched the guys at the mechanics and it really didn't look that hard.

Also, would I be able to get AU actuators from the wreckers for a lot cheaper, provided they're not shoddy ones too?

JC · 24-08-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibbering Fool

Hi, I know the actuators in AU's central locking have a history of screwing up. Well neither of my back doors would lock and it refused to remote lock. I took it into an auto electrician and he tells me all four will need to be replaced because there's some kind of feedback problem between the front door actuators and the back.

Now I was expecting to have to replace the back door actuators, since they won't lock and make a groaning noise every time I open the doors, but not the front doors. I'm a little bit sus he may be trying to take me for a ride.

Actuators are a bit pricey new (about $170I'm told) and to get four is going to cost me. Add that to labor and I'll be paying close to a grand to get the whole system fixed. What I want to ask is would it be difficult to do it myself? I've never done any work on the doors or electronics but I watched the guys at the mechanics and it really didn't look that hard.

Also, would I be able to get AU actuators from the wreckers for a lot cheaper, provided they're not shoddy ones too?

I have heard the feedback bit affecting commondores, but not falcons. Try another auto electrician, or try Ford.

howesy · 24-08-2007, 07:38 PM

The actuator is part of the door lock assembly and is P**s easy to change over. Take off the door trim a couple of fidly clips and 3 screws on the door edge. lift one out put the other in. The AU is the same as the BA except the later BA2 and BF have a different plug. AU are discontinued and you have to buy the BA unit and an adapter plug at a premium $18 each. (gotta love ford)
Bursons sell the actuators for around the 120 mark from memory.

XR6Stu · 25-08-2007, 10:52 AM

Yep you could get an actuator from the wreckers, if you do, try to get BA ones, and buy the adaptor from Ford. Also, what part of the country do you live in?

peterban · 25-08-2007, 02:02 PM

It could be just the small cog inside.
Here is the link to the tech article
http://www.fordforums.com.au/vbporta...article&id=320

TwistedEL · 26-08-2007, 12:35 AM

I have never heard of any "feedback" issues. He's having you on.
It is really easy to do yourself, and you can pick them up pretty cheap from wreckers (or buy new for piece of mind, myself I just bought mine second hand).

Gibbering Fool · 26-08-2007, 01:38 PM

Hey thanks for the advice everyone, I think I will try and save some money by doing the job myself, with the help of some more clued in friends. Under the hood I can get by but when it comes to electronics I haven't really done much.

@XR6Stu I'm from Rockhampton Qld. Why would you like to know?

XR6Stu · 26-08-2007, 08:37 PM

Dang. If you were from somewhere in Vic that is within easy travelling, I was going to source them for you through work and come give ya a hand! But alas. Its a damned long way from Bendigo to Rockhampton!

Gibbering Fool · 30-08-2007, 10:56 AM

Hey thanks for the though Stu, would have been great to get some help but oh well. I'm getting the AU actuators from the wreckers this arvo. The place is testing them for me to make sure they still work, which is good. My future father in law's offered to help me install them but he lives 2 hours away and won't be available for a few weeks so I may just get a professional to install them, as I'm not too confident with doing it myself.

Unless someone has a guide or a link to a website that may be able to help me? I watched the guys at the mechanics doing it and it really did look easy.