Central Locking fix

[tim_c Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tim_c]

Short story:
The central locking motors can be replaced with motor part number "FC-280PT-22125" which is currently available in packs of four on ebay for around A$35 including shipping (I bought mine from a seller called "mopselectric"). I never priced the parts from Toyota but if the rumours are to be believed, Toyota will not sell the actuator (motor and gearbox) separate to the door lock/latch assembly, and the total assembly is supposedly at least $400 or more! You could always buy from a wrecker, but if you're replacing a failed motor, it's a bit of a gamble as to how long a replacement second-hand one will last.

And here's the long story if you're interested:
Recently the central locking on one door failed (RR door on my 2001 GXL Prado). I pulled it apart and found that the electric motor had failed - connected to 12v with no load, it would spin very lethargically before slowing to a stop. I shopped around online all the electrical places I knew looking for a similar motor to replace it, and found nothing even close to suitable.

With the help of google, I found some folks on other forums talking of replacing the motors in other Toyotas, including the 100 Series Landcruiser (or its Lexus equivalent) and even a part number "FC-280PT-22125" which I was able to find on ebay (in packs of two or four). The dimensions and photos on the listing appeared similar to the motor I'd just pulled out of my locking mechanism (right down to the brass collar on the output shaft) so I went ahead and ordered a set of four for about A$35 including shipping (figuring all the motors are the same age, if one has failed, others might fail soon too) hoping they'd fit.

Last week they arrived but they looked like a slightly different shape on one end. However, last Saturday I set about trying to install it anyway and was pleased to find it was a direct fit!

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Great find Tim, worth your time and they worked so that's even better lol......Cheers Steve

[ratsack Member Find all posts View Profile Close ratsack]

Very handy to know! If ours play up, I'll definitely TRY and remember this thread.

This thread is what forums are all about! Thanks for taking the time to post this info up.

[baders Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baders]

Mmmm. My '96 model seems to have actuators (original), not motors. Can't seem to find anything close on Ebay. Back to the drawing board

Edit, I should say that my model is the central locking only, no remote.

[baders Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baders]

Upon further investigation it appears the actuator isn't original after all. Pulled apart the drivers door to compare and the passenger actuator is different. Can't honestly remember having that done !!! (Had the vehicle since new). Problem is that it looks like it was bodgeyed up job and whatever linkage they put in is missing, the actual actuator is operating fine. Will see if I can engineer up a better linkage.

[baders Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baders]

I went to a wrecker and got a new actuator. Installed it today and all working fine. For future reference, this is a pic of the actuator. Doesn't look like the motor items displayed from Ebay ??

[tim_c Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tim_c]

That looks identical to the one I pulled out of my car - the part on the LHS of the image is the actuator, the other part is the door latch mechanism. There are three small screws holding the actuator part onto the door latch mechanism - once you separate them (note where the actuator arm connects into the linkages and be careful to manoeuvre it out carefully so you don't break anything), you can pry open the actuator and the motor is inside along with a couple of gears etc. You can just pull the motor out, slide the worm-gear off the shaft and then slip the worm gear onto the new Ebay motor which just goes straight in - just like it was made for it!

I've read of some people having trouble with the "clam shells" (actuator casing) coming apart when the actuator actuates so I put a couple of spots of Selleys plastic glue (available from Bunnings) on it before clipping it back together (I only put a couple of spots in case I need to get in there again).

It shouldn't make any difference if it's central locking without remote - the central locking bits are all the same, the remote part just adds some electrickery to receive a signal from the remote and send trigger signal to the central locking control module. In most cases, you can easily add a remote to an existing/factory central locking system - you just need to find the two trigger wires (one for locking, another one for unlocking). I did it on my previous car, a 1995 Holden Jackaroo, as well as our little car, a 1998 Toyota Corolla. Both times I used a RhinoCo RCXI kit which you can get for around $100-150 (I bought the most recent one online from Carbon Car Systems in Sydney - it doesn't appear they stock them at the moment, but they may be able to get one in if you ask).

[baders Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baders]

Thanks tim_c, that explains it. I should have pulled it apart further !!

That looks identical to the one I pulled out of my car - the part on the LHS of the image is the actuator, the other part is the door latch mechanism. There are three small screws holding the actuator part onto the door latch mechanism - once you separate them (note where the actuator arm connects into the linkages and be careful to manoeuvre it out carefully so you don't break anything), you can pry open the actuator and the motor is inside along with a couple of gears etc. You can just pull the motor out, slide the worm-gear off the shaft and then slip the worm gear onto the new Ebay motor which just goes straight in - just like it was made for it!

I've read of some people having trouble with the "clam shells" (actuator casing) coming apart when the actuator actuates so I put a couple of spots of Selleys plastic glue (available from Bunnings) on it before clipping it back together (I only put a couple of spots in case I need to get in there again).

It shouldn't make any difference if it's central locking without remote - the central locking bits are all the same, the remote part just adds some electrickery to receive a signal from the remote and send trigger signal to the central locking control module. In most cases, you can easily add a remote to an existing/factory central locking system - you just need to find the two trigger wires (one for locking, another one for unlocking). I did it on my previous car, a 1995 Holden Jackaroo, as well as our little car, a 1998 Toyota Corolla. Both times I used a RhinoCo RCXI kit which you can get for around $100-150 (I bought the most recent one online from Carbon Car Systems in Sydney - it doesn't appear they stock them at the moment, but they may be able to get one in if you ask).