Is there some secret to not getting your car door lock actuator fucked up?

Ive had two cars in my life and its happened on both of them where the actuator for my drivers side door decides to stop working. Meaning like, if I push the door unlock button on my key fob or the buttons on the door itself, the lock wont budge.

Is there like some trick to making sure this doesnt happen that Im just not aware of? its really annoying and Im literally the only person I know that this has happened to too. Ill think about getting it repaired at some point but Id rather not spend a couple hundred only for it to happen again if it can be prevented.

presuming you dont have push to start just open and lock it like a normal door?

its a habit I picked up on my parents 92 escort Ive used since I had my permit

IDK but I can unlock my truck but can no longer lock it with my key

My fob died years ago and I haven't replaced the battery

Could it be your car battery? From my experience, the actuators start acting up when my battery is about to die out.

Are you slamming the door or something?

Only thing I can think of that would effect only the driver's side in several vehicles, but I'm not a cartographer.

rexcrk posted...

Ive had two cars in my life and its happened on both of them where the actuator for my drivers side door decides to stop working . Meaning like, if I push the door unlock button on my key fob or the buttons on the door itself, the lock wont budge.

The bolded part is ultimately meaningless without further context. A single door lock actuator failing on a car that's 10 or more more years old wouldn't be that unusual. Even then, age and mileage doesn't directly indicate how many times those door locks have been cycled can and any mechanical component wears over time due to cycling as well as humidity all contribute to eventual heart failure over time. So short is no.

MrResetti posted...

My fob died years ago and I haven't replaced the battery

It takes like a minute to replace a battery in a fob. WTF?

Dunno, been driving my car for 19 years and the door locking/unlocking always works.

Yeah, secret is don't buy a car with an electronic lock actuator.

Which types of cars were they? Ive had two Japanese cars (Honda and Subaru) and thats never happened to me. When in doubt, check the fuses