RP Listener Forum - Radio Paradise

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 8:11am

kurtster wrote:

Its not just the trucks. Had to deal with it with my Focus. Two out of the four doors so far. $500.

just ordered new actuators. $60.

Over on 'ford-trucks.com', door locks have come up time and again. There was a long discussion about how to repair them. The actuator has a teeny tiny electric motor that drives a gear train to lock/unlock the door. The electric motor is so undersized, it overheats under normal use. There is a fuse INSIDE the electric motor: a sliver of material. The fix? Check this out:

Disassemble the actuator housing (which is 'heat staked', so you have to drill out the stakes.)
Take the little motor out, bend back the metal tabs holding the end cap on the motor.
Take out the fuse, wrap a piece of foil around it.
Re-insert fuse, put cap back on motor, re-install into housing.
Figure out some way to hold the two halves of the housing together. Most people use an assortment of zip-ties.
Reinstall actuator in door lock mechanism.

The whole thing takes about 15 minutes/door, once you've done it a couple times. It is a totally cheeseball fix for a totally cheeseball design. Not to mention, disabling fuses of any kind is generally a no-no.

But here's the thing: I did all four doors that way, at least three years ago. Only just now did one of the motors finally burn up! When I first made repair, those actuators were $$$, so any attempt at repair was worth it. And heck, they were already busted anyway, so why not crack 'em open?

But the whole experience has scared me away from Fords. If they'll perpetrate such a half-assed design on something like a door lock, where else are they cutting corners?

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 7:49am

ScottFromWyoming wrote:

On the upside, you can get into a locked Ford without a key.

On the downside, everybody knows that simple fact: good guys and bad guys!

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 7:47am

cc_rider wrote:

The door lock mechanism in Ford trucks. Rube Goldberg, step aside...

On the upside, you can get into a locked Ford without a key.

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 7:43am

cc_rider wrote:

The door lock mechanism in Ford trucks. Rube Goldberg, step aside...

Its not just the trucks. Had to deal with it with my Focus. Two out of the four doors so far. $500.

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 7:43am

2cats wrote:

MsJudi wrote:

I have Springtails in my tub.

What is that?

Tiny little flying bugs that seek moisture. They're coming in through the foundation. They look a little like gnats, and every morning (they're nocturnal), I have to go in and rinse a hundred or so down the damned drain. Pest control has been out twice this month along for them with no luck.

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 7:41am

MsJudi wrote:

I have Springtails in my tub.

What is that?

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 7:41am

teflon coated cooties

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 7:40am

The door lock mechanism in Ford trucks. Rube Goldberg, step aside...

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 7:38am

kurtster wrote:

spider mites in the garden

I have Springtails in my tub. {#Eyes}

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 7:37am

spider mites in the garden

Posted: May 21, 2013 - 5:56pm

Red_Dragon wrote:

once again; thoughtless, irresponsible human beings

Shit or get off the pot!

Posted: May 21, 2013 - 4:27pm

The verbal pinkhouses that run around this place sometimes - advertising themselves as MEMBER 24 or 53. {#Headache}

(nothing BOVIT about that, is there???) Frickin' beans in the sandbox...

Posted: May 20, 2013 - 2:31pm

Yep.They waited until the sun came out and showed up after lunch when I was finally asleep.Perfect timing with them letting the pollen dry out enough to turn the place into a dustbowl.You could see the stuff 20-30 feet high in the air while they were doing their thing.

Friggin' Obama pollen.

Oh well.I'm so beat I probably would have slept through tonights games if they hadn't tormented me so.Plus it's good that I woke up and got Pops dinner ready,I have to feed him once a week or he gets cranky.

Posted: May 20, 2013 - 4:32am

I'm exhausted after another bad night for Pops,can't sleep and I know 5 minutes after I wind down enough for my 3 hour window to crash the landscapers will show up and wake me up.

That's how they do. {#Frown}

Posted: May 19, 2013 - 3:06am

bokey wrote:

He's down to 147.I replaced the batteries in the meter,pointed to the expiration date of 2020 on the battery package and told him he better outlast them. {#Lol}

Good point though,I'll pick a new freebie Contour meter next time we see the endocrinologist.Thanks for the suggestion. {#Hug}

My husband has diabetes, too. He gets his suppplies in the mail. They are free thanks to Medicare. I know they send new meters, it seems like about twice per year. He doesn't have to take insulin, just a pill a day.

Posted: May 18, 2013 - 6:13pm

bokey wrote:

Umm, I guess that means 7 billion. {#Lol}

Pills may be required. {#Eh}

Posted: May 18, 2013 - 6:04pm

katzendogs wrote:

Which ones? I read on the green sheet there are 7 billion humans.

Umm, I guess that means 7 billion. {#Lol}

Posted: May 18, 2013 - 5:57pm

Red_Dragon wrote:

once again; thoughtless, irresponsible human beings

Which ones? I read on the green sheet there are 7 billion humans.

Posted: May 18, 2013 - 5:34pm

2cats wrote:

Have you replaced his meter lately? Why is his blood sugar so high after some potato and strudel?

He's down to 147.I replaced the batteries in the meter,pointed to the expiration date of 2020 on the battery package and told him he better outlast them. {#Lol}

Good point though,I'll pick a new freebie Contour meter next time we see the endocrinologist.Thanks for the suggestion. {#Hug}

Posted: May 18, 2013 - 4:36pm

once again; thoughtless, irresponsible human beings