03 Vibe Door Won't Lock

[juandoh]

Hi Folks...

I did not know there was such a following for the Vibe out there.

I have an 03 Vibe that the driver side door stopped responding to the key fob and the interior switch, which though a pain when raining outside, wasn't a problem as I could use my key to lock the car. Friday I couldn't manually lock it by hand but was able to lock with the key. Today I cannot lock either with the key or by the handle.

Any suggestions where to look? I don't want to spend tons of money on replacement parts just to trouble shoot. It looks like this may be a somewhat common problem.

Will the door actuator work for the 03 Matrix on my Vibe?

I did a lot of searching online, and in these forums, before joining to ask these questions, but could not find an answer. I'm stumped and don't know where else to ask. I am humbly at your mercy.

I saw in a post someone was buying from Rock Auto, but I could not find the part and didn't know a part number for the power door lock.

Thanks for your help.

[relient]

I've got this same problem, anyone know of a solution?

[bluneon]

you gotta ask yourself one question: how often does the drivers front lock actuator actuate compared to the other 4 lock actuators in the drivers rear, back hatch, and both passenger side doors?

ALOT more if you ask me. and how often do these mechanisms get lubricated?

it's time for a new drivers front door lock actuator. it might be part of the entire latch assembly.

[juandoh]

you gotta ask yourself one question: how often does the drivers front lock actuator actuate compared to the other 4 lock actuators in the drivers rear, back hatch, and both passenger side doors?

ALOT more if you ask me. and how often do these mechanisms get lubricated?

it's time for a new drivers front door lock actuator. it might be part of the entire latch assembly.

I understand that the driver's door gets used the most, that is common sense. I still cannot locate a part number for the part or any information as to whether or not the Toyota part is interchangeable.

I know on my 93 Geo the window regulator was the same as the 93 Corolla, but I don't have the money to test parts to see if they fit. I was hoping someone else would chime in with some info that would assist us with our inquiries?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks again.

[sideshowalan]

Mechanical parts like that will definitely interchange between Matrix and Vibe.

Rockauto lists the part when you look under matrix.
Same part works in Vibe and:
SCION TC (2005 - 2010)
SCION XA (2004 - 2006)
TOYOTA CAMRY (2002 - 2006)
TOYOTA COROLLA (2003 - 2008)
TOYOTA MATRIX (2003 - 2008)
TOYOTA SIENNA (2006 - 2010)

[juandoh]

Thanks for the reply. I assumed the Vibe and Matrix parts would interchange, but I couldn't afford the risk of the part not fitting and being out a large amount of cash.

I need to take my door panel off and see what is going on in there.

Since my original post, my power locks stopped working and I would just lock the door manually. Then one day I locked the door and it would not unlock with the key or manually from the inside. I was literally having to climb through the passenger side to get into the driver's seat. Now everything is working as it should again without me doing anything.

I need get in there and make sure nothing is loose, lube everything, and hope it doesn't lock me in the driver's seat again.

Thanks again for the confirmation that the parts will fit. Now I can do some research as to who has the best prices.

Mechanical parts like that will definitely interchange between Matrix and Vibe.

Rockauto lists the part when you look under matrix.
Same part works in Vibe and:
SCION TC (2005 - 2010)
SCION XA (2004 - 2006)
TOYOTA CAMRY (2002 - 2006)
TOYOTA COROLLA (2003 - 2008)
TOYOTA MATRIX (2003 - 2008)
TOYOTA SIENNA (2006 - 2010)

[Chango]

Did you ever figure this out? My passenger front door lock has been doing this exact same thing for a while now. At first it wouldn't respond with the power locks, then it completely froze up in the unlocked position for a couple of weeks. I couldn't even move it by hand. This past week it suddenly started working with the rest of the locks when using the fob again. This makes no sense to me. I'm planning on taking the door panel off this weekend anyway to poke/prod/lube everything, but if someone has already figured it out, that would be swell too.