# 2002 Lexus ES300 Door won't open w/o unlocking first (Drivers side) **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** es300, lexus\ **Created:** [July 12, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802 "2016-07-12T20:39:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joisey\_Jeff](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joisey_jeff/32/2826_2.png) [@Joisey\_Jeff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joisey_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/1 "2016-07-12T20:39:09Z")
most times I try and open the drivers door I have to use the unlock switch to open it. There are times when it opens w/o having to do so. Anyone encounter this its and have a remedy? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/2 "2016-07-12T21:11:52Z")
Did you read the owners manual??? On Toyotas and Lexus vehicles you click the fob button once to unlock the drivers door. Click it twice within a couple seconds to unlock ALL the doors. It’s clearly spelled out in owners manual. ---
**Author:** ![Joisey\_Jeff](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joisey_jeff/32/2826_2.png) [@Joisey\_Jeff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joisey_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/3 "2016-07-12T21:17:44Z")
Mike, Snarky responses aren’t necessary. Wouldn’t you assume that wasn’t the case and say “Hey try this and see if it helps”… Whats clearly spelled out is that you aren’t a nice community member. ---
**Author:** ![Joisey\_Jeff](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joisey_jeff/32/2826_2.png) [@Joisey\_Jeff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joisey_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/4 "2016-07-12T21:19:03Z")
By the way, cause I didn’t say so…this was from inside the car I am having the issue not outside ---
**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/5 "2016-07-12T21:38:53Z")
I’ll assume you used to not have this problem, so it’s likely that the power door lock and unlock mechanism is slowly wearing out. That does happen on older Lexus (maybe Toyotas, too, same part). I had a 2005 is300 that started to be balky about unlocking. With a google search I found a very good photo thread of how to replace the actuator, and it solved the problem, but it’s not an easy job and probably not a good one for an occasional fixer. The part can cost $150 and there’s a lot of labor involved. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/6 "2016-07-12T22:06:34Z")
No. What’s clearly spelled out is you left out EXTREMELY IMPORTANT information to help you. ---
**Author:** ![Joisey\_Jeff](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joisey_jeff/32/2826_2.png) [@Joisey\_Jeff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joisey_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/7 "2016-07-12T22:19:10Z")
Thanks Snarky Mike! Now back to shining your tool box… ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/8 "2016-07-13T01:30:59Z")
Joisey Jeff made two threads today and has jumped on people for no reason. I think we can ignore Jeff and start the refund process since he is not satisfied. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 6:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/9 "2016-07-13T06:33:35Z")
😄 ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/10 "2016-07-13T06:48:35Z")
When you have to use the unlock switch, is there any indication given to the driver the door is actually locked? Or isn’t there a display for the door lock/unlock status? One idea, when this happens ask someone to try to open the door from the outside. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 9:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/11 "2016-07-13T09:14:25Z")
Some people aren’t accustom to New England hospitality. _“Did you read the owners manual???”_ There is nothing in the owners manual about a failing door latch or the use of a fob to exit the vehicle. The auto defeat of the door lock is mechanical inside the door latch. If the door doesn’t unlock when the inside door handle is pulled there is a problem inside the door latch. Normally when there is a problem with the door latch or electric actuator the latch is replaced. You might remove and examine the door latch, sometimes I find broken glass inside the latch from a shattered door glass. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/12 "2016-07-13T14:42:25Z")
> **There is nothing in the owners manual about a failing door latch or the use of a fob to exit the vehicle** That info wasn’t there at first. Had to pry it out of him. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/13 "2016-07-16T20:40:57Z")
I just replaced my 1st lock mechanism last week. Our family has never had a broken power door lock assy. ---
**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/14 "2016-07-16T20:49:48Z")
Same here. And it was a test of my patience in an is300, because the door is pretty thin and there’s no room for tools and fingers. I had to take the door handle off so I could get to the connectors. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/15 "2016-07-22T02:48:24Z")
Is this how people talk to one another in Joisey? No wander I never liked the place. Volvo’s right. You deserve to be ignored. Besides, you never answered the question: have you read the owner’s manual? You could also stop by the dealer and ask for the “initialization procedure” for the locking function of the Body Control Module. But if you talk to him the same way you talked to Mike, who was trying to help you, expect him to tell you to go to Hell. I would. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 6:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-lexus-es300-door-wont-open-w-o-unlocking-first-drivers-side/93802/16 "2016-07-22T06:15:29Z")
The door latches and lock actuators can’t be revived via an Initialization procedure. There were rude comments in two threads that offended Jeff.