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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Door Lock Problems - How To Troubleshoot and Fix

Your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter's door lock is unassuming but consists of complex mechanisms with tight, interwoven parts. More commonly referred to as door lock actuators, lock actuators use an electric motor to control a rack and pinion gear set responsible for releasing and securing the lock. 

If there is an issue with a door lock actuator, the likelihood of replacing the entire latch assembly is very high. 

Let's discuss common problems with your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter's door lock. Keep reading to learn more about how door lock actuators work, rear door lock problems, sliding door lock problems, central locking problems, and steps you can take to troubleshoot, diagnose, and go about fixing those common issues.


How Do Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Door Locks Work?

Power door locks use electronically controlled actuators to lock and unlock. Press a key fob or press your interior control to unlock the button and a rack pinion and gear set locks and unlocks each door.


What Are Some Common Mercedes-Benz Spring Door Lock Issues?

Power Door Locks Do Not Activate

A power door lock failing to unlock and lock could be due to heavy wear or tear, a short-circuited fuse, bad solenoid, dead key fob battery, or a wiring issue that may cause intermittent function or erratic locking and unlocking. If door lock actuators electronically short, your power door locks will not work, requiring the driver to use a set of keys.

Dead key fob batteries are very easy to troubleshoot and fix. Simply replace the battery in the key fob. Replacing the fuse or defective car solenoid may require removing your car door's panel for access.


Odd Noises Coming from the Door

One major symptom of a defective power door lock actuator is an odd noise coming from the inside of the door. Power locks are a complex set of pinions and gears that create whir, click, and whining noises when defective.


How To Fix All of These Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Door Lock Problems.

Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and repair your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter rear door lock problems and sliding door lock problems.

  1. Visually inspect your door lock for damage, checking for jammed handles. Ensure your child safety lock is not activated.
  2. Position your vehicle on a flat surface, engage the parking brake, and disconnect the battery by removing the ground cable off of your battery negative post.
  3. Using removal tools, remove your door panel and door lock cluster panel. Loosen all clips, remove all screws, and bend the panel away from the door.
  4. Remove any plastic cover, keeping it intact enough to reseal later.
  5. Locate and remove your lock screws and door lock actuator bolts before disconnecting the black electrical connector and removing the entire assembly.
  6. Once your door lock actuator is flat on a surface, open your actuator by using a razor blade.
  7. Remove your actuator's electric motor by slowly lifting the gear out.
  8. Remove old grease and clean your copper parts with white lithium or electrical parts cleaner.
  9. Reinstall your door lock actuator by replacing the assembly and reattaching all bolts and clips.
  10. Place your vehicle's ground cable back into your battery's negative post and retest your repair door lock actuator.

An important note is to wear gloves and a long sleeve shirt when working with door latch assemblies, as there are many sharp points that could pierce the skin if not careful.

All in all, there are a variety of reasons why door locks for your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will not work. From low/no battery key fobs to short-circuited fuses, troubleshooting and repairing door lock actuators are a relatively straightforward process. If you suspect a dead key fob battery, open the key fob and replace the battery with a replacement from right here on the Mercedes-Benz national parts store.