markmatthews

My 08's driver door just stopped working suddenly.

From outside and inside the door won't happen, been having to use the manual releases in the trunk and on the floor in cockpit.

I tried switching the outside door pad from the passenger side over to the driver side, didn't help. Passenger side works flawlessly.

Since the outside door pad and inside door button aren't the culprit, from my research on here it looks like it's down to either door latch or BCM (body control module)

Dealer is charging $98 for diagnostic which will go into the cost of fixing the problem...but who knows how badly they'll try to own me with the repair bill...

Does anybody know if the manual releases still work could the door latch be broken? Wouldn't a broken door latch mean = manual releases also don't work? Trying to avoid having to buy a new door latch only to find out it's not the problem.

Could it be the BCM if the passenger side door is working?

If it's indeed the BCM then I guess I'm stuck with the dealer then?

Thanks to anybody willing to help in advance

markmatthews

anybody?

4SUMERZ

It could be a bad electronic door latch, or maybe a bad connection at the plug in.

Here is a video showing how to remove old latch and install new one.

markmatthews

I actually just found that video a few hours ago.

How can I figure out if it's the door latch or a bad connection?

Would the door latch be bad if I can still manually open the door from the trunk and from the floor in the cockpit?

cclive

The latch is operated by a solenoid in the door jam that pulls it open. You can certainly pull it out and test it with power. If the BCM runs the other door OK, it is unlikely that it is the problem. You can also test the wires going to the solenoid to see if power is being sent by the BCM when a door button is pushed.

markmatthews

So the BCM can't be faulty since it controls both driver + passenger sides doors, and my passenger side is working perfectly fine.

The door latch should be the culprit in this case then? I don't believe there are any other component(s) that could be causing this problem...

cclive

It's not that the BCM can't be faulty, but it is highly unlikely since the other door works. Test the most likely problem first...the solenoid, then see if the BCM is sending power to that solenoid.

markmatthews

pardon my ignorance, was never an electrical guy...

how would I test the solenoid in the door latch for power?

4SUMERZ

With a multimeter. (volt meter) See if there's power going to the solenoid when you touch the door pad to open the door. If there is, then you know that the door latch is bad.

markmatthews

Thanks LV2TOUR!

I have confirmed it's the door latch, but can't for the life of me find the part number. I tried searching for it on all the parts sites, e.g. gmpartsdirect.com, and so far no luck.

Anybody happen to know the part number? If not I'll call the dealer tomorrow and ask for the part number and post it here. It seems like there are quite a few threads here with members asking for the part number and not getting an answer.

Edit: seems like this item here - http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=88956758 - can anybody kindly confirm? I'll confirm with dealer tomorrow since they're closed now.

80atez

I got mine from the dealer for like 15$. Just order one from there tomorrow. The new one was better made than the original... 5 min. Install.

cclive

Call Gene at GMPartsHouse.com.

Also, here's a video of how to change it...

I think that GM calls it an actuator..he has it at $82.

mozz51

My driver door latch quick working inside and out a while ago. Passenger side always worked just fine. I tried all the recommendations from the good guys here (cleaned touch pads, lubed the latch, replaced the door latch actuator). Finally took it to a dealer and the Body Control Module (BCM) tested bad. It is a few hundred dollars for the part and a dealer needs to reset the module to your VIN specs. Several hundred dollars before I was done. But the door latch works every time now. Hope yours gets resolved short of what I had to do.

markmatthews

Thanks to all for the help!

It was the door latch, which just for future reference, the driver side door latch's part number is 88956758.

Luckily my local dealership had it in stock. Bought it for $10 more than gmpartsdirect.com and just finished switching it out.

Took about an hour with my lovely GF helping out, it was good times Works like new now.

Thanks to this forum I was able to isolate the most probable cause and avoided the $98 inspection fee from the dealership.

Special thanks to cclive and LV2TOUR

4SUMERZ

I'm glad it all worked out, and the door is operable again.
It makes it that much more satisfying when you do it yourself....with the help of your GF of course

mozz51

I hope it continues to work for you. My new latch (door actuator) caused the door to work for about 3 weeks then it quit working and I had to replace the BCM. It's been perfect ever since. Hope you fair better than that.