Hello,

The passenger-side (right) lock actuator has died on my '03 Cooper S. I've seen a video on how to take the actuator apart and fix the guts. I'm wondering if I can take it out for a few days, while I attempt a repair. If the repair doesn't work, it would be nice if I could just use the manual function of the lock, until I can afford a new actuator. Will the manual part of the lock (the only part that works) continue to function? I'm thinking that it won't.

-Eric

 

From looking at this video, the actuator is one piece with the lock/latch, so if you take it off there's nothing to hold the door shut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9H33ad1UcA

 

My drivers side actuator stopped and I bought a new one. But without intervention about a month later before I had the chance to fix it, it started working again.

Not that waiting is a good strategy for fixing things, but in my case...

Rich