Door Lock Actuator - 02 Xterra

[skibizkit]

Quick question.

I am replacing the rear passenger door lock actuator and was hoping someone can give me some advice on how exactly to remove it. When I remove the door panel from the door, the actuator is secured tightly behind the door's steel frame and showing ever so slightly. How do I remove the original actuator and install the new one?

I've seen a few posts on here regarding the need to replace it but not specifically how to extract the old and in with the new... ?!?

Thanks in advance!

[skibizkit]

So I've managed to screw up this process... I managed to loosen the actuator from the door frame but its attached to the locking mechanism which uses the steel rods connected to the door handles to open and close the door... my first thought was to remove the actuator from the locking mechanism but its screwed in to the locking mechanism with the nut facing the exterior side (away from me)... so my next thought was to remove the rods used by the door handles connected to the locking mechanism so that I can get more access to all the parts... I was not successful at that, not real sure how those pieces connect, basically blinding trying to pry stuff apart (not smart, I know). In these attempts I managed to permanently lock the door. So you can feel my pain now when I tell you that when I closed the door and I can't open it, which I'm sure its going to be much easier now to take the actuator out from literally inside the car.

If any of you have taken these parts apart, please let me know how you did them... I'm terribly bent over this and don't know where to go next.

Thanks.