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Well I did do a search and a lot of info came up. I decided to post my problem here first to see if it is actually the actuator. My car is a 2001 Acura EL (Civic EX U.S.) The problem I'm having is when sitting in the car and I want to unlock the doors, I get no response at all but I can lock them from the inside. When I insert the key into the keyhole it can lock and unlock all four doors as well when using my Key less entry, it can lock and unlock all four doors. Was wondering if anybody have experienced this problem and what can it be? Actuator or something else related? Thanks in advance.

 
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So, let me get this straight

You're trying to press the unlock button on your key fob while sitting inside the car and it doesnt unlock?

 
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No no no. When I am sittin in the car, I am tryin to unlock the door with the switch and can't unlock any of the doors but I can lock the doors with the switch. I can also lock and unlock the doors with the key being inserted into the key hole and I can also lock and unlock the doors with the fob. Its only the lock switch in the car that has this problem. Hope you understand that lol

 
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Sounds like your switch is the problem then

 
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Try working the buttons unlock operation several times in row and see if it trys to work.

Take the switch out and jumper the unlock line to ground to make sure the system is capable of unlocking (could be a broken wire in the flexing drivers door harness)

You should have a WHT/GRN wire going to the lock/unlock button (info from 7th gen Civic manual) and also a BLK (ground) Briefly jumper between the 2 and see if the unlock operation works.

^^^Edited from previous reply.

 
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What's puzzling about this is that I remember when I bout a new lock swtch, it still didn't work. At one point the switch would work for a few days and then nothin and after the last time it didn't work, it never worked again. Its really frustrating.

Hey Criag, I only seen a Black wire, WHT/BLU and WHT/GRN. I dunno what's goin on here

 
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You are correct, I was looking at the status switch in the actuator... so sorry.

WHT/GRN=Unlock
WHT/BLU= Lock

to BLK

 
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Craig sorry to bother you but Im OBLIVIOUS to wat I am doing. Electrical is my weakness. What should I do from this point on?

 
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You would briefly jumper wht/grn to black and see if the doors unlock, you can briefly jumper wht/blu to black to lock (make sure drivers door is shut)

You could use a paper clip, or small solid wire. Be careful not to damage connector pins from going back on switch and do not leave the jumper, just touch and remove to see if the locks respond.

 
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so when pressed on the switch to unlock it doesn't work...
I'm almost sure it's a faulty switch

Or loose wiring in the clip that attaches to the switch
To make sure, jump the wires like he said, if they work, it's the switch

So, what you wanna do is to stick a paper clip end into the black, and then put the other end into WHT/GRN to unlock, then remove the clip
Same method for unlock but plug the other end into WHT/BLU insted of WHY/GRN

 
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Okay so I found the culprit. Its the WHT/GRN wire that is givin the problem. I jumped the wires and it locks but when connectin the paper clip to the WHT/GRN wire, nothing... What should be the next step? Something tells me its gonna be a hard step next. :S

 
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Most likely have a broken wire in the area that flexes when doors are open/closed.

You could try to locate the wht/grn wire going to the door located behind the drivers side kick panel and try grounding it briefly as a further test.

 
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Maaan CraigW I followed that wire till I got lost and found it again. Let's say I run the test over on the other side of things and it ends up being the WHT/GRN wire, how would u replace that? Looks like a lot of hard work... Now I just sound plain old lazy lol... But really, how would one replace that?

 
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If you ground the wht/grn lead in the footwell area and the system unlocks then 95% sure you have an open wire leading to the door.

A simple way to test is make a jumper wire with one end attached to a needle or pin, secure the other end to a good ground. Then use the needle point to pierce the insulation of unlock lead and see if the system works.

If you can access the rubber channel in the door you might be able to run a new wire through and tap into the factory wires. If I was going to attempt...I would try to go from the door into the car, see if you can feed it far enough in to find and grab the end.

 
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Question, lets say it is the wire, where would I get the wire to replace the current one with the lead pins connected to it?

 
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Sorry to post in your thread, but it's a related issue. I've had nothing but problems on the 1999 Civic and the 2005 Civics we've owned (bought both new) with regard to lock actuators. I'm on the 6th to fail out of 8 total.

My question:
I'd like to replace the 3 bad in the 05 Civic, but don't want to damage plastic taking the panels off. Does anyone have a procedure with pics to remove the armrests and pull the panels so I can change the actuators?

 
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Wire: A single strand of zip cord from the hardware store or, any length of small stranded wire 18-22 guage would work fine.

Door Panels: Pop cover behind the inside handle (you WILL scratch it) 1 screw. The lower pull handle cover must be released at the [ opening with a small end of an allen wrench then start at the front and peel the cover off to reveal 2 screws. Grab at bottom edge and pop clips around, then lift up.

 
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If you don't mind, I'll shoot some pics and post them tomorrow. If you could, please highlight the lower pull handle cover area I need to start at. Thanks.

 
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If you look underneath of the front of the pull handle lower cover you will see a [ area cut into it near the door fabric. That is where the release is located, once you get it to pop loose near the release you peel the cover off further back.

There are more than 2 screws in the handle but only 2 come out.

 
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Can you highlight the areas I need to access first?
Thanks.

 
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You can see the rectangle panel inside the housing of the inside door handle, it has a notch for a small flat screwdriver for removal.

The pull handles both have a lower cover. Near the front of them, underneath is a notched or cutout area about 1/4-3/8" like --> [ Use a L shaped item to push into the slot and release the front of the lower covers. Work towards back and peel off.

 
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Bump . back from the dead . thanks for the thread great info. found a broken white/green wire (unlock) in the flex part of the door harness