I have a 96 SE and my passenger door lock will not unlock with the power lock (works manually). I have had the door panel off and it still will not move the metal arm all the way (it will give one little nudge like it wants to,but I cannot see anyplace it would be catching. It does however lock with the power lock. Any ideas?

Sounds like you may need to install a new bumper kit? Don't know how much of the door you took apart - I had the same problem with both front doors. Needed new bumper kits on both of them.

Try This!
INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS, LOCKS WILL FUNCTION MANUALLY#63-10-41B
REVISION: 11/17/97

SUBJECT: INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS, LOCKS WILL FUNCTION MANUALLY (REPLACE EXTERNAL BUMPER ON ACTUATOR ARM).

MODELS: 1991-96 BUICK PARK AVENUE; 1992-97 BUICK LESABRE, SKYLARK; 1995-97 BUICK RIVERIA; 1997 BUICK REGAL; 1992-97 CADILLAC ELDERADO, SEVILLE; 1994-97 CADILLAC DEVILLE, CONCOURS; 1995-97 CHEVROLET LUMINA; 1994-97 CHEVROLET CAMARO; 1995-97 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO; 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU, VENTURE; 1991-96 OLDSMOBILE NINETY EIGHT; 1992-97 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA, EIGHTY EIGHT, LSS; 1995-97 OLDSMOBILE AURORA; 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLAS, REGENCY, SILOUETTE; 1992-97 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, GRAND AM; 1994-97 PONTIAC FIREBIRD; 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, TRANS SPORT; 1996-97 CHEVROLET AND GMC “G” MODELS; 1996-97 CHEVROLET AND GMC “*/T” MODELS; 1996-97 OLSDMOBILE BRAVADA.

CONDITION: SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS). DOOR LOCKS WILL STILL OPERATE MANUALLY.

CAUSE: CONDITION MAY BE CAUSED BY RIPPING OF THE EXTERNAL BUMPER WHICH ALLOWS THE ACTUATOR ARM TO DISENGAGE.

CORRECTION: REPLACE EXTERNAL BUMPER ON ACTUATOR ARM.

IMPORTANT: ON AURORA AND RIVERIA FRONT DOOR LATCHES WITH THEFT DETERRENT, THE LOCK ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. DO NOT USE THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW.

1. REMOVE THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY. REFER TO SECTION 10 IN THE SERVICE MANUAL.

2. SEPARATE THE ACTUATOR FROM THE LATCH ASSEMBLY BY REMOVING TWO SCREWS.

3. REPLACE EXTERNAL BUMPER ON ACTUATOR ARM WITH NEW BUMPER SUPPLIED IN SERVICE KIT. {88948572 Door Actuator Bumper Kit (Grp#10587) Pontiac Bonneville Service Kit}

IMPORTANT: THE OLD STYLE BUMPER IS NEUTRAL OR WHITE IN COLOUR AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BLACK BUMPER. DO NOT ADD ANY LUBRICANT TO THE BUMPER OR BUMPER AREA.

4. INSTALL THE ACTUATOR TO THE LATCH ASSEMBLY.

IMPORTANT: ENSURE THAT THE LOCK SWITCH TEETH ARE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TOWARDS THE ACTUATOR ARM AND THE LATCH IS IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION.

5. REPLACE LOCK ROD CLIPS SUPPLIED IN KIT.

6. REINSTALL LOCK ACTUATOR.

7. INSURE PROPER OPERATION OF LOCKS.

Thanks,
Does anybody have pictures of this so I know what an actuator and lock bumpers are?

Over the past 9 years I replace all of my actulators in the doors. Last summer I replaced the driver side. I have a 92' SE and a new actulators runs for about $40.00 at the dealer, its better to by a new one because they wear-out with time. I actulator looks like a small box with a plastic lever sticking out. The main reason they wear out is because the gears inside are made from plastic which will break for several reasons. It is located inside the door panel near the latch.