How to access central locking actuator? BA Hatch
 

Anyone know how to get to the actuator for the front passenger door?

It will intermittently lock unlock, but most of the time it just sits there. Which makes me think the gear is worn or something else is wrong with the actuator.

I pulled the inner panel off the door and could see where the wire goes to the actuator assembly but I have no idea how to get it off to repair or replace (maybe swap parts out of a rear door since they are never used).

Looks like the actuator is directly connected to the locking mechanism, which has three screws holding it into the door, and multiple rods connected to door lock, lock switch and door release handles. I'm thinking I must need to pull out the whole thing but was worried about doing that since I can't really see how to disconnect those rods and how I would get it all back together again.

Is this correct (pull it out through the small hole in the inner door? Or am I supposed to remove the outer panel somehow so I can see what is going on?

So I figure everything needs to come out through the internal door opening. I started trying to remove the locking mechanism as everything appears to be connected to it. Got most of the way there. I just couldn't figure out how to disconnect the rod which attaches the lock to the external door handle.

Does anyone know if there is some way to remove the locking mechanism without first removing the external door handle?

put key on lock and turn to remove tension on rods.