Hello,
Im new here so if I missed a post about this please point me in that direction. I have a 1999 ranger xlt 4x4 3.0l. Door lock actuators are shot. Everywhere i shop them i see a small black plastic housing type that snaps on. I promise these dont look like mine. Mine are built into latch itself I actually saw another used set like mine on ebay but who wants a used lock actuator. Any idea why the difference? or if these are available anywhere? Ford number igot from solenoid searches no results. thanks

 

Welcome to the forum

Should look like this in a 1999 Ranger: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/..._AC_SY355_.jpg

There are also these: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/..._AC_SY350_.jpg
Google: 1998 Ranger door lock actuator

There is a Door OPEN/CLOSED sensor on the bottom of the latch as well, has 2 wires

 

FWIW, my '99 actuators look just like the first set in Ron's post above.

 

I took a picture of the backside of the actuator with Ford part number which got me nowhere on a search. Wish now I would have taken better pics of it. Are the aftermarket ones considerably different looking than the factory ones?

 

Have you tried Rock auto
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...actuator,13257

 

I think I see the problem

The actuator is ON the latch, but comes off so you can replace it
So you don't need the whole latch assembly, you just need the actuator

At the top left of your picture you can see the alignment slot and tab, that means its removable

And FYI that's not a Ford Part number its a Patent reference number which is why it doesn't cross reference for the Ford Ranger actuator