How does the actuator in a car's power door lock system work?

[SciSteve]

I'm reading up on power door locks in a car and all the stuff I can seem to find on the internet is about latches, gears, and the actuator. I know the actuator has to produce some type of magnetic or electric field to cause the unlocking but i just don't understand which it is and how it actually does it can anyone explain for me?

 

[Danger]

Welcome to PF, Steve.
Basically, the actuator is just a solenoid coil (electromagnet) that sucks in a steel plunger when activated. The plunger is attached to a rod linkage that goes to the door locking mechnism.