I have a 2000 dodge dakota sport and for sometime now whenever I lock or unlock the driver side door it makes a terrible screeching noise and recently my driver side window has had trouble going down I was told it needs a new actuator but not sure if that will solve both issues , any ideas ?

the noise sounds like the door lock actuator I agree. But that wont affect the opertation of the window.

yeah, kbro, that wouldn't effect the window, but the troubles could be related somehow as in something came apart and is loose, rattling around inside the door panel interfering with both. Pull the door panel off and see what you can see. Buy new clips before you begin.

it's not the window screeching? The lock mechanisms are relatively silent, actually have trouble envisioning a screeching sound coming from the lock mechanism...care to elaborate?

now the window is not on it's guide track, this will screech and cause damage to the edges of the window...so get in there, put it back on track, and see why the track isn't following the window....probably is a clip, like my co-horts suggested.

I have heard plenty of door lock actuators that go bad and make a load noise when they are actuated. he said the noise occurs when he locks and unlocks the door. at that time the window in not moving.

my dad always squirts WD-40 on everything and makes legitimate repair difficult...just an ill conceived suggestion...