I am working on a headlight door actuator design using 93-97 Firebird motors. Much cheaper (~$70 per pair) than the Probe motors and new replacements are readily available.
Everyone uses the Miata/Probe motors or linear actuator since they include limit switches which makes control very easy. However, the so much hyped and overly expensive “door actuator module” or whatever is actually pretty straightforward given some thought. And sure as hell not worth $500 used.
The Firebird motors and many others are 2-wire motors. Just simple DC motors. The standard practice is to use stall-current sensing to stop the motor when the door hits the open/close stops
This is ongoing but…
Control module (each side)
DPDT relay to reverse polarity of motor current/voltage: ~$10.00 ea.
INA199/INA250 current sensor: ~ $1.00 ea.
SPDT relay to “latch” and cut power to the motor upon detection of the stall current: ~$5.00 ea.
Isolation diodes 1Nxxx: ~$1.00
Transistor 2N2222 or equiv.: ~ $2.00 ea.
With a little extra effort I could add PWM speed control.
Fun little project.