Is there something missing here? The rod just seems to float around in here.

Nope. That's exactly what it should look like.

There's a plastic guide that sits in the door shell.

If you're talking about the lock solenoid assembly, mine looks the same.

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Arthur Peale

There was a guy on ebay that made a rubber bumper to fill that gap in. It makes it so that you dont have to keep hitting the lock or unlock button a lot.

Thanks, I like the rubber grommet idea.

Power Door Lock Clips

Not my product but does look interesting for sure.

[This message has been edited by Spadesluck (edited 03-06-2023).]