An actuator for operating a vehicle door includes a spring that is adapted to frictionally connect a wheel gear and an output gear upon actuation of an electric motor. The wheel gear and the output gear are operatively connected by the frictional contact of the spring relative to the wheel gear and the output gear upon actuation of the electric motor. The spring separates the wheel gear and the output gear to return the output gear to an initial position when operation of the electric motor is stopped.