door won't shut!

[gotta have a SMART]

Flashman- good move. I ws going to refer him to that post also. Definately something to keep in mind. For those that don't do the link:

"... I heard that here this past week they had an issue at the ports in CA. In the heat the door latch would not latch all the way and the door would open back up so they held all cars from leaving the port to go to dealerships. In the morning time the would check the door again and the latch worked properly. They tried it again in the heat and the latch failed again. From what I was told is that they replaced something physically in the latch then released the cars.... I don't know if this information is true or is false but once again I am having an issue with my door making noise when it is hot out and at the same time I heard this story."

[bottlerocket]

Originally Posted by mginsa

There are a lot of things I like about my Smart, but wondering if my door will latch each time I drive it is extremely frustrating! I REALLY hope SmartCar figures this one out quickly.

Michael

Just turned 2000 miles, not a single problem yet other than still constantly getting questions..

[mginsa]

Update to original posting...

I continue to have problems. I squaked enough (and e-mailed SmartUSA) and the local dealer ordered a new door latch that will be installed tomorrow.

But I don't think that's the problem. The door would not latch at all yesterday (again) not matter what I did. So I opened the hatch window, got some stuff out of the rear then, forgetting to close the window, the door closed properly. I opened the door, closed the rear window and the door would not latch. Repeated the test 2 times and with the rear window closed - no luck. With it open - closed fine. I had previously tried several times with both windows open with no luck.

Could this be an electrical issue or an air pressure problem?

[saskdiesel]

Sounds like pressure.
The cabin should be vented though. Hmmm.

[smartgpspro]

Here is what happened to my smart today.

Door wouldnt not latch shut and I found the outside handle could be pulled out so far that I could see inside the door mechanism. After getting SmartUSA to send a towtruck I could manage finally to shut the door after messing with the inside handle, then the problem was intermittent. Its there now at the dealer and havent heard from them yet. I'll call tomorrow (sat) to see if anyone is on it. I'll post back with the dealers response in Coral Gables, FL.

[smartgpspro]

Dealer called and said the car was ready...
Got to the dealer and the car door handle was "repaired". Not what I wanted to hear. They probably removed the door handle assembly, reinserted the cable end and reinstalled the assembly. The tech was somehow not available for direct comment and the salesperson said the tech cant get it to come loose again. (I had the car for two months and then it malfunctioned). No kidding they couldnt simulate the problem. Now I feel like I have to baby the door handle everytime I use it so I wont get stuck again with a door that wont close and latch. I was hoping for a better answer than that.

[DowneasTTer]

Add Max and I to the list. Took Max shopping this morning. Stopped at 4 different places w/o problems. Then with both the trunk and passenger side filled with groceries the drivers door would not close. Clearly not an air pressure issue for me as Max's top was down. Played around for a while until finally I noticed that if I pressed and held down the unlock button on the key while shutting the door it worked every time. By the time i was home all the doors were working again. Always a little leery of things that fix themselves....

DowneasTTer

[smartgpspro]

OK. Its been over a month since I had the car towed to the dealer. Since then it been about twice a week I have the same problem with shutting the door and could always correct it by pulling the inside handle (as if opening the door) and it would correct itself and I would be on my way.

Today the inside handle did not correct it and I was stuck for about 20 minutes slamming the door, opening, closing, pulling the latch, lock, unlock and no luck. I was in a big hurry and needed to leave at once. Found a torx wrench in my office and removed the door handle assembly and found the linkage cables to all be in tact. Put the handle assembly back in and still had no luck. then after about 10 more minutes, the inside handle trick worked.

The car is going back next week for this to be repaired and I'm not accepting "it fixed itself" again. If anyone has had this problem and it was properly repaired, please let us know.

Thanks!

[unicycle]

Thanks for that update. I wonder if this has a lot to do with heat. This has happened to me a few times, and I believe it was always on a hot day when the car was stifling inside. I should point out that there have been plenty of hot days when the door worked fine.

I think I'll keep a small bungee and maybe some cord in the car -- just in case.

[Smart Enuf]

When you say the door won't stay shut, do you mean it closes all the way so that the door is flush with the body, but it won't latch so that you can push it open without pulling on the inside door handle? Or do you mean the door won't close flush with the body (i.e., the door is ajar)?

I just looked at my driver door latching mechanism (viewed by opening the door and looking at the edge of the door where the latching mechanism resides next to three torx bolts). If you push the silver part of the latch to the left with your finger or key so that it rotates until it locks into position, you will not be able to shut your door until you pull on either exterior or interior door handle (i.e., it will stay ajar). Is this what happens when you say the door won't shut?