Door latching problems anyone?

[pdboilermaker]

Today, Mrs. Flea calls me in a panic, she was at work going to lunch opened her door and shut it but when it she did it wouldnt latch. I am in San Antonio so I was no help, her boss tried to help but same issue. They described it as the latch in the door would not spin around the striker in the door frame. I called Joe and he indicated that this is an issue that they had seen on a couple of cars? Anyone? Anyone?

So, at the end of the day, the lovely Mrs. Flea had to make the 23 mile drive to home with the window down and hold the door closed with her arm geeesh

[NeWave]

lubrication issues possibly?
also, sometimes that latch gets stuck in the closed positon with the door open, causing it not to shut. Playing with the latch while messing with the inner door handle should do something..

[Mud Pie]

I had a similar issue with my passenger door, after unlocking the door, you had to pull the handle twice to open it. After that, it opened on the first pull every time. Unless you re-locked the doors, then it was back to a two-pull.

I took it to the dealer, they lubed it, all was well.

About a month later, I got a call from the dealer saying they were reviewing service orders and saw my ticket. He wanted me to bring the car back so they could replace the entire mechanism. I said it was working fine, he said it's best to replace it while it was still under warranty. Now THAT is service !!

I brought it in, they replaced it, and all is well.

[Kermit]

It's been posted here before by a few people who had their latches break. Can't remember the specific part that broke.

I looked at a car this weekend where the owner had posted here about the rear hatch not closing and pretty much every wrote her off as not closing it tightly. That wasn't the case. Her rear latch did have it's own personality and locked when it wanted to.

For the door, if memory serves correct it was a plastic piece that broke - I can't remember specifically what plastic piece.

[jimvw57]

I had my rear latch act up the other day, I washed the car and it has worked OK since. I'm guessing dirt got under the switch keeping it from working. (it was really dirty, too much bad weather to wash it)

There have been quite a few latches that were fixed by lubrication, and some that were replaced. Best to talk with the dealer.

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

....For the door, if memory serves correct it was a plastic piece that broke - I can't remember specifically what plastic piece.

It was the little "white" roller on the hinge spring

[Huronlad]

Originally Posted by pdboilermaker

So, at the end of the day, the lovely Mrs. Flea had to make the 23 mile drive to home with the window down and hold the door closed with her arm geeesh

Been there, done that a couple times now.

Looks like they still do not have this latch right, tolerances too tight I guess.

Dirt build up will stop the latch from properly locking in place. Unfortunately lubricating is only a stop gap measure. If you reside in colder climates make sure you use a synthetic lubricant good to your locations coldest temperature.

The latch mechanism will need a good cleaning from time to time. I recommend removing the latch to properly clean it and then lubricate with synthetic transmission fluid.

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by chieftmc

It was the little "white" roller on the hinge spring

That was what I thought. You can't buy that piece separate either can you? I've disassembled the handle a few times, nothing else in that area.

[serpentinescarlet]

I live in Calgary and have had the same experience as Mrs. Flea - multiple times!

Strong sun is definitely the trigger. And I've taken in to the dealership to complain a number of times, but they "can't repeat the issue so we can't fix it". All they do is give it a bit of lube.

THanks for the advice though. I'll go ask them to clean the mechanism.