Door latch sticking
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Door latch sticking
My passenger side door is getting really bad. If I open it from the outside, it feels like the mechanism sticks in the "unlatch" positon and never springs back such that I can no longer latch or unlatch the door. I have to get inside the car, move the inside door handle a bunch, and turn the lock/unlock **** a few times to get everything moving inside the door again. Usually, when everything is stuck, when I turn the lock ****, I hear a loud click and then things start moving again. Most recently, it has stopped engaging the latch pin such that the door will bounce back open when I try to close it. I thought I had it closed last night, but when I started driving this morning, I realized the passenger door was open (fortunately before I went flying around a corner.)
I would assume that the lock/latch mechanism is corroded and not operating correctly. Does this sound right? Can I get in there and lube everything up, or do I need to replace the latch? What grease should I use if any? Any other insight or tips?
Thanks!
I would assume that the lock/latch mechanism is corroded and not operating correctly. Does this sound right? Can I get in there and lube everything up, or do I need to replace the latch? What grease should I use if any? Any other insight or tips?
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by mensch53
My passenger side door is getting really bad. If I open it from the outside, it feels like the mechanism sticks in the "unlatch" positon and never springs back such that I can no longer latch or unlatch the door. I have to get inside the car, move the inside door handle a bunch, and turn the lock/unlock **** a few times to get everything moving inside the door again. Usually, when everything is stuck, when I turn the lock ****, I hear a loud click and then things start moving again. Most recently, it has stopped engaging the latch pin such that the door will bounce back open when I try to close it. I thought I had it closed last night, but when I started driving this morning, I realized the passenger door was open (fortunately before I went flying around a corner.)
I would assume that the lock/latch mechanism is corroded and not operating correctly. Does this sound right? Can I get in there and lube everything up, or do I need to replace the latch? What grease should I use if any? Any other insight or tips?
Thanks!
I would assume that the lock/latch mechanism is corroded and not operating correctly. Does this sound right? Can I get in there and lube everything up, or do I need to replace the latch? What grease should I use if any? Any other insight or tips?
Thanks!
hit it and inside the key hole, with some door lock graphite lube, comes in a small can, you can get ift anywhere. i hit my mine with the stuff and it was liek a whole new lock mechanism
if that doenst work, you may have to take soem more drastic steps.
BTY mensch, i was gettin out of my 68 the other day, pull on the handle and it breaks off on my hand
got to open the window and push the button to get out till the new latch mechanism shows up
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 419
Likes: 4
From: Lewisville TX
Mine were doing the same thing.. I took the door panel off and pulled the entire latch out. I lubed up the parts ( white lithium grease), and had to bend the latch housing a little to make it wider. My problem was the edge of the "paddle" was rubbing against the door latch housing (outside of the car). Once I got it to stop rubbing, it started working like it should.
