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'85 Door Latch Mechanism
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
'85 Door Latch Mechanism
I'm new here, so bear with me.
I've been (trying to....) restoring an '85 coupe, and I'm trying to work on the rods and clips (what a job that was) on the passenger door outside handle and latch mechanism, some may call it a door latch assembly, or a door lock fork, well whatever it is, the fork section of the mechanism is closed and I cannot get it to open to close the door. This fork wraps around the door striker when the door closes. Anyone have any ideas??
I've been (trying to....) restoring an '85 coupe, and I'm trying to work on the rods and clips (what a job that was) on the passenger door outside handle and latch mechanism, some may call it a door latch assembly, or a door lock fork, well whatever it is, the fork section of the mechanism is closed and I cannot get it to open to close the door. This fork wraps around the door striker when the door closes. Anyone have any ideas??
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
You've got the door unlocked, and you're lifting the handle while trying to open the latch?
I recall the inner and outer handles use different linkage, so both coming undone sounds unlikely. Do you feel resistance when operating the door handles?
What agent86 was getting at is the latch must've clicked shut for some reason. Lifting either handle should free the latch, then when opening the door the door sill post physically pulls the latch open.
I recall the inner and outer handles use different linkage, so both coming undone sounds unlikely. Do you feel resistance when operating the door handles?
What agent86 was getting at is the latch must've clicked shut for some reason. Lifting either handle should free the latch, then when opening the door the door sill post physically pulls the latch open.
Last edited by CentralCoaster; Nov 21, 2007 at 12:32 AM.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Not yet, be going out of town for the Holiday, will resume trying to get the fork to rotate as you have suggested when I return; may end up removing all the handle linkages and unbolting the latch from the side of the door. The thing just won't move, even by pulling one of the handles and trying to pull the fork down with a screw driver.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
When you say "pull the fork down with a screwdriver", are you putting the screwdriver into the latch on the outside edge of the door, where the striker pin fits when the door closes? My door has done this, too, and by putting a screwdriver into this spot, applying pressure toward the cockpit (like the striker pin would), and lifting the outside handle, the forks should rotate to the open position. This presumes the door is un-locked!
Giggle time: My wife was searching for the hatch release button in the dark, and pushed on this door latch mechanism, and it snapped closed on the finger!! Luckily she wasn't hurt, but she had to drive home with one hand hanging onto the arm rest to keep the door closed!!
Giggle time: My wife was searching for the hatch release button in the dark, and pushed on this door latch mechanism, and it snapped closed on the finger!! Luckily she wasn't hurt, but she had to drive home with one hand hanging onto the arm rest to keep the door closed!!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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I just did this by accident. Mine is a 92 so I don't know if it's the same but prolly is. This might be hard to describe. There is a small part above the fork that is holding it closed, nothing will release this except applying pressure to it with a small screwdriver then pulling the bottom of the fork down to it's original position. It's hard to see but if you look closely and wiggle the fork a bit you will see it. To visualize it easier, with it closed it looks like a circle, so the part I'm talking about would be at the 11 oclock position, a tiny square slot.
Last edited by mfi; Nov 23, 2007 at 10:33 AM.
