Door won't stay shut.

veqlargh · 30-07-2009, 05:45 AM

Hi guys.

First off I realise that actuators are a common problem but after searching and reading through the posts I didnt find quite what I wanted.

Basically my problem is that my front left door will not stay closed. You can slam it shut as hard as you want and it will not 'click' shut. Needless to say this causes problems even when car is stationary as I cant lock the car with a door open. Could this problem be part of the central locking and actuator or could something else be to blame.

I presumed the actuator was to blame and went to pull it out but ran it too a snag in my technical skill. Took off door trim and cant seem to disconnect locking mechanism from outside door handle.

Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated.

75van · 30-07-2009, 08:27 AM

Sounds like the striker plate needs adjusting out. This is the piece on the b pillar that the lock in the door catches hold of to keep the door closed. From memory you need a Torx bit, but just undo the plate slightly move it out a few millimetres, retighten, and try closing the door.

Car doors, especially AU ones shuldn't need to be slammed - you only need a slight arm movement to pull or push them shut. If you're too hard closing the doors it can move the striker plates.

crakrz · 30-07-2009, 09:08 AM

I had a similar problem with my right rear door, it just would not latch. It was like you were trying to close the door with the door handle "up". It would just bounce off the door rubber. I just sprayed heaps of silicone spray on the latch, and in the handle itself (very messy)and over a couple of days it worked its way in to where it was needed and I have not had an issue since.

Hope this helps

Craig

HLC · 30-07-2009, 10:22 AM

mine does that when it rains. no other time though lol

veqlargh · 30-07-2009, 11:16 AM

Thanks for the replies guys.
I will have a look at the striker plate later on this arvo. It was raining when i first had this issue on sat night, and while i don't think i slammed the door shut at first i did start to. Typical male response of brute force will work. A few jacks on coke didn't help my logic center either

smally289 · 30-07-2009, 11:25 AM

Also check that the cable from the inner door handle isnt kinked and holding the mechanism in the open position slightly. I have seen this before.

veqlargh · 30-07-2009, 11:28 AM

Disconnected the cable from the inner door handle earlier and it would still not stay shut.

Windsor220 · 30-07-2009, 07:42 PM

I had this happen to me before. Was very frustrating because it was late on a Friday night.

The cable had popped out near the actuator but not fully out so it was still connected. Just was not getting enough movement to move the latch. Just rip the door trim off and have a look.

UU TS50 · 30-07-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsor220

I had this happen to me before. Was very frustrating because it was late on a Friday night.

The cable had popped out near the actuator but not fully out so it was still connected. Just was not getting enough movement to move the latch. Just rip the door trim off and have a look.

definately look at the cable this happened to me at the drags and had to take the trim off and get to the cable at the latch end
it was kinked so had to straighten it and refit

veqlargh · 31-07-2009, 07:41 AM

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Got the door shutting good and wel now but i seemed to have created another problem in the process. It now will not lock. Took it all apart and the actuator is intact and working. After putting it all back in the door would lock at first but once inner trim went back on it stopped locking again. Pulled it all apart again and same deal. I swear this door is pushing my blood presure way up.

greenguzzler · 01-08-2009, 09:19 PM

Hey mate my car did the same last weekend. It feels like the outer door handle is just flopping around right? I left the door open pressed the doors lock button on my keypad, the door locks cycled and horn beeped a few times then i went back and shut the door and it locked shut but outer door handled still didnt work. I then drove home and locked the car and came back out 10 mins later unlocked the doors and miraculously it wasnt flapping around anymore. It is still working fine (touch wood). Hopefully this helps.