Door Latch w/Pics

[daepp]

My passenger door latch is non-op. The U-shaped part shown below now wobbles and therefore will not rotate properly when closing the door to secure or latch it.



This is a shot from inside the door. That's the window track in the way:



This is someone else's shot of the inside of the latch mechanism. The inside ( or opposite end) of the shaft with the U shaped part has the coil spring on it - ignore the red colored drawings:



Does anyone know how this piece is held together? Or how the shaft could come loose? How to tighten it up?

[daepp]

I have not removed mine yet. I would like to tighten it in place if possible. I can still turn the latch by hand and the spring still engages - the shaft is just loose.

[mthomas58]

Have you checked your striker plate? The nylon internals get chewed up with wear and the problem may be there rather than the latch assembly. Do a visual comparison with the driver side strike plate to see if everything is as it should be. I had a little plastic piece fall out of mine the other day but it is still working (for now)

[daepp]

Mark - I have compared the parts from side to side (at least that which you can see without removing another interior door panel anyway). The "broken" one has a great deal of play - as much as 3/8 of an inch of play - compared with the "good" one which has no play. And both strikers look the same.

Thanks.

[jpnovak]

Make sure the three philips head screws that attach the door latch to the door are tight. If they are there is little you can do to the door latch. You will need to remove the door window frame and replace the whole thing.

The rotating part of the latch is behind the large clock spring. The shaft is the part that has the slot in the center of the spring. Under the spring is the catch mechanism that you see on the right side of your posted picture. There are two stops under the linear spring to the right. They look like a shark fin of sorts.

These are all pressed together into the backing plate for the latch. I don't think there is any way to repair them. I am surprised they wobble since there are no plastic bushings to wear out, at least on this part. Be aware the early door latches are slightly different than the late ones. The difference is the length of the lever arm that the interior door release attaches to and the locking arm.

[daepp]

Jamie - the three screws were tight - thanks for the reply.

Finally got the latch out and ordered a used replacement from Easy. I had to remove the track for the window, that was covering up the latch on the inside of the door. To get the track out I had to lower the window about half way, pull the track up through the top of the door, then raised the window again. A bit of the lift mechanism was still in the way but I was able to work around it. I will post a how to once I get the thing back together. It is amazing how far apart you must get the door to repair the latch. And even more amazing to me that it was the passenger side that failed.

Lastly, I do not know what failed. The shaft is quite loose, while everyone assures me there is no bushing/washer/grommet. Once I get the new one I will compare.

[daepp]

Latch failure:

[daepp]

This outer edge window track must be unbolted and pulled up and out of the door to remove latch



The track is pulled up and out of the door



Note the extra piece of steel welded to the chrome track - it gets in the way when removing the track.

[daepp]

These holes are normally covered by rubber plugs. This is where the screws are that hold the window track.


Where latch lives


Inside the door showing lock rod

[daepp]

Cut outs for window switches? 2 on the passenger side????


Anyone know what this number is? It does not correspond to my VIN.


Back side of outer door pull


Ditto


I would recommend buying a few of the yellowish/white plastic grommets(?) - they get old, they're still available cheap, and you are likely to break one. They attach the rods together inside the door.

[Howard Taylor]

Where did you buy the replacement latch assembly?

[RWebb]

2 holes on "pass. side" b/c in some countries it is the drivers side

good pics

these things are apparently just stuck together with little reinforcement....

[daepp]

I purchased the latch from EASY in Emeryville, CA. Tel: 510.653.3279

[daepp]

Followup: although the new latch functions perfectly, it apparently was an updated part as the mounting screw diameters increased. EASY sent me new screws gratis after I called them.