Need some help-Door won't latch

[wjk9673]

The other day my husband could not get the passenger door to open from the inside. (it's MY toy, so he don't get to drive it very much) When we got home he was able to open the door but he said it was kind of stiff. When he went to shut the door it wouldn't latch shut.
I played around with it and sprayed some WD-40 into the latch, so it would move. (The latch wasn't moving until I sprayed it and worked it loose) Now when it hits the latch part on the door frame, it's not stay latched. The latching mechanism is springing back open and causing the door not to latch shut, so right now my passenger door is TIED shut! When I play with the door handles nothing happens, either Does ANY one have any suggestions for me? Thanks.

 

[IlovemybroncII]

buy new door

 

[pocket-rocket]

If it happens only after driving the latch is getting frozen. I used to have this problem in my 91 Z34 so I had to carry a propane torch with me in the winter. When it did it, it took me about 20 seconds of heating it up to get it to unstick. Maybe spray some alcohol in there to melt and evaporate with the water, then after it dries spray some white lithium grease in there.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

you may want to remove your inner door panel and lubricate all the moving parts on the latch as well as where the rod from your door handle and lock rod are attached to the latch mechanism. it sounds like the stiker pin catch is sticking or in the wrong position and its not engaging the latch when it passes over the striker bolt.

 

[alaskan155]

adjust the stiker bolt and insure it has those cheap little pvc spacers on it

 

[wjk9673]

buy new door

buy new door = At this point NOT a option...Not unless you buy it for me

Thanks to the rest of you for your advice...I'll try it.

 

[thebigyellowtruck]

you could just get a new latch mechanism. you would just have a different key for you passanger door, unless you swap that over too.

 

[mattpresley]

The other day my husband could not get the passenger door to open from the inside. (it's MY toy, so he don't get to drive it very much) When we got home he was able to open the door but he said it was kind of stiff. When he went to shut the door it wouldn't latch shut.
I played around with it and sprayed some WD-40 into the latch, so it would move. (The latch wasn't moving until I sprayed it and worked it loose) Now when it hits the latch part on the door frame, it's not stay latched. The latching mechanism is springing back open and causing the door not to latch shut, so right now my passenger door is TIED shut! When I play with the door handles nothing happens, either Does ANY one have any suggestions for me? Thanks.

No but seriously Just replace the latch. cheap and easy to find. Btw I love the idea of a woman into old rangers, you rock!

 

[wjk9673]

I went out to start taking the door panel off, to take a look at things, and decided to try to shut it before I went any further. It shut and latched shut!!! It probably was froze. After all I DO live in WONDERFUL Minnesota! Thanks to all of you for your input.

 

[wjk9673]

Btw I love the idea of a woman into old rangers, you rock!

Thanks...I LOVE MY little "Grace"

 

[r1hatman]

My 83 did that and I had to replace my striker bolt assembly cause the 83 bolts didn't come apart so you could replace the PVC ring. So I went to Pull Apart and got some off a newer one that the bolt assembly actually came apart and now mine works fine. Make sure you mark where the old one was or you might have a hard time getting the new striker bolt to line up. Put some white lithium grease on and in the door assembly.

 

[99_3.0]

Typical freezing Minnesota crap that we have to deal with. My truck does the same thing but with the tailgate. Pretty much the same mechanism going on, it really gets annoying when you can't latch your tailgate. What I did was waited until it was warmer out and put some good lithium grease on there and it worked pretty well. Wd-40 dries out and leaves a varnish on there sometimes and it'll collect more crap and start not working again. Hope this helps.