Help - Need car tomorrow

[EScanlon]

Do the following before you start disassembling locks, door panels etc.

With the door OPEN, actuate the latch mechanism AS IF it were closing. That is, rotate the latch lever back and around it's center point.

You will note that it "latches" at two points.

The first point is the "safety" latch. The door is closed and latched, but cannot be locked.

The second point is the full closed position and it is what you want when you are in the car. Unless the latch gets to this point you will NOT be able to lock the door either via the key NOR the inside button.

Once the latch has been actuated to the full closed position, check that you can lock the door with the key AND with the inside button. If you CAN do that, then the problem is that the door has not shut far enough to reach the second position the latch requires.

If you CANNOT do that, then you have a misadjustment on the rods inside the door and must open the panel up.

Hope this helps.

[ZCCOR#109]

Be aware that the striker plate bolts go into captured nuts that can not be accessed with out some serious issues. I believe one has to cut a hole in the body or inlarge it after taking off the interiour panel. Carl Beck has a technique of repair but it escapes me now.

[Si|v3r72]

Thanks again everyone for your continued support.

EScanlon has described the problem perfectly. The latch only goes to the safety position, not the actual lockable position. When I had replaced the latch on the inside of the door it just didn't seem to operate correctly as far as the lock was concerned but I put it together anyhow and now I've got trouble. Looks like another weekend will be spent working on this door.

BTW, I replaced the bolts that hold down the latch striker plate (all three were stripped) and the door is closing now. I still have to give it a good hard shove, but at least it's closing.