vette75406

When i close the door the latch does not lock around the striker, the handle is still depressed , im sure the latch is just stuck but does anybody have any other ideas , it opened fine until today then it stuck , i have not pulled the panel off yet and dont want to if i can get away with it , my luck it will have to come off.

Jack71

Did you try lubricating it with lithium grease? That may free it up. I had to replace a latch and its not that bad of a job.

82collectorshark

Try returning the latch to its normal position with a screwdriver and lubing the latch.Try adjusting the striker a bit also.I ended up pulling the panel off and adjusting the rod that attaches to the handle by carefully removing the clip and either legnthening or shortening the rod.Be patient and take your time doing this,if not you will get very frustrated. After I was done the door opens and closes like new with very little effort and no "slamming".
Taking the panel off is no big deal.
Jules

Aflac

I'd take it out and clean the mechanism totally...not hard to do

77BuffaloVet

Just fixed this on mine last weekend...Take the door panel off (sorry...it is the easiest way) and look at the mechanism in the top corner right under the door latch. There is a rod that comes down from the door handle and attaches to the mechanism that opens the door latch. It has a bend in it and if it gets turned and there is no lubrication then it sticks. That is what happened to mine. Tap the rod with a screw driver and the door handle should pop up. Then spray the heck out of the whole mechanism with lithium grease. Should not only fix the problem, but make the doors much easier to open.





[Modified by 77BuffaloVet, 9:39 AM 7/2/2004]