Of all things to keep me off the Road...

[SkinnedKnuckles]

... the drivers side door latch failed today. Oh sure, I looked cool driving home with my elbow out the window on the door - no one knew it was to keep the door from flying open on right turns.

Took the latch off the door and the mechanism works, just the tab that the outside handle presses wouldn't go all the way back to it's proper position to latch. Broken spring? A small piece of metal fell out as I was washing and shaking the thing - not good. Drilled out the rivets and yep - broken spring. The kind that looks like the spring type hose clamps.

So if I can find 2 rivets and a spring I'm set. Off to Tractor Supply tomorrow to dig through the bins, then it's McMaster-Carr. Sheesh.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

Brent

If you need a used latch, let me know

Marv

 

[SkinnedKnuckles]

Thanks, Marv! I'll try and fix it first, but sometimes it doesn't work out. If it doesn't you'll hear from me.

 

[boeingpilot]

Oh sure, I looked cool driving home with my elbow out the window on the door - no one knew it was to keep the door from flying open on right turns.

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there...

 

[Don Elliott]

Just pour some water onto it and let it freeze. That'll keep it "welded" closed - at least till spring when it melts again.

 

[SkinnedKnuckles]

Well, made a replacement torsion spring, assembled it with a post screw instead of rivet, put it on the door and it's good to go! Got some picts, but how often does one get into the door latch? I bet that pound for pound the latching mechanism is the dirtiest part of the car.