Rear Door Won't Close

[Shelby55]

I posted this as a reply in another thread, but thought I should start a new thread.

My rear door won't close. I lubricated it, but it didn't help. I moved the little latch thing in the door with a screw driver... thinking maybe it was stuck. It moves, but still... no luck. The handle seems fine.

This happened once before and while it was at the dealer, I mentioned it. They said it was fine... and it was... after the appointment. I don't know if they did anything.

I currently have it tied to the back seat because it will fly open while driving. I wonder if the cold weather is causing problems and how I can fix it???

Thanks for any help!

[indycar89]

can you provide any more info? When this happened before, was it below freezing? Does the door 'bounce' back when you try to close it - as if the latch is already closed and is bouncing off the pin, or will the door close all the way but not latch?

It may well be the cold, if you had this problem when it was at the shop but they found nothing wrong, because the warmer temps would have thawed the door. Can you think of any reason you would have some water on the door latch?

[Shelby55]

I don't think it was bitter cold the last time. It was a couple years though...can't be too sure.

The latch thing (in the door) is open...so, the door closes...but I'm thinking the latch doesn't move to close over the hoop that is on the bottom. I'm not sure, but I think the latch should close over the loop when I close the door...yes? If I move the latch with a screw driver to the closed position.. it doesn't close all the way.

Water on the door latch? Only if rain or snow would get it wet. I keep the truck in a garage... not warm, but not like outside either.

[indycar89]

Sounds like it is not a frozen latch then. I guess that would have been to easy.

I'll do some looking at my rear door latch and also check to see if i have any diagrams of the door/latch. Those files are on my laptop, so it may be this afternoon before have a chance to look.

I certainly can't offer a solution off the top of my head, but may be able to at get you some info to investigate further.

[eriker]

Have you tried spraying some WD-40 into the latch assembly? On my pick-up tailgates, this is a common problem. The latch gets sticky and won't spring back or forth on its own. A little spray and some lifting of the door handle might do it, especially if you can spray far up in towards the latch. Other than that, try taking the back panel off the door. that should give you access to the mechanism and you'll be able to watch it function. The spring could be jacked up.

[Shelby55]

Thanks for the help. I've tried WD-40... but will try it again.

[indycar89]

Here are some diagrams for the tailgate door or rear door. Or is it the back door?

All this time I thought you were talking about the (what I think of as) back door(s), meaning the second set of door that give access to the back seat.

Anyway, if it turns out you're talking about those, let me know and I'll post those too.

[darryl-3]

How is the alinment with the door closed (as far as possible)? does the gap on the front or back look uneven? maybe the latch is not lining up with the post?

Did you check the door rubber seal, something may have gotten caught in it and keeping it from closing the door all the way or something in the way of the hindge.

[Shelby55]

I'll check the alignment and rubber seal... I think it was fine, but I'll double check.

Yes, I'm talking about the rear door... thank you so much for the diagrams. If it would only warm up a bit, I could venture out to the garage and spend some time with it. I hate winter.

Thanks again!

[indycar89]

no problem, good luck! Let us know what you find out.