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Author Topic: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.  (Read 6791 times)

Offline Drew

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has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« on: June 16, 2009, 10:51:09 pm »
DIY with Pictures coming up.

For those who dont know the back story, here it is.

During the build up of the Patriot Missile I needed to move my truck, went to unlock it as normal however the drivers door never unlocked. after a bit of troubleshooting it was found the door latch had stopped working properly.

Today I received a new door latch from Super Dave. I took plenty of pictures during the removal and install of the door latch mechanism, as well as some tricks to getting the door latch installed properly.

For those wondering what caused the latch to stop working properly, the solenoid that operates the electric lock/unlock failed in the locked position. I took apart the door latch and found removing the spur gear allowed the latch to work.

Thanks to Dave for getting me the part I needed quickly.

Drew [droo]

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Offline mayfair

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2009, 10:58:07 pm »
WOW I was JUST wondering how you'd made out with that latch. :eek:

Glad to hear that you've got it fixed. I hope you didn't mess with the linkage again

:43:

Offline Drew

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2009, 01:42:00 am »
I had to take everything apart . . . . . . . .again. . .

fortunately I learned from taking it apart the first time.

DIY will be on the way as soon as I get the ankle biter to bed.

Drew [droo]

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Offline FroneDaddy

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2009, 01:10:12 pm »
Now.....about that torque wrench :bat:

;D
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Offline Drew

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2009, 01:52:08 am »
Tony, I ripped apart that wrench yesterday. . .that bad boy has been abused :doh:, but fixable :up:. Tomorrow I'm gunna mill down some .250 tool steel and make a block. hoping on being done next week.

now onto the DIY.

once you have identified that your door latch is the problem and have a new latch from James O'Neal Dodge :tt2:



: :the above latch is for the Drivers door: :

these will be the tools you will need for removal.



PH1 and PH2 phillips head screw driver, T30 and T40 torx bits, and a flashlight. An inspection mirror can be used to orient yourself to the latch and where everything attaches. The electric driver is my cheap way of being lazy and not wanting to actualy turn a screwdriver.

Before removal of any screws or bolts ensure the window is up, this will make removal of the latch easier. The door in question has four screws that need to be removed, their location are marked with the red arrows.



next remove the power window, mirror, and lock switch plate simply by prying up on the hard plastic. it will pip out with little effort.



once removed disconnect the two plugs.

« Last Edit: June 19, 2009, 02:15:46 am by Drew »

Drew [droo]

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Offline Drew

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2009, 02:09:03 am »
Next, put your eyes on the T40 torx head screw to remove the door handle.



Once handle is removed simply pull up on the door panel itself and the panel will come right off



After the door panel is off this is what you are left with.



pull back the plastic moisture barrier far enough to expose the two access holes. the back tar crap that holds on the moisture barrier is some rather revolting stuff. it sticks to everything, and as you can see is very stringy.



now would be a good time to remove the lock pull tab. it simply unscrews.

« Last Edit: June 19, 2009, 02:12:14 am by Drew »

Drew [droo]

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Offline Drew

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2009, 02:32:52 am »


this is the best picture I could snap of the door latch. as you can see it is a rather cramped space. access is limited to one hand at a time to remove the attaching bars.

in this next picture it shows how the attaching bars are installed. simply rotate the plastic retainer to unlock the bar, then just pull it out. There are four bars to remove from the latch, one for the interior handle, the exterior handle, key lock, and the interior pull lock.



there are two bars that need to be completely removed, one is the interior pull lock



and the interior handle bar. before going farther make note of the orientation on this bar. if turned around it will lock into place, but the handle will not operate properly.



Lastly remove the harness off the latch. this harness operates the locking solenoid for the automatic door locks.

« Last Edit: June 19, 2009, 02:36:23 am by Drew »

Drew [droo]

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Offline Drew

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #7 on: June 19, 2009, 02:58:17 am »
Once all attaching bars and the wiring harness have been removed, grab your T30 torx bit and remove the three bolts that hold the door latch to the door



once the three bolts have been removed, the door latch will fall down about an inch or two and wedge itself on the window tract. grab the door latch and rotate it around the window tract, it will come out easily



after removal check the old and new door latch to ensure all the plastic lock tabs are in their proper place. when I received my latch the white lock tab was off and rattling around in the box. the lock tab simply pushes into place.



with the new door latch in the door, dont bolt the new latch in just yet. Dave showed me a trick. if you leave the bolts out and attach the bars onto the door latch this way it will give you some wiggle room to make the installation of the bars easier. the hardest one to install is the the bar for the interior handle mainly due to the lack of space. as you can see in this pic you can see just enough of the lock tab to get the bar installed.



after all bars have been locked into place, install the three mounting bolt for the door latch



right now would be a good time to test out the latch and make sure everything is installed properly. screw the door handle back in and close the door a few times to work the latch a few times from both the exterior and interior. work the interior lock and the exterior lock. Once you have verified everything is in working order then reverse the process. stick the moisture barrier into place, drop the door panel back into place, screw in the door handle, and the four mounting screws for the door panel. hook up the two plugs for the electric window/mirror and drop the switch plate into place and your done.
« Last Edit: June 19, 2009, 03:01:46 am by Drew »

Drew [droo]

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Offline Drew

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #8 on: June 19, 2009, 03:07:20 am »
here is what the interior of the door latch looks like.

on this one the electric solenoid failed in the locked position. the spur gear I am pointing at was keeping the system in the locked position. removal of this spur gear allowed the latch to operate in a limited function.

the electric solenoid is a sealed piece, so disassembly cannot happen.

luckly the spring at the bottom of the latch did not fly off.

Drew [droo]

-verb
1. pt. of draw
2. to procrastinate on and talk about the need to upgrade stock parts while operating said parts to beyond the point of failure


Offline noplugs

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #9 on: June 19, 2009, 03:26:56 am »
 :up:

Nice Job
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Offline lilfroger

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #10 on: June 19, 2009, 03:47:26 am »
Nice Drew!!  Glad you got that fixed :up:
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Offline Kilch123

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #11 on: June 19, 2009, 04:12:08 am »
Great write up! 

Awesome pics - will make the job much easier for the next person
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Offline mayfair

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #12 on: June 19, 2009, 05:44:17 am »
AWESOME job Drew !! :punk:

I was cracking up a couple of times whe you used the word "simply". Having been there with you while you were struggling with this the first time, there was now way in hell the word "simply" was flying out of your mouth that day

:lol:

Fortunately now that you've taken the time to do this DIY, it WILL be simpler job for the next guy

Thanks !! :cheers:

Offline Drew

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #13 on: June 19, 2009, 12:25:10 pm »
after struggling with it the first time and watching dave work his majic, and show some tips and tricks it was pretty easy.

Wednesday on my way home I ahd to run by Lowes, went to get out and lo and behold the inner handle wouldt operate. I had to lower the window to get out. after getting home I found I didnt latch the lock onto the bar so it fell out. . .OOPS :D

Drew [droo]

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Offline Buford445

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Re: has a door latch stopped working properly, come on in.
« Reply #14 on: June 19, 2009, 01:34:30 pm »
Good Wight Up :up:
I have dealt with one on a 2nd gen , I know it can be a Pain


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