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Troubleshooting
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Car Door Won't Close
Car Door Wont Close
Introduction:
On any car there are many compartments that open and close at will of the user.
These compartments can vary from the
car hood, doors,
trunk, glove box and center/upper consoles. The one thing all of these compartments
have in common is a latch mechanism that holds the lid, door or hood closed and
then open when needed. Most latches contain a locking device that allows the user
to lock the operation of the latch. On the opposite side of all latches is the "striker"
which is the part where the latch holds onto when closed. This latch mechanism is
designed to hold the striker within the latch clasp. When the clasp is released
in the latch the sticker is free to move allowing the lid, hood or door to open.
For the latch to work properly the alignment of the striker is crucial. If the latch
is not aligned properly the latch will stick or not open/close. The hinge is on
the opposite side of the latch which is equally important. If these hinges are allowed
to move excessively the striker will be out of place causing the striker to be in
the wrong location and this can impair the latch operation. All hinges should be
free from lateral movement and maintained by applying lubricate at regular intervals.
To ensure proper latch operation all moving parts must be free from dirt and grime.
To clean a door or compartment latch use a mild solvent or soap. Once clean, dry
thoroughly and apply lubricate as needed.
Door Latch Reset Procedure
Depending on application some latches are equipped with an electric solenoid
that can automatically open
or close the lock with a simple
key
fob or electronic switch command. A switch command can be activated manually
or by the BCM (body control module) computer. These automatic controlled latched
also possess the ability to detect the use of force is used to overpower the latch
as in a criminal act. When the latch is overpowered the
car alarm will
sound to alert the car owner. Occasionally the alarm system will be accidently activated.
If this occurs simply close all doors, hood and trunk, then lock and unlock the
driver's door. This action will disarm the alarm and resume normal status. Sometimes
when a latch is opened it can have a "rebound" effect that can sometimes close the
latch the second it opens. When a "rebound" occurs the door, hood or truck opens
but the latch is now closed and will not except the striker and will not allow the
door, hood or lid to close. This mean the latch will have to be opened before it
will reconnect to the striker.
How to Open a Latch
- Locate the latch in question
- Using a small metal device, a medium size screw driver works well for this,
insert the screw driver into the clasp and pull outward while lifting the release
handle or button
- The latch will now open allowing the striker to re-enter the clasp enabling
the latch to again hold the striker in place resuming normal latch operation.
Preferred Procedure: Always unlock the door or lid before you
begin, if this reset procedure is not effective consult a
car repair manual
for additional manufacturer specific information.
Common Problems
- When a door latch fails it will not allow you to open or close the latch
- An activation rod will become dislodged not actuating the door latch release.
If this occurs the inner door panel must be removed to activate the latch release
manually.
- The inner or outer door handle will fail not moving the activation rod that
connect to the latch release. This will result in latch operation failure. In
both cases the inner door panel, must be removed to activate the control rod
manually. Occasionally the outer door handle can be removed with out removing
the inner door handle.
Troubleshooting
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Car Door Won't Close
Check Manufacturer Specific Car Door
Won't Close Questions
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