Door won't stay closed

DAVEINBOSTON

MEMBER
2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU
6 CYL
56,000 MILES

2005 chev malibu. When closing the front passenger door this morning, the door didn't close all the way as if the seat belt was in the way. The latch in the door was in a down position. Using my key I raised the latch, locked and unlocked the doors with my key. Finally the door closed and latched. (I don't remember the sequence of events.)
Tonight the same thing happened but nothing I tried worked. The door closes all the way, but once I remove my hand, the door doesn't stay closed. Locking the car with door closed doesn't help. The door won't stay latched.
We are experiencing very cold weather. Could this be a cause or is it something to do with the actuator? The only thing that has worked is to sit and let the car warm up and then we can get it to shut. I'm probably going to have to take it in for service.

Thanks
Dave

4 Replies

JACOB

MEMBER
1 POST

My girlfriend and I experienced the same exact problem this morning on the rear driver-side door, it wouldnt stay closed at all. I could easily maneuver the latch inside the door to the correct position and then when I tried to close it, it just bounced back everytime as if their was a seatbelt in the way. So I very gently closed it and I could feel the latch just barely engage. As if I could jus pull the door without using the handle and it may pop open. She said that months ago it also happened on the passenger side rear door. Now the other side. Makes me thing its a defect and not just the result of weather. P.S. We are also experiencing extreemely cold weather right now in Montana

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Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 AT 4:31 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,833 POSTS

Hello,

What happens is the door latch itself needs to be replaced due to internal wear and the cold just makes the problem worse.

You will need to take the door panel of to replace the latch. This guide will give you an idea of what it will take the panel off.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/door-panel-removal

Here are some diagrams that shows the latch and the three bolts you take off when changing it.

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken

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Thursday, January 11th, 2018 AT 3:50 PM

NRA

MEMBER
1 POST
1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
125,000 MILES

Hi Guys,

The driver side door won't open. I need to remove the interior driver side door panel to see if the latch came off a spring or what - but can't open the door to do so.

When I pull the interior or exterior handle nothing happens - how can I open the door and how do I get the panel off. I was looking at the passenger side and couldn't find any screwws for the panel to be removed even when I get the door open.

Your help would be appreciated

I'm getting tired of climbing over the passenger side. Plus it's a safety hazzard.

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Saturday, February 9th, 2019 AT 4:09 PM (Merged)

JETSA

MEMBER
117 POSTS

I would have to look at a Malibu tomorrow at work to be sure, but I think there is a small panel around the inner door handle assembly that might could be taken off without having to remove the door panel. If you can get that off (and if there is such a small panel), try to remove the inner door handle assembly enough so that you can grab the rod from the handle that goes towards the back of the door. You will probably have to use needle nose pliers to grab it. If the inner door handle isnt pushing that rod backwards when you try to open the door, move it backwards with the needle nose pliers and see if that releases the door.

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Saturday, February 9th, 2019 AT 4:09 PM (Merged)