Automatic door will not close

Tiny
TIM BREAM
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 FORD WINDSTAR
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 126,000 MILES
My passenger side sliding door is an automatic door. When you try to shut it, it will not close. It will keep opening up like something is between the door and the latch. It will not latch either if you try turning it to manual. The latch does not snap shut. If you try to snap the latch shut (in the inside of the door), it will not latch. You can put a screwdriver in the opening and hit something that resets the latch and then the door will close. I have tried to oil it, had it to a garage who said it would not fail for them, even though it consistently fails for me maybe thirty times in a row.
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 AT 7:32 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Hello,

This seem like the door is out of adjustment since it works sometimes and not others but please confirm the latch is open when the door it closing. Here is a guide to show you what I am talking about:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-door-hood-or-trunk-will-not-close

Here is the sliding door adjustment diagrams (below).

Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

Cheers, Ken
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 12:54 PM
Tiny
BOOPAH
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 FORD WINDSTAR
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 122,120 MILES
Our passenger door on the driver side would not close. It would slide almost to the closing point, then slide open. I pushed down the button beneath the window to lock the door and the door slid shut, but now it is permanently locked and we cannot open the door. The dealer wants $795.00 to repair it. The fuse appears to be okay since everything else on that fuse is operational. I tried to pull up the lock button with pliers, but it will not budge. I removed the cover on the door handle, but could not see inside the door much. Can you help? The dealer's analysis (I paid $90.00 to have him look at the problem) is "RL sliding door latch and actuator + woring asse and need to adjust door assts and readvice" (I could not read the handwriting well--worse than a doctor's).
Thanks
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MASTER TECH DAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 83 POSTS
The dealer is probably right the actuator is a little motor on the latch that locks the door and they freeze. Check the junk yard for a used one then take the door scin off to dissengage the rod so you can open it and replace the latch assembly.
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHAD VAN DER LINDEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 FORD WINDSTAR
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
The front doors do not automatically lock or unlock like the other back ones. Also the automatic sliding doors do not shut all the way automatically. You have to push on the back part to push it in to latch.
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Hello Chad,

I found this wiring diagram for you, it looks like the system is run by a door operation module located in the right rear quarter panel that could be going out. Also there are a series of fuse that need to be checked as well, here is a guide and the diagrams so you can do some checking.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Please let us know what you find so it will help others.

Best, Ken
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RI3CHS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 FORD WINDSTAR
  • 6 CYL
  • 214,250 MILES
1997 Windstar door freezing even after I have wiped with silicon.I have tried vaseline and the doors still freeze. I have to heat the van up for 20 to 30 minutes to get the doors to close. What can I do to fix this problem?
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
IS it the door moulding that is freezing or the lock assembly?
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RI3CHS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Mostly the moulding is freezing but the lock assembly does some time also.
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
The only thing you can try is what you are already doing. Water should be repailed from it, but it can still freeze around it. If you want, try a penetrating oil spray like WD40.

Let me know if it helps.
Joe
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BHELPFUL
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 FORD WINDSTAR
  • 6,176 MILES
I got in my car closed my doors, started the car, a light illuminated on dashboard, it was the door light signal, stays on, constantly. Checked all the doors they shut with out any problem.
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
The switches that control the lights for open doors are made right into the door latches and they have a history of sticking and causing problems like that.

Here is a technique that often works well and eliminates the problem at no cost.

Get a can of spray lube like WD40 or something like it and has a straw on the nozzle. Spray it generously up into the latch mechanism. Now open and close the door numerous times to work it in. Repeat this process several times. Since you don't really know which door is causing the problem, you should do all of them. It's usually caused by the most frequently used door but it's not guaranteed to be that one.
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)

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