I posted a thread about having door latch problems a couple of weeks ago, and that I thought that I had sorted them out, but today the driver's side door latch still seems to be an issue.

The latch didn't seem to relatch after the inside door pull handle is used. So when getting out of the car I would pull the handle and open the door but when I push the door closed the door just bounces back open, and I have to pull the inner handle back as far as possible and then let it spring back. Then the door will close properly.

It appears that the latch is being held in the "open" condition after I let go of the inner pull handle. It never happens with the outside handle, only the inner one.

There isn't any adjustment on the cable between the handle and the latch, and I fitted a new cable and a new latch last year so I am a bit perplexed by this problem

I took out the existing latch and gave it a good spray with a lubricant similar to WD40 and it was working perfectly but today it was acting the bollix again. I am beginning to wonder whether I need to buy yet another new latch, which I really don't want to do considering the cost of them. it just seems that when the inner handle pulls the arm on the latch it isn't springing back but there is no adjustment anywhere in the latch.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Pierre3.

The most likely cause is the cable is sticking and after you have opened the door it isn't returning fully. Whether the cable has been kinked so it binds but if you pull it all the way back and let it spring back, that is moving it enough to fully return. It isn't likely to be the latch or it would do the same if you open it from the outside handle. You need the door card off (again, hopefully you haven't fitted your new shedder yet) and then operate the interior handle few times while watching the horseshoe shaped lever that the cable is attached to and making sure that returns fully.

Richard, I haven't put the shedder or door panel back yet, fortunately.

When I had the latch out I did run some sewing machine oil down the wire sleeve belonging to the inner handle cable. So it is moving very freely. And the cable run looks uninterrupted, held in place by the plastic clip in the door. And the cable is almost new [compared to the car !!].

I will have to wait until the weather improves before I go outside and have another root about at it. I don't see any issue with the actual inner handle springing back, it snaps back pretty well, but it might just be something that needs replacing, perhaps the snap back isn't as good as it should be. It's the only other item that I can see that I haven't really looked at closely.

And just to add insult to injury, this evening, I pressed the "Prog" button to clear the frost on the tailgate glass and windscreen and the passenger side fan started clattering away like a mad yoke. So now I have to replace that !!!! Oh the joys.............................

Pierre3.

A further issue with the drivers' side door handle - I fitted everything back into the door, last week. I had checked the window for operation, having fitted a new regulator, and refitted the inner door window seal that had fallen down.

I also checked and tested the cill door lock button, and the inside door handle release and everything was working OK.

BUT, I didn't check, for some unknown reason, the key in the door handle. I have only discovered today that the key doesn't lock the door !!

The remote fob works fine but for some reason the key isn't doing anything. I remember fitting, and when I refitted the handle I saw that the link from the handle was attached, along with the latch link. When I put the key in it turns OK, but there isn't any kind of "pressure" which I had expected.

Without opening the water shedder membrane I wonder whether there would be any suggestions as to what may have happened. Is it likely that the lock link arm could have dropped off while the handle was being refitted ?

Pierre3.

Possible. At the handle end the rod is pointed but with a groove around it so it goes through the lever on the lock and is held in place with a clip that goes around the lever and has rolled edges that clip into the groove so it can't fall out. Before pulling the door apart again, you can undo the bolt holding the handle in place and pull it out of the door so you will be able to see if it is attached. Only problem here is that annoying block of steel that fits between the inner and outer doors skins stands a 50/50 chance of dropping out so you will have to get inside the door again.....

Richard, a good point, that. I am thinking that the spring clip thing could have let go of the link arm. I do actually have a few new replacement ones. I will have a look at it if the weather is good this weekend.

Now that you mention that screw that holds the door handle - there is a metal spacing block inside the door that the screw goes through. The first time I took off the handle that block disappeared down inside the door and I couldn't find it, or figure out what had dropped. Now it is glued to the inside of the door !!!

Pierre3.