P38A Driver's door knackered

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TallPaulB

Active Member
Posts
146
Location
Manchester, UK
Hi all,

Today I was clambering around inside my 2001, 4.6 P38 when the drivers door decided it was going to stop playing.

I first noticed a problem when I swung the door shut. It didn't latch, just bounced and swung open again. I clicked the locks on / off again and the door latches shut. Yay.

Then I tried to open it again. No joy. The inside handle just pulls without doing anything. The outside handle pulls completely free of the door. The door remains firmly shut.

So, remote lock works fine, it seems like the latch mechanism is knackered. I've ordered a new latch off fleabay, is it likely to just be a case of sticking a screwdriver down the door to break the latch and replace it?
 
TallPaulB said:
Hi all,

Today I was clambering around inside my 2001, 4.6 P38 when the drivers door decided it was going to stop playing.

I first noticed a problem when I swung the door shut. It didn't latch, just bounced and swung open again. I clicked the locks on / off again and the door latches shut. Yay.

Then I tried to open it again. No joy. The inside handle just pulls without doing anything. The outside handle pulls completely free of the door. The door remains firmly shut.

So, remote lock works fine, it seems like the latch mechanism is knackered. I've ordered a new latch off fleabay, is it likely to just be a case of sticking a screwdriver down the door to break the latch and replace it?
Click to expand...
Probably don't need the latch, it may well just be the little link rods come adrift. I think there is a plastic bit that breaks.
 
Datatek said:
Probably don't need the latch, it may well just be the little link rods come adrift. I think there is a plastic bit that breaks.
Click to expand...

I need to get into the door to get at any of the gubbins though, and to get into it I have to get it open....which I think requires breaking the latch. Could be wrong though!
 
TallPaulB said:
I need to get into the door to get at any of the gubbins though, and to get into it I have to get it open....which I think requires breaking the latch. Could be wrong though!
Click to expand...
I assume you can get into the car from the passenger side? If so, you might be able to prise enough of the door card off to get a hand in to open the door. Need to look at RAVE which will give you the details of the latch.
 
Update: after a lot of messing about (and swearing) I gave up trying to hit the latch inside the door last night at about 10pm. After locking the car up, I walloped the outside door handle so it pushed back against the door again. There was a definite 'clunk' from inside the door but at that point I couldn't be bothered.

Came to it this morning and the inside door handle now works fine. Outside one is still broken, but at least I can actually open the door to get at it properly now. Going to take it apart at the weekend and see what I can see.
 
TallPaulB said:
Update: after a lot of messing about (and swearing) I gave up trying to hit the latch inside the door last night at about 10pm. After locking the car up, I walloped the outside door handle so it pushed back against the door again. There was a definite 'clunk' from inside the door but at that point I couldn't be bothered.

Came to it this morning and the inside door handle now works fine. Outside one is still broken, but at least I can actually open the door to get at it properly now. Going to take it apart at the weekend and see what I can see.
Click to expand...
Order a replacement handle, when you take yours off you will find the operating arm that the rod attaches to will have broken off,as mine had.
 

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Okay, so on dismantling the door handle I found that the end of the handle that goes into / out of the door when you open it slots into a plastic part. That plastic part converts the forward / back motion of the handle into an up / down motion and is connected to a rod, which then opens the door. On mine, the front part of the plastic bit had snapped off, so pulling the door handle out didn't do anything. I fixed it by drilling a small hole in the end of the door handle, another one in the plastic part and using some copper wire to basically tie the two parts together. Works a treat.

If I get chance I'll take some pictures later in case it happens to anyone else :)
 
Last edited:
TallPaulB said:
Okay, so on dismantling the door handle I found that the end of the handle that goes into / out of the door when you open it slots into a plastic part. That plastic part converts the forward / back motion of the handle into an up / down motion and is connected to a rod, which then opens the door. On mine, the front part of the plastic bit had snapped off, so pulling the door handle out didn't do anything. I fixed it by drilling a small hole in the end of the door handle, another one in the plastic part and using some copper wire to basically tie the two parts together. Works a treat.

If I get chance I'll take some pictures later in case it happens to anyone else :)
Click to expand...

You need this. https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-STC3064
 
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