Driver's door not latching

[Juddder]

The latch on my drivers door is not auto-latching and even manually latching it with a screw driver doesn't get it to 'lock' - it just falls open again

Pressing the door open button gives multiple clicking as normal, and I can hear the solenoid (?) clicking, but not the latch in the door clicking

The passenger side is all fine, and both clicking on release

Anyone fixed their's before - was wondering if there was a fuse for either side door perhaps, and/or is there a cable that goes from the solenoid (which sounds like it is front mounted) to the latch that might have broken?

All thoughts much appreciated (and I have videos if they would help)

Edited by Juddder on Monday 17th October 13:54

[TwinKam]

Think this is a mechanical problem, not an electrical one; probably a broken spring on the pawl that locks the rotating latch part. That or the pawl has seized on its pivot.
Either way, I have a feeling you'll need to remove the latch from the body.

[Juddder]

TwinKam said:

Think this is a mechanical problem, not an electrical one; probably a broken spring on the pawl that locks the rotating latch part. That or the pawl has seized on its pivot.
Either way, I have a feeling you'll need to remove the latch from the body.

Thanks, and thinking about it I think you're right as the door normally latches shut even if the battery is disconnected (*I'm sure we've all found that out the hard way...)

The replacement is listed as a Vauxhall Astra

http://www.alexjudd.com/cerbera/parts/#Door%20Catc...

Anyone replaced one or know from which year or model of Astra it might be from and how to get the existing one out?

There's a few different types on ye-old-eBay and I'm guessing it's from the back side panel some how

Thanks

[FarmyardPants]

Probably not the case from the description you've given but last time my door wouldn't latch it was because the 3 Allen bolts holding the mech to the car body had worked loose, wasn't as obvious a diagnosis as you'd think.

[P S K]

Before you go pulling stuff apart, check that both manual releases are fully in.

[Juddder]

P S K said:

Before you go pulling stuff apart, check that both manual releases are fully in.

Now that, is a good idea!

Many thanks

[ukkid35]

Hi Alex, you might find this thread relevant, or perhaps not

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Juddder]

ukkid35 said:

Hi Alex, you might find this thread relevant, or perhaps not

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Thanks Paul - much appreciated as ever - and hope you are well

I'm going to try and look at the lock tonight, lovely weather depending, and then should have a good idea of which part isn't latching - will feedback when I do

[TwinKam]

P S K said:

Before you go pulling stuff apart, check that both all manual releases are fully in.

EFA

[Tarmacshredder]

I had this same problem on my Cerb a couple of years ago and it was the spring on the door lock had broken. If you pull the carpet inspection panel that covers the door lock and check if the springs are intact that are on the arms on the outside of the door lock. I took the spring off, bent the end and refitted and still working fine now even if the Cerb isn't! lol

[ClassiChimi]

Here's the l/h door mech off my Chimaera, hope this helps

[Juddder]

Tarmacshredder said:

If you pull the carpet inspection panel that covers the door lock and check if the springs are intact that are on the arms on the outside of the door lock. I took the spring off, bent the end and refitted and still working fine now

ClassiChimi said:

Here's the l/h door mech off my Chimaera, hope this helps

Perfect - looks like typical mad TVR setup with the latch release being pressed by a solenoid bolted on with some custom panel, and a bunch of wiring that came out of which ever loom they had to hand

Many thanks both and very much appreciated - I will report back after more diagnoistics in the daylight at the weekend!

[Juddder]

Checked over the weekend:

- Drivers door footwell leaver = check, in place

- Boot side panel lever = check, oh actually not, it's a little lose so I better push it in

Go check the door...

- Hand to head, multiple times, all latching again and fixed!

Thanks everyone and we got there