Doors won’t spring open – solution?

[Snakes]

Symptoms
I have had my T350 from new and have always had this problem. When you press the door button under either mirror you can hear the door mechanism operating but the doors don’t spring open as they do on some T350’s I’ve tried. You have to keep the button pressed for a second or two and tug on the mirror at the same time and pull it open.

Causes?
The electronic catch must just release the catch but what makes the door spring open? My dealer says it’s the rubber door seals expanding to their normal shape but I can’t see this being sufficient to spring the door as I have seen on “working” cars. Anyone got the knowledge on this as it would help with the solution possibly.

My dealer reckons my hinge mechanisms/bearings are a little sticky and this isn’t helping. Anyone had this?

Solution
I really want to get this sorted. Does anyone have experience of this fault and have a proper cure?

Can anyone recommend anyone in the North East or North West who specialises in TVR bodywork who can affect a cure?

[Gaffer]

Could be that the doors have dropped a little so are catching.
Also I know of a tuscan that takes a second or so after the window has dropped for the doors to actually open.

Ian@TorqueRVT is in the North West and can help. He did the passenger doors on the Sagaris when that wasnt springing open properly.

Claire

[Snakes]

Thanks Claire. I don't think the doors have dropped but will check and it isn't a "timing thing" as you can hear the catch releasing immediately. Thanks for the contact.

[Gaffer]

No worries. If you are still having problems, let me know and I will ask Ian tomorrow when I talk to him.

Claire

[Snakes]

I'd really appreciate it Claire if you would as I won't have a solution by then!

Anyone else got any answers to my questions?

[Snakes]

The solenoids aren't slow and my dealer has tried the inserts into door seals.

I don't mean to sound negative so thanks for the suggestions.

Anyone else? I can't be the only one can I!

[bren.wright]

I didn't think the doors were supposed to pop open on the T350?

I have been told by quite a few people that the t350 doors don't pop open, apparently they do on Tuscans but not T350?

[swanny71]

I had this with my passenger door. The window was not quite dropping far enough when the door button was pressed and was just catching on the roof. Also my window was slow to come up on the window buttons. Dealer (eventually) sorted my problem by lubricating/adjusting the window mechanism.
Does your door spring open correctly when the window is down?
I'm pretty sure it is just the door rubbers that spring open the door.

[KillerJim]

The passenger door on my Sagaris is much the same, the mechanisms are fine its just the seal doesn`t have enough outward pressure to push the door open.

[Sagi Badger]

Had same on my Sagi. I found one door, passenger side, had dropped. I adjusted the pillow blocks, in foot well behind carpet, and it eased it. Are your doors really free swinging...or a bit stiff. Good choice of words.... There was marking on the keep/strike plate which made it obvious.

[HisNibsToo]

When I have had this problem it appeared the rubbers were not releasing from the glass. The solution I found was to occasionally spray the door rubbers with silicon spray as I found this releases the glass and the door and allows the door to then spring open.

[bobd]

KillerJim said:

The passenger door on my Sagaris is much the same, the mechanisms are fine its just the seal doesn`t have enough outward pressure to push the door open.

I have just fitted the solution. Neoprene manometer tubing 11mmm inserted in the outer door seal. Nearly knocks your knee caps off now!

[mungral]

I had a similar issue on my Tamora; the door seals were soft and flattened.

This weekend I replaced the seal and the passenger door pops open; very satisfying. HOWEVER, the drivers door will not open without pushing inwards to allow the mechanism to free the door catch. I can hear the solenoid but the door doesn't budge. I can't open the door from inside!

[Bobhon]

mungral said:

I can't open the door from inside!

I presume that you can't open it from inside using the button on the dash? Have you tried the emergency release?

Sounds as if your door has either dropped on the hinges (pretty rare I would have thought). Is it fairly square in the frame with even gaps all round (what am I saying it's a TVR that didn't have even gaps when it was originally built). Or the catch pin has somehow moved.

2 options for a fix. Try moving the locking pin around on the door to get it back in line with the catch in the B pillar. Think that you need a C spanner to fit into the 2 holes in the pin surround. Or adjust the door on its hinges.

Either one is probably DIY'able. I would suggest that your local friendly TVR service place would do it in 5 minutes though.

Have you WD 40'd the lock already?

ETA - Are there any scrape marks on the locking pin to show if it is too high or too low? Might make any adjustments easier.

[mungral]

The doors were correctly adjusted; the new seal put additional pressure on the pin so that the catch couldn't release it. A healthy dose of WD40 made everything in the mechanism free and smooth operating. Doors now spring open with a satisfying "poing!"