Help please, can't shut door!

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My Tamora's currently at the factory and they've kindly lent me 96/P 4.0l Chimaera.
The passenger door initially took a couple of pushes to shut but has now given up completely!
I can push it so that it's flush with the car but the locking mechanism doesn't work to keep it in place!
I've removed the 3 bolts that hold the lock mechanism in place but what next? Should the lock mechanism just slide out? It doesn't look like it comes out easily?
Assuming I do get the lock mechanism out is there something I should look for to fix the problem?
Any help would appreciated?

I know I should be telling the factory this but they're shut at the moment and I really need to use the car tomorrow/Monday.

Thanks.... Andrew

[ABBTVR]

Hi Andrew, did the central locking (button on top of the door release knob in centre consol) work before you took the bits apart. It could have been a dodgy connection on the switch located on the bottom of the door seal. There should be a rubber stop that hits the switch on closure.

If you like we could do a trial and error session via email, I have Steve's bible here.

Hope this helps

Big Al.

[CraigAlsop]

ABBTVR may be right - the easy way to test this is to see whether the interior light stays on when you shut the door - in the front switch position, it should switch off after 10 secs or so.
If it doesn't, then the door lock won't work.

[chriswren]

Hi, I had this the other week.......it turned out that the lock had come loose. There are 3 bolts holding the lock, that need to be tightened.

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I don't believe this!
I've just gone to look at the car again after reading your advice and the door shut on the first attempt! Not only that but it pops open and then shuts perfectly every time!
Thanks for your help and advice.
Cheers.... Andrew

[tamago]

This happened to me today !! Felt like slamming the door into a locked catch...
In any event, after checking the central locking and rotating the barrel with a key (no luck) managed to solve it by depressing the door opener under the wing mirror and while that was pressed in, using the key to rotate the barrel to the "open" position. Checked the lock and looked as if the screws are tight, so I am suspecting a piece of rubber inside the lock chaffing the barrel...then went for a fantastic (top down) drive into Rotherhithe and Limehouse tunnels and spotting 2 more Chims around Canary Wharf...!