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Topic: Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.  (Read 281 times) previous topic - next topic

Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.

Good afternoon friends,

Well- we're at the shop, picking up Fritz from TCE in Kent, WA. A glowing review will come later today.

We can't seem to release the latch on the front door. I've perused the posts and have some idea how it works.
In the meantime they're sending someone out to remove the front door panel so we can disable the mechanism and get on readying ourselves for the migration south.

Anyone got any tips on how to rig it so it opens and closes for the next 30 days?

I'm wondering if we should leave the panel off until we can get it fixed properly.

I'd love to hear y'all's thoughts on this.

Much appreciated!
J.

Re: Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.

Reply #1 –
No. But leaving the window unlocked somewhere might be a good alternate plan to get in

Re: Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.

Reply #2 –
I have a 98 U270 and I adjusted the lock because it was becoming very difficult to open from outside. You had to push in with one hand and simultaneously open the handle and pull. It was steadily getting worse and we could foresee a climb through a window in my future.

The mechanism needed a thorough cleaning. After adjustment the lock stopped working but it opened and closed like a charm. I had the inside door cover removed so I could see that the lock had stopped releasing even though I was sliding it to the unlocked position. After failing to decipher the problem and with evening on my heels, I took a couple of photos and then removed the two links to the lock, put them in a baggie and called it good. I also zip tied that lock in the unlocked position.

Now our door opens easily from both inside and outside and we lock it with the deadbolt. Not OEM but my wife has stopped complaining about the door not opening and we are not in danger of it failing in the locked position. Taking the Inside  door cover off is about a 45 minute job and putting it back about the same. You have to remove a lot of stuff and some of the screws will likely be rusted. That could lead to another project if you so choose.

Re: Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.

Reply #3 –
So are you saying that the posi lock is not releasing when you pull the nano, so the door is stuck in the open position. If that is the case. Blaster on the latch mechanism on top of the door and then a screwdriver to move it back and forth to free it up. A ladder is very helpful because you can then be able to see how it works. Hope this helps.
 

Re: Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.

Reply #4 –
Just like Realmccoy, stop using door sliding lock, partly as that lock is not as secure as a closed deadbolt, if someone falls against the inside of the door while going down the road. The handle is just not a great lock and maybe your problem supports this.