Door lock/latch issues
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 162
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From: Cleveland
Door lock/latch issues
I park my 2004 regular cab XLT truck outdoors. Yesterday, I unlocked the doors with the remote and couldn't open the driver's door. So I went around to the passenger door and opened it, only to discover that once I closed the passenger door, it wouldn't stay shut. I start the truck to get some heat. Cycling the power locks, it seemed like they lacked full power or did not travel all the way. I checked the cam latch on the door itself and squirt it full of WD40 to drive out ice. So at 5:30 am in the dark and cold I start taking the interior panel off. Out of frustration, I close it once more and this time it stays shut.
Same thing happens again this morning, except this time I couldn't get the door to latch at all. I pull all of the panel off and yank on the rods. No luck. Finally I got a strap to hold the door shut and drove off to work.
Tonight I parked in the garage, and lo and behold, everything is working.
Relatively speaking, the temperature has been moderate at 15 F and the truck is starting a lot easier than when it was -9 F.
Suggestions?
Same thing happens again this morning, except this time I couldn't get the door to latch at all. I pull all of the panel off and yank on the rods. No luck. Finally I got a strap to hold the door shut and drove off to work.
Tonight I parked in the garage, and lo and behold, everything is working.
Relatively speaking, the temperature has been moderate at 15 F and the truck is starting a lot easier than when it was -9 F.
Suggestions?
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 591
Likes: 37
From: Groton, MA
In New England this is a common problem. I think it's caused by water freezing or old grease thickening in the latch mechanism. I have dealt with it in the past by spraying the pi$$ out of the latch mechanism with WD40 literally until it runs out the bottom of the door (keep the window up or you will be cleaning WD40 off it). It works best if you do it on a warmer day or in a garage and move the pieces of the latch while spraying
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carcrafter22
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Feb 14, 2008 05:02 AM
