door hard to close
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
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door hard to close
Sorry if this has been covered (I'm sure it has), but I searched and couldn't find the same issue. Anyways, I bought a 93 Explorer Sport and the doors are very hard to close. You bascially have to slam them. I went by the dealer and they told me that the latch mechanism (I'm not sure if this is the correct term) needs to be replaced. It's the piece that bolts to the inside of the door. It has a star thread. They said that the rubber wears out. My question is how hard is this to replace. They wanted 1.1 hours ($95 labor) at the dealer plus parts. I was thinking of doing myself, but the body shop guy told me that once in a while the bolt on the inside of the door (where you can't see) falls loose to the bottom. I sure don't want that problem. Is this a real fear, or isn't something I should't worry about. Also, how hard is it to get it adjusted properly?
Thanks for all the help.
Thanks for all the help.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Of you suspect that you're gonna have to replace it anyway I'm thinking that you might as well try to see if you can't free off the mechanism with WD40 or similar.
I'm not exactly sure about the problem you describe but I think that, If I was in your position I'd try it. It could save you a few hundred bucks.
I'm not exactly sure about the problem you describe but I think that, If I was in your position I'd try it. It could save you a few hundred bucks.
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I drove by the Ford dealership and they pointed me to the problem. The rubber bushings were missing from the striker (that's the correct name). I went by the parts store and picked some up. Made a big difference. Just as a side note - There's a quick way to install rather than removing the striker. If you cut the rubber busing in half you can fit it over the brass rod and it works fine. Not sure if will last as long, but much quicker to install. The parts were cheap, so that's the way that I will go if I need to replace in the future.
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Great!
It's good to hear it was a quick, easy fix.
Some type of cement might help the split bushing stay on longer maybe?
If you can make the bushing as strong as it was before you cut it, it should last just as long.
Either way, great call.
It's good to hear it was a quick, easy fix.
Some type of cement might help the split bushing stay on longer maybe?
If you can make the bushing as strong as it was before you cut it, it should last just as long.
Either way, great call.
