driver door will not close

[hvac25]

HI,

I wrote before as well. I thought it might be labeled a hinge problem, but I don't think so. I have a 2001 chevy s-10. The door is sagging a bit (which is the hinge), but this is different. The door closes mostly, but will not latch on to the inside piece. That sideways U on the door itself is not seated properly, and I cannot adjust it with a screwdriver at all to correct it. It is locked in an incorrect position, and there is a spring in that little hole that has popped out. How do I repair? Does the whole door need to come off, and be opened? Is this difficult? Any advice, and what exactly is this piece called? Thanks

[OverBoardProject]

The first thing to do is fix that hinge, and it might just work properly.

I believe that this mechanism is just called the door latch... and it should come out if you take the door panel off. The door doesn't have to be removed.
However you'll probably have to drill out some rivits.
working inside a door can be a little tough because there's no room to work, and you can't see much.
just replace these rivits with short, thin nuts and bolts if you can... using lock washers, and loctite

[hvac25]

Originally Posted by OverBoardProject

The first thing to do is fix that hinge, and it might just work properly.

I believe that this mechanism is just called the door latch... and it should come out if you take the door panel off. The door doesn't have to be removed.
However you'll probably have to drill out some rivits.
working inside a door can be a little tough because there's no room to work, and you can't see much.
just replace these rivits with short, thin nuts and bolts if you can... using lock washers, and loctite

I didn't think the hinge was such a problem, but I guess it is. We will repair that as well tomorrow. Thank god for the forums on door hinge replacements. That will help tremondously.

If I take the door panel off, It will give me access to repair this latch, and reseat it properly? Will putting the spring back in be difficult? Thanks for the reply.

[OverBoardProject]

The drivers door hinge on my blazer is one of the last things that I'll probably have time to get done, and I have to slam it. As a result I can see where your coming from

[hvac25]

Originally Posted by OverBoardProject

The drivers door hinge on my blazer is one of the last things that I'll probably have time to get done, and I have to slam it. As a result I can see where your coming from

Have to slam this door as well. Except tonight it didn't work. Now I have an umbrella bunjee corded to my door keeping the rain out, and the door will have to stay cracked open a bit till morning. Nice huh... Hoping this repair tomorrow will not be that bad, and time consuming, or expensive. Need to get that door closed.

[movin2stereo]

Your hinge problem has had a direct connection with your latch problem.Just hope you didn't mess up the latch or you will need to get another.You won't have to drill any rivets either.

[hvac25]

Originally Posted by movin2stereo

Your hinge problem has had a direct connection with your latch problem.Just hope you didn't mess up the latch or you will need to get another.You won't have to drill any rivets either.

OK.How will we know if the latch is bad? Will I just be able to rotate it back to position and adjust the spring, while the door panel is off?

[chcknugget]

I know that I've moved the little u piece in the latch and it prevented the door from closing. I think it was a child lock or something. I freaked out because my passengerside door wouldn't close and kept banging into the striker bolt.

To undo it You have to do some combination of unlocking the door and pulling the handle or something. I just kept messing with thing and it went away somehow.

[movin2stereo]

Yes you can test the latch.Get a big screwdriver and stick it in the latch as if it were the striker.Pull your door handle and pull out on the screwdriver.It should unlatch.What is this spring you keep talking about?The one in the latch?It doesn't adjust anything.

[hvac25]

Originally Posted by chcknugget

I know that I've moved the little u piece in the latch and it prevented the door from closing. I think it was a child lock or something. I freaked out because my passengerside door wouldn't close and kept banging into the striker bolt.

To undo it You have to do some combination of unlocking the door and pulling the handle or something. I just kept messing with thing and it went away somehow.

thanks. did it, and it fixed the problem. I know have a screwdriver in my door, but it works for now. Thanks again.

[hvac25]

Originally Posted by movin2stereo

Yes you can test the latch.Get a big screwdriver and stick it in the latch as if it were the striker.Pull your door handle and pull out on the screwdriver.It should unlatch.What is this spring you keep talking about?The one in the latch?It doesn't adjust anything.

thanks. did that and it worked. There was a spring in the latch area that had popped out. Pulled it out, did the screwdriver thing, and now it works.

Also, replaced the door pins and bushings. Now the door is seated right. Did not get the spring back in yet on the door hinge, have to get a spring compressor, but for now it works. Thanks again for all the advice posted on this.

[movin2stereo]

Glad it worked for ya.