Hey guys, I have a little problem.I hope this makes sense. My rear door lock latch will lock and unlock, but will fall about an 1/2 inch when unlocked and not be able to open from the outside. If I hop in back from the inside and pull the latch back up I can open it from the outside. Any suggestions on what I may need to replace or even how to remove the panel? This is just a little frustrating as I usually ride alone and somehow always need to get back there. There are times I get the Rover luck and it works, but less than often. Thanks a million guys.

 

Here's pages from the RAVE shop manual. I've been into mine, you need to use a plastic upholster removal tool (cheap form parts store) to GENTLY work out those brittle plastic fasteners around the perimter. Same kind used on door panels in the rest of the truck.

 

There is a spring that breaks, in the door, all the doors actually that causes this issue. (Called Latch Springs)

Here is a link to a guy on ebay that sells them all...

Door Lock Latch Repair Springs, TD5 items in disco-compatible-parts store on eBay!

Never hurts to just go ahead and buy a full set and have them ready cause this is a issue on all our trucks. The guys a fast shipper, send along instructions etc, the rear door can be a little tricky but take your time and you can do it.

 

Your outer release handle is probably sticking. Pop the land rover badge off the tailgate handle, lube the release lever pivots on both sides with penetraing oil, work the lever until it moves freely and returns to rest under it's own spring tension.

 

you guys happen to know if the D2 has the same latch "system"? same problem...i'm going to clean, lube and investigate.

sava. you may be able to find cheaper and better but i really like the panel popper from AB. like $14. makes removing those panels super easy and fast....which you know we need to be able to do regularly.

 

that guys got a bunch of useful stuff. seems priced ok too. thanks.

 

Yup. I've bought from him at least 3 times myself.

 

The DII has a latch/actuator unit, there are not two distinct parts like in the DI. They are also electrically controlled not mechanical like in the DI.

 

ok, thanks Paul.

 

When you say

"If I hop in back from the inside and pull the latch back up I can open it from the outside"

do you mean the little pull tab thingy at the top of the door that you manually lock/unlock the door with?

I will throw my $0.02 in here as I just had my door apart for the very same reason this past weekend. Same symptoms, I think - door would lock and unlock but the unlock by the solenoid would not lift the tab high enough, it seemed. If you crawled in and pulled it up by hand another 1/4" then it would open fine from the outside.

In my case it turned out that the linkage to the manual unlock was all rusted up. What I mean is the lock cylinder and connecting stuff that turns when you would manually unlock the back door with the key was the problem. I actually had to remove that linkage as it was one big ball of rust. Everything else was fine.

See if you can unlock the door with the key from outside. If it is hard to turn or (as in my case) you can't even get the key to go in all the way even after liberal use of pb'laster that may be your problem.

BTW, the rear door panel comes off very easily with the tool, but you have to take the speaker off all the way before it will come off. At least there is no plastic sheet to fool with like in the side doors.