Rear Door Latch Maintenance
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4wd Low
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 13
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From: Rhode Island
Rear Door Latch Maintenance
Hi all,
I just thought I would put up a post and share a common problem that I have in case anyone else needs a simple fix.
I have a 2004 Disco and I live near the beach. Salt and sand are common issues I face almost daily (you should see the inside of my airbox). One common issue (every 3-6 months) is that my rear door won't open. This is due to the fact that the latch mechanism is not protected well. Dirt and grime can get in from under the handle (above the license plate) and cause the latch to get gummed up. For me I find sand in the grease and the tolerances in there are so tight that it just sticks. When this happens, you will note that the handle will depress when squeezed but it really has no resistance to push it back. It was really frustrating for a while and I got into a habit of kicking the door from the inside to make it release until I was told what to do.
It actually is one of the simpliest fixes. If you take a screw driver and pop the Land Rover faceplate off the read doorhandle you get full access to the mechanism. I give it a good blast of WD40 and wipe off the excess amounts, and work the mechanism back and forth by hand until it releases. Then just pop the name plate back it you are good to go.
Not the most technical advice, but I wanted to contribute in some small way as a thanks for those who have helped me. I hope it helps someone.
Lost on the Beach (Pat)
I just thought I would put up a post and share a common problem that I have in case anyone else needs a simple fix.
I have a 2004 Disco and I live near the beach. Salt and sand are common issues I face almost daily (you should see the inside of my airbox). One common issue (every 3-6 months) is that my rear door won't open. This is due to the fact that the latch mechanism is not protected well. Dirt and grime can get in from under the handle (above the license plate) and cause the latch to get gummed up. For me I find sand in the grease and the tolerances in there are so tight that it just sticks. When this happens, you will note that the handle will depress when squeezed but it really has no resistance to push it back. It was really frustrating for a while and I got into a habit of kicking the door from the inside to make it release until I was told what to do.
It actually is one of the simpliest fixes. If you take a screw driver and pop the Land Rover faceplate off the read doorhandle you get full access to the mechanism. I give it a good blast of WD40 and wipe off the excess amounts, and work the mechanism back and forth by hand until it releases. Then just pop the name plate back it you are good to go.
Not the most technical advice, but I wanted to contribute in some small way as a thanks for those who have helped me. I hope it helps someone.
Lost on the Beach (Pat)
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA.
RE: Rear Door Latch Maintenance
You can also try silicone spray. Some people have reported that WD40 can gum up over time and might lead to more stuck door latches. The silicone is a dry lube that shouldn't gum at all.
RE: Rear Door Latch Maintenance
Just a note on WD-40, it will attract dirt and cause metal to rust, it actually has water in it.
Silicon spray or bike chain lube work great. Neither attracts dirt and both repel water.
This is maintanice that needs to be done at least every six months. Lube your rear door slide with the chain lube too. ANd use the silicon spray on all door hinges, door locks, door latches, hood release/latch, hood hinges...you get the point. Every six months. Check the PSI in your spare at this time also.
And for those of us who live in cold climates...keep the silicon spray in the house where it is warm, when your door locks freeze spray the lube into the lock and it will melt the ice and then disperse the water.
psabatinojr has brought up a good point to keep up on the things that we tend to forget about.
Silicon spray or bike chain lube work great. Neither attracts dirt and both repel water.
This is maintanice that needs to be done at least every six months. Lube your rear door slide with the chain lube too. ANd use the silicon spray on all door hinges, door locks, door latches, hood release/latch, hood hinges...you get the point. Every six months. Check the PSI in your spare at this time also.
And for those of us who live in cold climates...keep the silicon spray in the house where it is warm, when your door locks freeze spray the lube into the lock and it will melt the ice and then disperse the water.
psabatinojr has brought up a good point to keep up on the things that we tend to forget about.
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