Front doors take lots of force to close

[xxJAMxx]

If the striker adjustment didn't do the job then its most likely in the mechanism. .

 

[Friday88]

there is no need to move the striker. what causes the problem is wear and age on the lock mechanism and or the hinges being worn. my truck was the same. i replaced the lock mechanisms along with new power lock actuators and they are all good.

I moved the strikers on both doors upward slightly. They weren't centered on the latch when the doors closed and they seem to work a little better now. Either that, or we have gotten better at slamming the doors lol.

I'd like to replace the lock mechanisms. In fact, the lock in the passenger side cant be unlocked manually anyway, so I wouldn't mind fixing that. Can you have the locks made to work with the existing ignition key? Where did you get the parts?

 

[01thunder]

the lock cylinder doesn't work? or the lock mechanism? open the panel and see what is going on in there.

 

[Friday88]

the lock cylinder doesn't work? or the lock mechanism? open the panel and see what is going on in there.

Could be either. When I insert the key into that lock and turn it, it does not unlock.

 

[I_bRAD]

Could be either. When I insert the key into that lock and turn it, it does not unlock.

If you can turn it- it works!

 

[gamefreakgc]

well moving that striker seemed unsuccessful. I didn't bother trying a hammer, I just loosened them and tried moving it around by hand to see how much it could go. The screws are counter sunk, so when they are tightened they recenter the striker in the same position it was in. Unless I overlooked something, it doesn't appear adjustable. Maybe the hammer method actually bends the metal in the holes?

I sprayed white lithium grease in the door latches and worked it in by moving the latch back and forth while holding the door lever in the open position. I let go of the lever and attempted to push the latch into the closed position by hand, and it was very difficult. I think the problem is in the door latch itself. Whatever part causes the resistance in the latch seems to have stopped working very well.

the next step is to remove the door panel and get access to the inside of the latch to look at it. I'm not sure when I'll do this but for the sake of solving this problem and having a record of it, I'll post any results back in here if I do it. I want to fix this because if we keep slamming the doors like this, I feel like its going to knock the door panels off eventually.

The door panels are very easy to remove, search for it on youtube, there's a few videos. Once you can see everything working or not working, you'll be able to find out what's going wrong.

 

[01thunder]

Could be either. When I insert the key into that lock and turn it, it does not unlock.

maybe a clip broke, which happens a lot. you'll know when you take the panel off.

 

[01thunder]

Could be either. When I insert the key into that lock and turn it, it does not unlock.

there is a clip on the cylinder side and on the mechanism side. either one breaks, the result will be what is happening now. .