I want my door to close like butter - update - FIXED!

[David Hodgkins]

Help me reset my doors so they close like butter!

The driver's door is especially bad, and has never closed easily on my MKIII. The door hits the striker HARD and will not even engage unless I actuate the lever and force the door closed. I've tried removing washer(s) and trying to reset the hinge bolts but I just can't get the door to properly line up and close. Here are some close-up pics of the door striker against the post and the post showing where the chrome has been worn off.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226938&d=1773856734

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226939&d=1773856734

Can someone walk me through how to set up the door properly? My son is using the car this weekend in his wedding and I don't want to have him climb over the door!

:)

[Geoff H]

Not sure it will help with what you are experiencing, but on my Mk III I used these suggestions: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?24978-Door-Latches

Made a big difference for how the doors open and close.

Good luck - hope the wedding goes great!

Geoff

[Jeff Kleiner]

Your close ups are actually too close up David so it's hard to see what is really going on but nearest I can make out the wedge needs to be moved rearward by removing a washer, maybe two, and also needs to go downward. If you want to really make it butter, in addition to making the adjustments to the wedge location there are a few other things you can do. Make a chamfer on the hole in the wedge that the plunger goes into with a countersink bit. Retract the plunger and make sure that it does not protrude beyond the latch housing...if it does file it to flush and also slightly round over the point where it transitions to the angle. Take off the little coil spring that is between the lever and the latch body. Finally blow it out and give it a good spray with dry graphite lube. Done right and adjusted right the doors will close and latch with a flick of your index finger ;)

Jeff

[David Hodgkins]

Your close ups are actually too close up David so it's hard to see what is really going on but nearest I can make out the wedge needs to be moved rearward by removing a washer, maybe two, and also needs to go downward. If you want to really make it butter, in addition to making the adjustments to the wedge location there are a few other things you can do. Make a chamfer on the hole in the wedge that the plunger goes into with a countersink bit. Retract the plunger and make sure that it does not protrude beyond the latch housing...if it does file it to flush and also slightly round over the point where it transitions to the angle. Take off the little coil spring that is between the lever and the latch body. Finally blow it out and give it a good spray with dry graphite lube. Done right and adjusted right the doors will close and latch with a flick of your index finger ;)

Jeff

Jeff, 1st question: When you say remove the spring, do you mean leave it off? or maybe put in a lighter one?

Edit: after removing the spring I applied dry silicone and re-assembled the unit (including spring) which virtually eliminated the previous friction. Results in the next post!

[David Hodgkins]

We have Butter!!!

https://youtube.com/shorts/yZW30IX2PE4?si=aSYuTkYUZLh6C21I

:)

After filing the post and wedge, and especially after a liberal application of dry silicone to the whole striker unit the door closes better than it ever has. Thanks Jeff!!

:)

[CraigS]

Adding for others who may read this thread. Yes the small extension spring goes in the trash. There is a compression spring inside the housing that is more than strong enough to push the plunger into the latched position.

[David Hodgkins]

Adding for others who may read this thread. Yes the small extension spring goes in the trash. There is a compression spring inside the housing that is more than strong enough to push the plunger into the latched position.

This is correct. Thanks for the clarification Craig!

:)