Rear hatch doors wont LOCK!!!?

[phr1$k37]

Hi Folks,

I think I made a post like this before but obviously I did not act on it or we all just have to live with this problem.

When it is cold out ... the rear hatch (I have the dutch doors, not barn doors) I can open it but when I slam it shut ... it does not LOCK! Kind of presents a problem when I have to drive hahah. So basically I have to wait for the heaters inside to warm up a bit or something and then pray and hope it locks when I get to my destination.

I think last time the best we could muster together for a solution ... was ... dont open the doors hahaha.

It slams but the locks wont engage.
Anyone out there with a clue?
We should make this a sticky afterwards.

[skippy]

The grease they used to lubricate the lock mechanisms are dirty & when they get cold they stiffen up & won;t release till it gets warmed up . you need to clean all that old grease out of the locks & replace with new . a good white lithium grease would work or others might have a better suggestion for a better grease to use.

[phr1$k37]

Hi SkipppY!
Oh ... er ... okay I admit I thought I did that but probably not clean enough. Is there something you would recommend I "spray" into the locks to get them REALLY clean and then grease tham back up?

[Spike99]

.

Also... Do check the setting of the rear door's "lock pin" catch distance. When its cold outside, the rubber around the door gets much stiffer and won't compress down as much. If the chassis latch is too far in, the door's catch won't grab its latch pin. The pin that holds the door shut.

If wondering, I adjust my van's rear doors latch (the pin position on the chassis) in the fall and spring seasons. In the fall, I move the latch pin "out" approx 1/4 inch. In the spring, I move the door catch back in 1/4". For my dutch doors, I do NOT have to slam them shut during the cold winter moths. Especially during my "deep cold - everything is stiff" months.

As a suggestion, do some "deep listening" with your van's rear door as well. Try to determine if its locking parts are stuck (from dirty / too thick of grease) or if the locking system is working but its catch isn't reaching its catch pin properly (because its door rubbers will not compress down far enough).

Hope this helps...

.

[phr1$k37]

Hi Spike! I think you have nailed it spike on
When I say slam ... it is just from pulling down the top and the hydraulic arms will do the rest but when it does not lock I hear the distant "slam" and no lock mechanism noise. So for me probably need a REALLY deep cleaning. I have tried something similar to what you suggested about moving the locks, I would hold the close slow to hear for a latch, nothing. Last year I would have a mini-butane torch to help assist ^__^
Just wondering, how does it know to latch?

[dunedog]

I have found the problem isn't so much the lock mechanism as the rubber seals!!!
A couple of years ago while trying to remedy the 'lock' problem ,I found the rubber seals that are old and absorb moisture to be the culprit.
Once they absorb moisture they FREEZE and as I played around with my heat gun and moved from the locks to the rubber,...so came this revelation.
I now grease them with silicone a couple of times a year. Definitely in the Fall and have not had near the problems.

[phr1$k37]

Hi Dunedog!
Wait my thread is for LOCKING the door ... not unlocking and pulling open. No problems there cause I am all lubed up as well
The seals are soft and shiny ... which is why I hate hearing that "slam" which is almost like door to frame and thus I know it did not lock :(

[dunedog]

I understand grasshopper.....I also had the problem while locking and when I addressed the rubber seal things improved.
But alas when the temps weren't going out of the single digits or low teens I just try not to open it.
Peter would normally have something to say about this but since he has a heated garage he never has to deal with this.

[phr1$k37]

Rats ... we have a large generation gap between us two here ... so I have to remember what is means to be called a grasshopper ... hah ha.
Hmmm maybe I will double check all the seals. Maybe I did not do a good enough job lubing it up?

Yah ... we left a few holes for the smurf to wiggle into in this thread ... he is getting old and slow now

[dunedog]

Ya normally when he reads statements like,"No problem there,cause I'm all lubed up"...it get's him all excited and well you know Peter...lol

Glad you take my on the grasshopper in stride as well.

Just one big family here at ASV.com

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Maybe I did not do a good enough job lubing it up?

Well, you MUST use lots of lube...you don't want friction bu....what are we talking about now?

[dunedog]

Oh man,Peter's going to have a field day if he reads this,,,,,,yuk,yuk

[phr1$k37]

Maybe I did not do a good enough job lubing it up?

Well, you MUST use lots of lube...you don't want friction bu....what are we talking about now?

Sorry ... I see several holes, which one do I want to lube a lot? Or is there one that does not require lube to provide the friction to lock tight and twist? :-k

[dunedog]

Oh Grasshopper #-o

[Wiley]

Just wondering if cleaning and regreasing did the trick. I have the same problem but without the cold temPs so im pretty sure i need to regreAse. Any tips for cleaning the latches are appreciated as im diving in later today, i already have white grease and would love to stop using my cable lock as a means to avoid being robbed