Door doesn't latch in freezing 03 Expy

[Plati]

Had this problem for years. When it gets cold below freezing the drivers door occasionally doesn't latch, just bounces when you close it. Lights stay on inside. Start to drive and door swings open so you have to hold it. Got tired of holding it so I actually used to put a strap across my body to other door handle (never said I was sharpest tool in shed). One day I figured out that if you activate door lock/unlock with key fob ... it latches. What is the problem here and how can I just make it go away? I've tried spraying wd-40 on latch mechanism and lubricating door lock with graphite spray. 03 Expy XLT

 

[bobmbx]

First, check the alignment of the door. Old door hinges can wear and allow the door to sag. If the alignment is ok, try a new latch.

 

[stamp11127]

PB Blaster is your friend....haven't used wd-40 in years.

 

[John Christopher]

Had this problem for years. When it gets cold below freezing the drivers door occasionally doesn't latch, just bounces when you close it. Lights stay on inside. Start to drive and door swings open so you have to hold it. Got tired of holding it so I actually used to put a strap across my body to other door handle (never said I was sharpest tool in shed). One day I figured out that if you activate door lock/unlock with key fob ... it latches. What is the problem here and how can I just make it go away? I've tried spraying wd-40 on latch mechanism and lubricating door lock with graphite spray. 03 Expy XLT

This is strange. I read your post and when I went to my truck my door wouldn't lock. I had to move the latch and play with the buttons but got it to close. This has happened a few times and I don't know why. In fairness it's has been very cold the last few days and something must have frozen in the door. Weird.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

PB Blaster is your friend....haven't used wd-40 in years.

And then apply a liberal amount of white lithium grease to the lock pawl.

 

[Plati]

And then apply a liberal amount of white lithium grease to the lock pawl.

I'll try anything BUT pretty sure I tried that a few years ago AND anything you can see without taking the door apart is nice and free/loose, and the door alignment/closure is perfect. One time I even applied a warm yellow liquid (98.6 degrees) to the pawl. Had to consume several beers first. When you operate the lock/unlock switch (fob or door) it doesn't do anything visible to pawl when broken or fixed. I always figured water dripped down inside door to some location of moving parts somehow and frozen water interfered because now that I got it working it stays working as long as no thaw ... and we have had no thaw since last night. Last night was a storm, the rear hatch also froze solid to the weather stripping so when I opened the hatch it ripped the weather stripping out of its channel which then would not allow the rear hatch to close all the way. Bad night ... why is it that frequently 2 things go wrong at the same time making troubleshooting difficult?

Worst case somebody reads this and is able to get their door to latch using the workaround

I need to find a diagram of the innerds so I can guess what is happening.

Must be the door lock actuator freezing up, over my head to fix

 

[Bedrck47]

Just a suggestion
Spray some silicon spray on the rubber weather stripping It will prevent the rubber from sticking to the metal

 

[supermitch]

I have this same issue. If I get inside the truck and hit the lock/unlock button a bunch, it will usually eventually latch closed. Extremely irritating. I'll try some of the suggestions here, but yeah, might be necessary to get this door trim off and grease up some of the innards, if it's even possible.

 

[Plati]

My dang ignition switch is getting harder & harder to turn in the cold (10F and below) also & getting worse over time.

I may try my girl's blowdryer on the door thing next time it happens

 

[11XLdeVille]

I had the same issue Polarizer describes above yesterday (single digit temps) - hosed it with WD40 - worked the pawl back and forth as best I could - couldn't see any effect of door switch on pawl - manipulated it with a screw driver and attempted again and it worked. Like Polarizer I would like to know the root cause - meanwhile I am keeping the now official door pawl screwdriver nearby.