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
Door doesn't latch in freezing 03 Expy
- Thread starter Plati
- Start date
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stamp11127
Full Access Members
PB Blaster is your friend....haven't used wd-40 in years.
John Christopher
Full Access Members
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
Full Access Members
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
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Bedrck47
Full Access Members
Just a suggestion
Spray some silicon spray on the rubber weather stripping It will prevent the rubber from sticking to the metal
Spray some silicon spray on the rubber weather stripping It will prevent the rubber from sticking to the metal
supermitch
Active Member
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.
11XLdeVille
Member
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.
LOL .. I used to have a 67 chevy van ... the neutral safety switch didn't work right so I frequently had to climb under the van with a big honker screwdriver and short out terminals on the solenoid to get it started. It was referred to as my STARTER SCREWDRIVER. It would spark like a welder if I didn't get it right. Worst was middle of winter lying upside down in a salty puddle. Second worst was in traffic coming home from a Dead concert on Exchange street in downtown Rochester - forgot to put it in park first, buddy stepped on the brake to save my legs. Oh the days. Wish I was making this up
I never had any luck messing with the pawl, only thing ever worked for me was lock unlock switch and that's been about 10 times over past 8 years
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I did google search and found a LOT of chatter about Ford doors not latching and even a recall on some models. I don't think I found any solutions specific to Expy.
The one search result most interesting (at the moment) is this one
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/F-150/2016/body_paint/structure-body.shtml
The one search result most interesting (at the moment) is this one
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/F-150/2016/body_paint/structure-body.shtml
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supermitch
Active Member
Good find. This made me laugh 
Especially after crawling through the rear-passenger door the other day...
> "If I am able to get the vehicle to open by using the front doors..."
Especially after crawling through the rear-passenger door the other day...
Theres a lawsuit for Ford F-150 door latches
https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2017/ford-f-150-door-latch-lawsuit.shtml
and 2 TSB's out on that
After all this I now feel BLESSED that I can always get IN or OUT of the vehicle
and if I have the door latch problem, I can always fix with door lock/unlock trick
... funny how things work out!!!
https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2017/ford-f-150-door-latch-lawsuit.shtml
and 2 TSB's out on that
After all this I now feel BLESSED that I can always get IN or OUT of the vehicle
and if I have the door latch problem, I can always fix with door lock/unlock trick
... funny how things work out!!!
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98eb5.4
Full Access Members
original lube dries out & hardens over time gunking up with dirt, add moisture/salt etc = issues arising, sometimes only with xtreme temps
might be an easy outside fix, if not, door panel off, clean & (re)lube as required using the right stuff
might be an easy outside fix, if not, door panel off, clean & (re)lube as required using the right stuff
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Drae
Full Access Members
Yep Silicone sprays are not your friend when it comes to long term lubrication. They will clean out any old grease and dry out over time then rust the lock mechanisms out after moisture sets in.
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ExpeditionAndy
Full Access Members
I had this problem on my 05 when the temps dropped into the single digits. I think it happens because the grease freezes not allowing the latch to spring to the latched position. I have used a heat gun to heat the latch the mechanism. Not the kind that you use to burn off old paint but the kind we use for Super Monokote covering on model air planes. It heats to about 400 degrees. By heating the latch you warm up the grease drive off any water and once it working, hit it with some PB Blaster to lubricate it and displace any moisture still left in the lock. A hair dryer might work but it may not get hot enough when it's 0 degrees outside.
llhoneymoons
Active Member
Same issue with my '08 Mountaineer. I have to activate the latch a few time and it usually does the trick, but colder days are coming so hopefully that still works.
JExpedition07
That One Member
Any of you have issues with your door unlocking below freezing? Mine this last week won’t unlock by the fob on the drivers side when it’s cold. As soon as it’s above freezing bam it works again. Been having to use the key if the temp is low out.
ExpeditionAndy
Full Access Members
I've never experienced that problem with my 05 and I went through a couple of weeks of consistent -18 to -12 degree temps.
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