Driver door doesn't latch

[Doug Kuhlman]

Help, my door doesn't latch when I shut it. I think its related to all the ice we got last night. My expy had a thin layer of ice all over it when I started it up this afternoon. I drove it again this evening and after parking it for an hour, The door wouldn't latch when I shut it. I had to hold the door closed all the way home, which was only a couple miles, thankfully.

 

[Doug Kuhlman]

I let the truck warm up and soaked it in wd40 and now it latches. How do I prevent this from happening again?

 

[John Christopher]

I have the same problem occasionally when it's cold and icy. I don't know how to prevent it short of keeping the truck in the garage. But if you manually work the latch and the door lock button several times it will usually work and the door will latch.

 

[1955moose]

The weather could be the culprit, but I would purchase a new lock and door striker from either dealer or equivalent. Sounds like it's wearing out, and the weather is adding to the situation.

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[Doug Kuhlman]

I'm afraid so...... It keeps getting stuck now

 

[Doug Kuhlman]

Update: I think all the moisture from the ice event is gone and the latch is working fine without incident the last couple days. I'm going to hit it with some white lithium grease and hope for the best.

 

[darmahsd]

Having the same problem, I do the same as John Christopher, working my power door lock button up & down until it finally works. In my case, I found out the truck was in an accident with the first owner, who didn't
know what a Carfax was. When I get to it, I'll bet the plastic sheeting under the door panel was removed when they repaired the door. Maybe this is allowing more moisture into the locking mechanism which freezes up.
This doesn't happen to the passenger door, not used as much, but never repaired. With the door panel off, I will grease every part of the door mechanism to repel water and seal the door panel back up. Hopefully, this will solve the problem
Stephen

 

[drewscott]

I have had the same problem. So far, white lithium is working.

 

[Plati]

I started a thread called "door doesn't latch in freezing 03 expy" with some potentially good info. Nobody has come up with the definitive solution but I really think its the "door lock actuator". That thread has a video on replacing that.

update Feb 7: wouldn't latch back when it was around zero (F) ... not since

 

[steelnewfie]

Dont lock the doors. Put lock deicer down door lock button hole inside and inside actual latch inside the door. Pull the outside handle a bunch of times and even work the actuator inside the latch a bit if it wont catch. Park so that the sun hits the drivers door and it wont happen. I greased the heck out of it pre winter to no avail.

 

[Paul D Lloyd]

I had this happen on my 99 F250, I would have to slam the door a few times before it would catch. With the door open, spray the latch mechanism at its pivot point and any other contacting surfaces with PB Blaster or white lithium spray while you use a screwdriver or something to mimic the loop that it latches onto. Worked like a charm and didn't have to mess with it again.

 

[Rainman S]

My 2006 Expedition drivers door wouldn’t latch in 29 degree weather. I tried WD40 and it didn’t help. 15 seconds with a hair dryer on high and it works fine.

 

[1955moose]

2 tips that help doors, 1, spray lock, striker, and latch with wd 40. It's a water displacement lubricant, and does help. 2, put a towel on top of door when you shut it. That way it won't stick to rubber gasket when you open it.

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