door latch...
 

i dont know the proper terminology for this... so please bear with me... on the door there is locking mechanism that moves into the lock and unlock position when you pull the door handle/lever to open and close the car. this same piece ( i will call female) locks and wraps around a metal hook (male) that is attached to the body....

my problem is that when i open the drivers side door the female peice doesnt STAY in the unlock position... it quickly moves and falls back into the lock position.... so when i close the door.... the female and male parts dont come together smoothly,,, preventing me from CLOSING the door....

hope this all made sense... any pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.. i want to try to tackle this myself before i take the car to the shop..


-Thanks
Charles Carino

Sometimes those latches get into the "locked" position for a myriad of reasons. Did you put it back to where it was supposed to go? Does it stay there when you get it there?

...
 

its loose.... its not as firm as the other side... i can basically move it up and down (lock and unlock position) at ease.

-thanks
charles

I had a similar, if not the same kind of problem with my, now gone, 78 450SEL - the solution was to hold the inside door opening handle in a fully extended position whilst one moved the cogging on the locking mechanism by one notch. Try that and see the result.