The rear door latches on my '72 W018 280SE are unreliable. The doors will eventually stay latched but they have to be closed with authority several times before they will stay closed. This is a car that I suspect didn't have many rear seat passengers.

Do the latches get gummed up from non-use and can be freed up? Or is the problem usually something worse like broken springs or bent parts?

I have looked for a drawing of the latches but have been unsuccessful so far.

Any thoughts?

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"If it's in the newspaper it must be true." Dudley Do-Right

The latch assembly does get corroded and/or gummy over time so that the spring-loaded latch will not latch the door properly closed. My fix was to remove the latch assembly (you do have to remove the door panel & wood fascia around the window) and clean and lubricate it to restore operation. I used brake cleaner to clean & degrease and then liberally sprayed with aerosol Tri-Flo to lubricate. Once you remove the latch assembly it's pretty easy to understand the operation of the latch to check that everything is moving as it should. I like the Tri-Flow for this sort of application better than white grease or similar.

http://www.triflowlubricants.com/Tri-Flow_Superior_Aerosol_Lubricant.html

Hope this helps,

Tom

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1972 280SE 4.5

I had the same problem with a 123 and did the same thing as posted above. The difference was so amazing I did the other three latches as well.

It was just gummed up from dirt and what not and needed to be cleaned. I know this sounds too simple, but that's all there was to it.

Don't try and do this while it is on the car, though. You will need to remove it for cleaning and lubing if you want the like new results.

That worked. Got the latches out. cleaned 'em up, lubed them up and now they work great.

Thanks for the help.

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"If it's in the newspaper it must be true." Dudley Do-Right