Door won't shut all the way. Fix and pix..... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JimmyL · #1 08-20-2007, 12:46 AM

Many of yall know why this happens, but in the interest of future searches by newer folks I thought I would post this.
The doors on China wouldn't shut without being slammed at least a time or two. Here is the reason why doors just shut, then pop back about a half inch:
Wasted door lock actuator "things"

You can see a little of the yellowish plastic actuator thing remaining in the above door striker. That is the older style, and almost all are crumbling by now. The newer ones are black, and seem to hold up better, although they will break also.
So, first mark around the door striker with a pencil, or some other marking device. This is precise enough to get it back into position. Then, and this is important, use a socket driven allen, I think 5mm to undo the 4 allens holding on the striker. Don't try just an allen. All I have removed have been tight tight tight, and I'm not in the rust belt. {ignore the fact that the broken part is gone. Didn't take this pic till after. Whoops}

I put the socket on an extension, put it into the allen screw, and then bang on it with a hammer, trying to loosen the threads a little, and to super-seat the allen socket. When you remove them, before you take out the last one, be ready to grab the spacers that will be behind the striker.

Here is what you will end up with of the old tab:

Here is what the old tab used to be shaped like. This is the newer style black insert, and work well. {thank you to the person that acquired these for me a while back! You know who you are}

next post........

JimmyL · #2 08-20-2007, 12:46 AM

I really failed to get a pic of how that inner rubber part comes out of the metal housing, but it is grooved on one side, and you literally just pull it out. No brainer there.
Then the new tab installs onto the metal housing and the rubber part just pushes back in.

Well, not so fast. This newer black tab evidently has a little different shape than the old style tab, as I guess does the rubber middle piece also. So, some very professional modification needs to be done.
Here is the tab prior to my modification. The marked area needs to be wallowed out a bit.

This is what the piece looks like after giving it a groove in it. You will be able to see the location when all this is in your hands. It isn't pictured, but you also have to bevel the other end quite a bit more than it is. Quite a slope is needed over there.

**edit**
Here is about the amount of bevel needed to be removed from the other end

Here is the whole striker ready to be installed back into the car.

You can see in this pic of it going back in how the tab is sticking out.

That pushes into the door latch, apparently causing it to latch "all the way". Therefore, your door closes solidly and stays that way.

My pics were a bit lacking, but I at least hope the job is covered well enough to benefit somebody in the future.
Enjoy.......

winmutt · #3 08-20-2007, 07:32 AM

Why not just replace the whole thing?

JimmyL · #4 08-20-2007, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

Why not just replace the whole thing?

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/quote.jsp?clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&cookieid=1S60MQJMZ25T0HK3F9&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&partner=mercedesshop&year=1980&product=O3017-73576&application=000376488

$$ x 4 = $$$

TX76513 · #5 08-20-2007, 08:15 AM

Sooo - where do you get the black inserts?

JimmyL · #6 08-20-2007, 08:21 AM

These I got from a very nice forum member.

He got them from a wrecking yard. They were in absolutely perfect shape. I had done the wagon driver's door with one already.
Something to be mindful of when at the yards......

I have no idea if just the insert is available from MB, but I doubt it.

Hit Man X · #7 08-20-2007, 08:34 AM

Oh and you may not think it when pulling them at the yards, but they're side dependent... meaning only driver side works on that side and pass side only works on that side.

Also, for some reason, the W126 ones hold up better than the W123 ones. Not sure why, but they do.

JimmyL · #8 08-20-2007, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit Man X

Oh and you may not think it when pulling them at the yards, but they're side dependent... meaning only driver side works on that side and pass side only works on that side.

Also, for some reason, the W126 ones hold up better than the W123 ones. Not sure why, but they do.

The whole door striker is side specific, but the insert is not...... {The striker is what the Hitman was referring to}

Hit Man X · #9 08-20-2007, 09:13 AM

Say, is it pretty simple to just pull the small bottom part out?

charmalu · #10 08-20-2007, 11:26 AM

It seems to me if you are going to the wrecking yard to take a part off
the striker plate to put on your striker plate that has given up the ghost.
why not use the whole striker plate off a low milage car. the l/r door will
fit on the l/f door. and usually the rear door plates have a lot less use.
but then the newest 123 is 22 yrs old.
But in this case I would buy new, only $30 or $40.

Charlie

WMO Madness · #11 12-17-2012, 05:45 PM

I am having the same issue on the front passenger side, the door has to be slammed in order to latch all the way. Since it is these rubber inserts are the problem, I still have the 1985 300SD. I checked on these insert on the car they are all in good shape for the door to close with a gentle help. Can I swamp the entire latch to my 1984 300D?