Door worked perfectly fine for five years up to an hour ago. All of a sudden, it no longer shuts properly - no matter how hard I slam it - leaving a gap between the door and the body. It can no longer be locked. What gives??
Can you help me fix it?

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

That problem is usually due to the door striker being worn out. The striker is on the post and the door latches into it. The worn part is usually the rubber tab that extends downward from the center hol in the striker. It just gets worn and needs replacing. The door should still close if pushed in firmly by the handle.

Oh, I just saw that you probably don't have a W126 like me. Sorry about that. I don't know if your car has the same type of door striker.

Read this thread. This is your problem:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=268265&highlight=striker+tounge

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

Thank you so much, guys. You are both correct....I need to replace the door lock cylinder striker (or at a minimum come up with something to replace the broken up rubber inside the striker, which by the way is what prevented the door from closing completely no matter how hard I slammed it).
At least now I know what needs to be done. The link provided above and the links from that link were very helpful, with pictures and accurate descriptions of what needs to be done.
For those reading this who are stuck with a door that doesn't shut completely, the trick is to remove the smashed up rubber inside the striker (I did that using a large screwdriver).... it will allow you to shut the door close (by slamming it a little harder than normal) and lock it. The rubber part (which is what you need to replace) is not sold new by itself anywhere. So your options are either to buy the whole striker ($$$ - expensive!), get it from a scrap car yard or build a substitute rubber part yourself.

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

A broken check strap can also break at just the right length (though usually longer) to keep the door from closing fully. Mine did.

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=296386

First check if you're not leaving the seatbelt hanging in the way...

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[/SIGPIC]~cirrusman

1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD - Wife calls him "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"
[SIGPIC]




1983 Toyota Tercel (Tommy, The little Toyota that could)
1965 Ford F100 (Grandma Ford)
2005 Toyota Sienna (Elsa, Wife's ride)


Gone:
1988 Toyota Pickup
2004 Subaru Outback

1987 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
1986 Volvo 740 GL Station Wagon - Piece of junk.
1981 Volvo 242 DL 2 Door - Hated to see it go. R.I.P.
1987 Pontiac Fiero GT