Door catches sticking

[stuart]

Could someone advise me on the problem I have with both doors of my Mk2 Stag? Sometimes the doors open normally but increasingly the handle does not release the catch. I don't know whether the inner catches are capable of adjustment/repair, Rimmers have replacements in stock but I don't want to go to that expense if there is an adjustment I can make and someone could explain what needs doing. Please bear in mind that I have to look at a screwdriver for 10 minutes before deciding which is the right end to use.....
Cheers
Stuart

[new to this]

stuart

when you say the door catches don't open, do you mean the inner handle or the outside handle ? an easy test open the door but a screw driver in the end of the lock to lock it ( push the lock part of the lock with screwdriver) then open the outer handle to see if the lock opens ,on the outer handle the black plastic lift does brake

Dave

[stuart]

Thanks Dave, I've tried the test and the lock does open when the handle is lifted. It does seem an odd problem, sometimes when the handle is lifted the door springs open, other times I have to pull it open and sometimes I have to shove it open from inside the car---the problem is the same with the interior handle.
I did wonder whether the door may have dropped slightly causing the door to stick but then sometimes it springs open without any difficulty. It's worse on the passenger side but occasionally also the driver's door. If you have any further thoughts I'll be pleased to hear from you.

[Stagsongas]

Stuart,

The doors should not 'spring' open. This definately sounds like a door ajustment problem. The right way to deal with it would be to get the door adjusted and lined up in its aperture with the catch removed, then refit and adjust the position of the catch to meet the lock as it should.

If you don't want to deal with the door issue, then just adjust the catch position (the one in the door shut, B post area I mean).

Another common cause of troubles like this is the sealing rubbers being way too tight on the inside frame edge of the door, often caused by replacement of the cills (sills). Pull the seals off and try opening the door without them on to diagnose. Often, the vertical Cill seams the seals mount onto have to be pushed back to bring the seals back from the edges of the doors. Similar problems are often caused by the wrong seal (too fat!) being fitted.

Good Luck

Steve

[stuart]

Many thanks Steve, will do.

[Stagsongas]

OK, what you need to find out is if the door is really acting like it has a sprung hinge (It doesn't). If that's the case, the lock will hold onto the catch too tightly when it is shut. Often, that's why doors don't open properly, and can be difficult to close because the springing action works against you. A correctly aligned door with no seals fitted should open and shut very easily, and that's the place to begin.

If you get it all working nicely, the seals can be re-fitted. If problems arise (the seals should only just touch the door frame to do their job) then it's often right at the front where the seals are way too tight against the door. This can cause door springing action, but it's a door you want, not a mousetrap!

Good Luck

Steve