Side doors won't stay latched

[deserteagle56]

2007 E-350 with the passenger side double doors, not the sliding door. I cannot keep the doors from coming unlatched whenever I drive down a really rough or washboardy road. They don't come open but they do release from that final stage of lock that keeps them tight against the body of the van. I've tried adjusting the latch mechanism to no avail. Anyone else had this problem and found a way to cure it? Any suggestions?

[carringb]

I had to adjust the striker outward a little bit (had the same problem on my '94). It was tight enough it wasn't actually allowing the final stage to latch fully.

Also a little resilient lube (like lithium grease spray) will help it latch fully.

[Premier Kirby]

funny you have a problem with that as a friend of mine pointed out to me that the white plastic on my side door jam (the latching mechanism) was worn away on my 08 e-350. I could have had the dealer replace it but again I didnt want them screwing up something when my door still works fine. ( I was under warranty at the time) since yours is a 07 if you have less then 36,000 miles on it then you can have the dealer hack on it for you.

[MikeL46]

On my van the small door has to be slammed to get it completely closed. Then everything works ok, otherwise it gets loose and rattles like crazy.

Mike

[deserteagle56]

Originally Posted by carringb

I had to adjust the striker outward a little bit (had the same problem on my '94). It was tight enough it wasn't actually allowing the final stage to latch fully.

Also a little resilient lube (like lithium grease spray) will help it latch fully.

I'll have to try that. Like MikeL46, I have to really slam the smaller door to make it latch at all.
I also tried manually flipping the upper latch mechanism to its latched position while the door was open and found that I could flip it right back to the unlatched position without having to pull the door release handle. Is that normal?

[deserteagle56]

Originally Posted by Premier Kirby

funny you have a problem with that as a friend of mine pointed out to me that the white plastic on my side door jam (the latching mechanism) was worn away on my 08 e-350. I could have had the dealer replace it but again I didnt want them screwing up something when my door still works fine. ( I was under warranty at the time) since yours is a 07 if you have less then 36,000 miles on it then you can have the dealer hack on it for you.

I just now checked over both the doors carefully and I do not see any white plastic parts at all. Where are these supposed to be exactly? (My van has only 23,000 miles so it is still under warranty but the service department at the nearest dealership has a pretty bad reputation for getting anything right. I'd just as soon try a few things myself before turning them loose on it.)

[carringb]

Originally Posted by deserteagle56

I also tried manually flipping the upper latch mechanism to its latched position while the door was open and found that I could flip it right back to the unlatched position without having to pull the door release handle. Is that normal?

No. Not normal. Probably best to have a GOOD dealer look it over, and when the service writer documents the problem, be sure to mention you have a safety concern over the door not staying latched.

[Premier Kirby]

What I mean is that the latch has some white plastic coating over that looks flaked off on the latches itself here are some pictures. My door works fine for now but I do need to slam it to get it to latch fully.

I agree with you not wanting to bring it to the butcher shop. i had them order it up while i was under the 3 year 36,000 miles but I never made the appointment to get it done because the door still works ok & its a pain to make appointments then show up, then wait or get a ride & after all that mess they dick it up. Although I did see the part when it came in & o boy its not just the latch it has cables going this way & that way I was surprised thats the way it comes it must have all those cables for the inner & outer door handles, the latch & maybe the door lock?? anyways If your door is really that bad I would find a dealer that sucks but dosnt suck as bad as the other ones that suck.

[Premier Kirby]

i dont know if those pictures worked. But its hard to really see what Im talking about on them anyways. What it is a white plastic coating on the metal latches but what im not sure is if some parts are pure plastic (that would be scary)