Driver's door latch problem

[ColoRover]

My 95 RRC's driver's door is becoming increasingly more difficult to open.

When the door is unlocked:
I have to push and pull on the door while pulling the door handle to open. Sometimes lifting up on the sill button (the skinny slider thing in the top of the door panel that moves up and down when the doors lock/unlock) helps.

When the door is locked it is even more difficult:
I can either unlock via the fob or by inserting the key in the lock cylinder, but to get the door open, the key has to be turned all the way in the lock cylinder so that the sill button is held up as far up as it can go, then I must do the push/pull thing described above. If the key is not in the cylinder, the sill button falls slightly and the door won't open.

Additionally, it is very difficult to insert and remove the key from the lock cylinder in the door handle. I'm worried that I'm going to damage the key if I don't do something soon, but when the door is locked I have no other choice.

Has anyone else experienced this, or know which part is failing? I don't think it's the handle or a striker adjustment, maybe the actual latch? Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
Art Vigil
Denver, CO
amvigil(at)comcast(dot)net

 

[az_max]

I had to readjust the rod and clean all the joints in my rear door to fix the same problem. Originally happened worse when it was cold out. Summertime the door opened fine. Clean and relube everything and you should be fine.

 

[bcausey]

My 95 ddoor does the exact same thing. I have to pull slightly upwards while opening from the outside when unlocked and for the inside I simply pull inwards on the door while releasing the latch - slight pull inwards is the trick. Sure there could be some adjustment but right now at single digit temps - it is what it is - a Range Rover!

 

[pdxrovermech]

take your door panel off. remove the 4 bolts holding your actuator in place. move actuator to the side. disconnect the left most rod from your door handle. rotate it clockwise (like you're screwing it in, which you actually are doing) until you can barely slide the rod back in the hole. now button it up and pat yourself on the back.

 

[eliaschristeas]

agreed. door latches are intimidating at first and then REALLY easy once you do it. remove the panel and just look. operate the handle and see what its doing.... it will be self explanatory....

 

[singingcamel]

Its the verticle rod closest to the door jam, Disconnect the keeper and rotate the rod clockwise 5 -7 times , reconnect ,you should be good to go.
You'll have to take the panel off, take off the trim piece on the door latch ,pry up the window seal and then pry the panel off procced to brake at least 4-6 platic keeper off the panel .remove the plastic on the jam side ,then proceed to put it back together. You can buy new plastic keepers from Trevor @ Rovafarm..

 

[roverBLUE]

my rears randomly will not open from the outside and I have to reach in and pull the handle 2 or three times like I'm "priming" a pump before it opens. Lol. Its so random. some adjusting of the innards helped last year...prolly need to open the doors back up and really go through it. fun stuff.

 

[ajtbussen]

I had to replace the lock detent spring on my 95. It is a very small spring which holds the lock either in the locked or unlocked position. After years of locking and unlocking these springs fatique and break. I found my replacement springs on E-bay. Twenty bones for four springs.

 

[ColoRover]

Excellent lot of information! Sincere thank you to everyone who replied. Now that I have a direction, I better get to work.

Kind Regards,
Art Vigil

 

[Nomar]

^
^
^

B
U
M
P

Jan. 2013 bump

My 93 LWB is doing something similar to the OP's description...93 mechanism different than 95?

IF I pull the outside driver handle, the door will sort of open..... but you have to push inward just a little while holding the outer latch THEN it will pop open.
It's a 2 handed job to open the door.
Opens normally from the inside latch.

What do I need to adjust??

 

[rover4x4]

I think its the latch, the LWB does this on the right rear. Sometimes a little bump helps it open. I have messed with the striker with negligible results.

I have lubed all the lock cylinders on the Hunter with ballistol, lock cylinders are smooth as silk. Lube is important!

 

[Nomar]

Yeah, I think I'll have to pull the door panel off and fiddle with those little connector rods.

The inside latch works perfectly, which makes me think the outside just needs some fine tuning.

 

[57loboy]

The little threaded rod is what controls the adjustment for the outside handle. Had to adjust the LR on my first RRC and just did the current one (same door) last week. Took 10 minutes, max... Easy and well worth the self-administered pat on the back.

 

[kk88rrc]

87-91 WSM has a good illustration…. 93 is probably similar. Adjusting the outside handle is easier than the inside which has a small nut which I found hard to get to.

Still need to do the same thing on my front passenger door too.

 

[Nomar]

So "3" in this drawing for the outside handle...

 

[57loboy]

Yep, that's it. The pic makes it look longer than it is (at least on the driver's door in my '95) but that's the one...

 

[kk88rrc]

On the topic of door latches…. I have the opposite problem after forcing my frozen door open. Now it does not latch.
Going to tear into it today if the rain lets up or tomorrow since it will be above freezing.
Any tips or pointers on fixing or replacing the latch?

 

[Nomar]

Mine is working perfectly now.
Disconnected rod "3" and tightened/shortened it two full turns.
Now my ten year old can open it easily.

 

[jims95]

I had this problem back in 2006, and I found the lock detent springs at the following;


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Range-Rover...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2ecd7e1ccf


It was worth replacing the springs. I have not had the problem since.

 

[kk88rrc]

On the topic of door latches…. I have the opposite problem after forcing my frozen door open. Now it does not latch.
Going to tear into it today if the rain lets up or tomorrow since it will be above freezing.
Any tips or pointers on fixing or replacing the latch?

Luckily the latch decided to work again. Something must have been frozen preventing it from latching closed.
I had to use all the adjustment in the linkage to though to make the outside handle work. Must have bent something in the latch when trying to force the frozen door open.