The doors on my Jeep (specifically the drivers door) do not close & latch properly all the time. When i get out & engage the door lock, then shut the door, it shoots back open like it hits a spring. It does this about.. maybe one in 10-15 times i use it. It is very annoying (and is already responsible for some chipped dooredge paint, and sitting unlocked for hours in a parking lot with the door swinging in the breeze) I do not know what is wrong with it, i cannot see anything awry in the latch area. I have tripped the catch by hand repetedly, it all seems lubed properly and clicks shut. But it still fails to latch as stated above.

I have examined the latch mechanism immediately after it does this, it does not appear to be in the closed and latched position, or even partially so. If i unlock it, and cycle the interior door handle once, then relock & close it it will work fine.

I don't get it. :confused:

Has anyone else had a similar issue? If so, how did you rectify it?

 

When this happens, does it sound like the door latch is hitting something (i.e. the latch itself is partial engaged)? Or, does it bounce back softly as if it just never engaged the latch at all? I have noticed on the JK's that the cabin pressure doesn't vent off quickly enough (that in conjunction to new springy door seals) thus making it a bit hard to close the doors... it's like hitting a wall of air. Most of the time, I would get only a partial latch but it wouldn't fly back open.

 

Thank you for the prompt response. I am unsure if it is making a noise or not, It seems to me that it is but i can't be sure. I will have to listen for it next time it happens. Who knows? it may be just that simple.

 

I've had the partial shut issue Way of life mentioned but not bouncing open.
The doors are so light that you really have to follow through with the seals working as well as they do.

 

Try cracking a window open just a tad, maybe a 1/2 - 1" and see if that cures the problem. If so, I agree it is tight door/window seals on a new vehicle and closing the door is trapping air in the "cockpit" keeping the door from latching properly. If no help, then I'd say a trip to the dealer is in order before your "open" jeep disappears on you!!

Tom
Bryson City, NC

 

on my jk you have to shut the door hard. couple of times i see the masseage door ajar on the instrument panel

 

I tried last night for nearly an hour to reproduce the problem, i couldnt get it to do it. It is amazing how many times you can open/close a door in that time frame.

I tried windows open, windows closed.
Open with lock engaged, then lock and close.
Open without lock engaged, then lock and close.
Open with lock engaged, then close without lock engaged.
Open without lock engaged, then close without lock engaged.
Then i repeated the above while using the key to lock & unlock it.

I must have tried each option 20-30 times. My arms where getting tired.

NOTHING, it worked flawlessly every time. My new neighbor thought i was some anal obsesive compulsive weirdo nut-job, he looked at me like i was a leper.

Repeated the whole process again.

Still nothing, i finally gave up and went inside.

Got up this am, came to work, opened the door, hit the lock, swung it shut...

"BOING" popped right open.

&^%#$&&%$*@&^#$

So, i looked at the catch, it wasnt closed. Tried it again, DEFINETLY hitting something - audible thud. Opened the window just fer s&g's. Still did it, so it isnt overpressuing and popping the door back out, i was really hoping that was all it is.

Cycled the interior door handle, locked it and it closed just fine.

*@&%&^$*&^!@(^!*&#@

There is no way the dealer is going to believe me. Hell, i dont even believe me.

 

They should. We are talking about removable doors here and there's a chance for whatever reason that your door isn't 100% aligned to the latch. Could be depending on the heat of the day expanding the metal or cool of the night constricting it that you are experiencing this problem sometimes and not others. Just take it in, that is after all what a warranty is for right

 

Just take it to the dealer, and calmly and confidently explain that it is
an intermittent but recurring problem.

Before you take it to the dealer, is it possible that the seatbelt is just
in the way of the door so that when the door shuts it is clunking into the
setabelt? It is just a wild thought.

Andrew

 

Good point. I have had that happen twice. But my seatbelt was still in the way when the door bounced back.