| Author |
Message |
Richelson (Richelson)
Member
Username: Richelson
Post Number: 460
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 7:43 am: | |
I would check the alignment of the door. There are 4 allen head bolts that can be loosened on the side of where you release the rear bonnet level. Just loosen them and move it around to where desired. |
magoo (Magoo)
Intermediate Member
Username: Magoo
Post Number: 2015
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 25, 2002 - 8:59 pm: | |
Kevin, If the bottom of your door is out of alignment and the upper part closes then the door will never close properly. Adjusting the stricker is not the answer. The door, without the striker, should close and align itself close to perfect at the top and bottom and the gap around the door should be close to the same tolerance. If this is not the case a major alignment of the hinges has to be done. |
Alberto (Aabreu)
New member
Username: Aabreu
Post Number: 44
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 25, 2002 - 8:33 pm: | |
Kevin:
It turns out that mine just needed to be lubricated. I put some penetrant oil first, followed by a squirt or two of spray grease. Do this to both the inside and outside of the latch (remove door panel and dust cover to get to the inside) That did the trick. Door locks close fine now, and I did not have to mess around with the latch adjustment. Try this first, unless the door is abviously not closing properly (mine was closing and aligning fine). |
Kevin Moore (Kevinm)
New member
Username: Kevinm
Post Number: 13
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 25, 2002 - 7:44 pm: | |
That's what I love about this board........timely information. I too have recently ran into this problem. (Both doors.) I have examined the hinges and it appears that they are a pretty simple device, I was hoping to find a worn out bushing.
As Rob pointed out I can get the door to close but the bottom portion of the door is out of alignment with the body. Is it possible to adjust the hinges? Or should I continue to screw around with the striker plate?
Thanks
Kevin M
Saratoga NY
'87 328GTS |
j scott leonard (Jscott)
New member
Username: Jscott
Post Number: 26
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 11:44 am: | |
Alberto: You can adjust both, just be patient. I was tempted to take a hammer to them,(wrong thing to do!). I didn't. |
Alberto (Aabreu)
New member
Username: Aabreu
Post Number: 43
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 11:14 pm: | |
JScott:
I missed your post, thanks. I will play with it once I repair and replace the stripped headed one. However, as I mentioned, can I adjust the one on the pillar instead? |
Alberto (Aabreu)
New member
Username: Aabreu
Post Number: 42
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 11:12 pm: | |
Thanks guys.
Vincent: I will check that; I assume you mean the black knob inside the car, that you depress to lock the car from the inside?
Rob: I can rotate that thing with a screw driver while the door is physically open (making the electronics think it is closed) and can lock the doors. This is why I thought that was misaligned. Now, the problem I have is that one of the four screw heads is stripped; so I will have to remove it and replace it. I assume that the adjustment consists of playing with it until it decides to work (is it easy to move around?). I suppose I could move the fixed piece (the one that is on the pillar on the car) instead of the one on the door? By the way, my door looks visually flush when closed, and does not open on its own. The electronic sensor must think it is open because it does not allow me to lock the car when I close the door normally. |
j scott leonard (Jscott)
New member
Username: Jscott
Post Number: 25
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 11:05 pm: | |
Alberto: I have had the same problem with my 89 328. It can happen when the car is jacked up and the door becomes slightly out of line. It takes time (and more time) to get it aligned correctly. Rob is right on, the plate on the body has four allen screws. You can loosen them and move the striker quite a bit. Make small moves and tighten two out of the four screws to test. It is a rather fine adjustment. I have a friend who owns a large shop work with me for over an hour and we got it working pretty well. This is after I spent about two hours on it myself. Take your time and breath deep to avoid the frustration. You will eventually get it. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts
Post Number: 1112
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 8:29 pm: | |
The door problem with my car that I keep an eye on is the plate on the door frame, not the door, that when aligned correctly rotates the striker into the door closed position. When it gets out of alignment, then the door closes, doesn't latch and just swings open again. It's a pain because it's four allen screws and you almost have to loosen all four, adjust it, tighten all really tight so they don't jar when you test it. After about 5-10 cycles, you get it working just right. Also, besides not latching, sometimes it latches, but leaves the door just a bit out of flush with the rest of the car side. I've also had this cause the locking problems you've mentioned. Tough job to adjust perfectly so door latches, locks work, and door is flush with body. |
Vincent William Porto (Vincentporto)
New member
Username: Vincentporto
Post Number: 3
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 7:53 pm: | |
Alberto, check the small black plastic manual locking (protrusion?) at the top rear of both of your doors and make sure it is not hitting the top of the opening on the door (where the knob goes into the door itself). My '88 328GTB had a similar problem when the passenger's door lock knob came partially unscrewed and would bind on the opening. Hope this helps. |
Alberto (Aabreu)
New member
Username: Aabreu
Post Number: 41
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 7:30 pm: | |
Has anyone run into the following problem with their 328 (not sure I can explain it very well):
The doors power locks will not lock on my car. The problem seems to be that the pasenger door latch is not closing completely when the door is closed. If I simply close the door, and try to lock the car, the power locks will attempt to close, but will kick up, as if the door was ajar. However, if I open the car door, take a screw driver and make the latch close (as if the door had been closed), the locks will go down. I assume that the problem is that the door latch (or the door) is slightly misaligned and the latch will not close completely when one closed the door. I suppose the other potential problem is that the lock sensor (or whatever senses that the latch is closed) is slightly misaligned and thinks that the latch is not fully closed.
Any help, suggestions would be appreciated. |