Front door not closing

I had to hold the key to the lock position until the door locks were all the way down and resting. Then I could release the key and remove it. Only then would the driver side door lock stay down and locked.

Also, after some use, the lock mechanism got better and functioned more like the passenger side, which I would consider more normal.

 

Your door is out of alignment.

Most likely, it is nothing more than that. I had the same exact issue with my passenger-side door when I bought my car, and my local F-car body-man fixed in about fifteen minutes without even having to take anything off the car.

According to him, this is a common problem with 3x8's, Boxers and TRs -- not because there is anything wrong with the way the door is hung, but because they are so low, that people tend to use the doors as levers to lift their bodies up out of the seat. Personally, since I have a GTS and usually drive with roof off, I use the windshield header for that purpose (much stronger), and if driving with a lady (wife or otherwise), I always rush over to the passenger side and help them out. They think I'm being gentlemanly getting the door for them, but I'm really just trying to keep them from breaking my car.

 

It seems you have two issues here, door closing correctly and a power lock issue. They may be related and maybe not. I would recommend verifying that the door closes correctly as the first step.
Check alignment, is the door sagging (many threads on correcting this with a big piece of wood)
Next check the striker alignment (four bolts allow re-positioning)

If all that is okay the locks may work properly. If not then be sure to check the plastic lock knob that it isn't screwed too far down on the post as it will interfere with the hole not allowing it to retract when electrically activated.

If it still isn;t working then I'm afraid there may be a real electrical issue with the door locking system but check these other items first as these are more likely.

Good luck!

 

Had the exactly the same problem ( same car ) but on the co driver door.

We forced up a little the door !! and now is working 100% !!! ( and the central locking locks properly )

Even though that is sounds crude ... it worked ( they told me that many Gts can do this problem from time to time )

Most likely in the future the correct way is to loose the door from the hinges and try to do fine adjustment.

 

The hinges are welded to the door frame, so the only "correct" way would be to loosen the hinges from the body and insert shims. Nobody seems to do that, Ferrari specialists always seem to just force the door upwards and it works.

The locking motors will go back to the unlocked position if they dont successfully lock owing to an alignment problem.

 

Try adjusting the striker plate first. THat will solve both problems.

 

I have cured door closing problems by lubricating the latch mechanism with WD-40.

 

Well yes but only after getting the door alignment right. The striker plate should be adjusted so that the door is not riding up (or down) on the mechanism when closed, ie the conical peg lines up with the conical hole before completely closed.

 

I am new to the Ferrari world with our new to us '86 GTB. I have been reading and learning and have a question about the locks and door alignment. I think my doors could use the floor jack adjustment and I also have central locks that don't always work. I know that these two are linked, but what exactly is it about a sagging door that can cause issues with the locks?

 

Maybe. Or maybe the striker plate has drifted 1mm out too far and the door no longer closes and therefore the door solenoid does not get held out. In my experience, that is a lot easier than to adjust the door sag, or replace the door pin. I have replaced the door pin, and I would recommend anyone to never do that, ever.

Nothing on that car has beaten me, but that door pin came pretty close. I still won, bloody and bruised.

 

Ha! I came to the conclusion that I didn't even want to try that procedure just from looking at it for about a minute. I've swapped out hinge pins on most of the old cars I've owned, but looking at the tight confines and the curved body work gave me a real bad vibe. I now feel validated in that assessment by your unpleasant experience, and salute you for emerging victorious. Thanks for sharing!

 

I have had the exact same issue on my 328. Plus door would pop open.

I need a new hinge pin as door will move up and down a bit.

This is hard to do and i believe separate from the "electric door unlocking" problem you mention.

Once the door is closed alignment is driven by striker and latch. But the mehanism can "round" a bit. Hard to find / difficult to replace.

So if you can just get the electric mechanism to stick down you are fixed on your current issue and perhaps a number of others.

What i did - spray WD40 in there (with dooe open so it drips out. Leave it soak. Fixed me in terms of electric lock staying down - for a while...

 

Sagging door syndrome. Get out the wood plank.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=304298

Read the whole thread.

 

Check the pins in the door hinge. Mine worked their way partially out and the door would not latch. After tapping them back into position the door works fine.

 

Did the lock washer come out at the end of the pin?

 

There's a lock washer?????
I guess so.

 

Commonly missed and therefore the job becomes very tough removing said pin.
My bad not a lock washer a retaining ring c-shaped at the end in a groove.
Circlip is what I meant. Not sure if on all years but it does exist.