How To: Door Latch Fix

Post by **94_240sx** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:58 am

Here you go guys. I've found this is a common problem for our 240 verts, so I'd like to share this info.

This is my driver's side and as you can see plastic piece is still in good condition.

The plastic piece gets worn out and you will lose it eventually. If that happens, your door won't close perfectly and interior light will go on and off. You can wrap the latch with electrical tape, but trust me. Over the time, it goes bad again and you have to redo it. Also, you have to wrap it just about right. If it's too thick, door won't close. If it's thin, door will be still loose.

This is what I found from Ace Hardware store. It's called Nylon Sleeve. I think I paid $0.50 for each something like that.

You cut the middle like this with a knife or Dremel, spread it and plug it to the latch. It's very strong yet flexible enough, so it won't break. But, you should buy a couple of extras just in case. This sleeve is strong and durable, so it should last forever. Actually, this plastic piece has been on my car for several years now, but it doesn't look that way.

Turn it a little bit, so you can have a clean look.

Now you can move these pieces around and adjust the door. If you wear rubber gloves when you tighten these screws, you can have some extra grip.

My door didn't line up correctly, so I moved those pieces around.

Push the interior light switch and make sure it works properly. If not, you can replace it easily since only 1 screw is holding it. That's about it.
Modified by 94_240sx at 9:22 AM 10/3/2007

Post by **Eikon** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:04 am

Yet another great How To article 94_ 240sx.

Well done, and thank you!

Added link to the FAQs sticky thread.

Post by **94_240sx** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:06 am

Thanks, Eikon!When I first bought my car, doors won't close all the way in and line was off on both sides. Figured out it was because of this little piece of plastic.

Post by **slowzenki** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:27 am

This is a great write up. I am gonna go and do this tonight.

Post by **slip69** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:40 am

awesome!!! doing it this weekend!!! im placing a gold star next to your name on the chalkboard buddy!!!

Post by **Hijacker** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:14 am

Heh> Nice alternative to replacing the whole anchor (which is what I did)

BTW, I find phillips head ratchet bits work wonders for tightening those down

Post by **ishkabibble** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:56 am

Nice write-up and cheap solution. I still need to do this.

Post by **S13_convert** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:59 am

Or you can just buy the whole piece. It's called a strike bar and you can order it from Nissan. That's what I did. It was 20 bucks, but hey, that's just me.

Post by **ishkabibble** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:07 pm

Or get one from a junkyard for $5.

Post by **Loki** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 2:33 pm

ishkabibble wrote:Or get one from a junkyard for $5.

Or from me if they ever gimme back my damn car.

Post by **slowzenki** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 2:45 pm

I just replaced that piece with the nylon sleeve and BAM! the door seals 10 times better.

Thanks again

Post by **ishkabibble** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 3:24 pm

Loki wrote:Or from me if they ever gimme back my damn car.

I dunno, yours might be bent.

Post by **ebalita** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:31 am

I will go to OSH to get that sleeve. what exactly is it called?? Did you have to make it fit (other than cutting to put it on?)

Post by **AZhitman** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:42 am

AWESOME!

Great work, thanks for sharing!

Post by **onosqv** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:24 pm

nice! just what I was looking for. You don't happen to remember the diameter of the nylon sleeve do you?

Post by **94_240sx** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:39 pm

AZhitman wrote:AWESOME!Great work, thanks for sharing!

You are welcome. Good to have you back!!

ebalita wrote:I will go to OSH to get that sleeve. what exactly is it called?? Did you have to make it fit (other than cutting to put it on?)

It's called 'NYLON SLEEVE.' Length is just perfect. All you need to do is cutting the middle.

brokeAs240sx wrote:nice! just what I was looking for. You don't happen to remember the diameter of the nylon sleeve do you?

I bought an extra, so here you go. 12mm wide & 16mm long...

One more thing. Bullet shaped thing above the latch/strike bar controls the tension. It has a strong spring inside. If you push it toward inside, shutting the soor is breeze, but door won't pop open when you lift the door handle. If you move it to outside, you will have to slam the door to close it, but it'll pop open easier. Some trial and error will give you an idea, so just play with it.

Post by **vertbish** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:08 am

Its a good thing I checked this thread out! I was having a hell of a time trying to get my door to shut all the way, idk how many times it has been played with to be adjusted... Hopefully this fixes my problem.

I just began to think that it was from when the previous owner got hit...

Post by **JRd916** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:04 pm

damn 94! ownin it up with the DIYs

Post by **slip69** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:02 am

did anyone have a hard time removing the screws on the latch??? i tried doing this last night to align the doors but couldn't get the freaking screws off!!! I was trying to align the door so it would stop leaking and it rained last night. so i woke up to a freaking wet seat!!!!

Post by **94_240sx** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:02 am

slip69 wrote:did anyone have a hard time removing the screws on the latch??? i tried doing this last night to align the doors but couldn't get the freaking screws off!!! I was trying to align the door so it would stop leaking and it rained last night. so i woke up to a freaking wet seat!!!!

Spray some PB Blaster and soak it first. Wear rubber glove or wrap the screw driver with a rubber glove. Clean up PB Blaster from the screw head. Grab a screw driver really hard and put your weight on it when you turn it. That'll do it. If not, there's a special screw driver you can use. Someone posted a picture here. Basically, you hammer it to screw or unscrew.

Post by **biggie** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:26 am

Impact screwdriver is what you are thinking of:

Post by **94_240sx** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:46 am

biggie wrote:Impact screwdriver is what you are thinking of:

Yup! That's it. I think you have to go easy on it otherwise you could make a dent.

Post by **jt15833** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:30 pm

anyone tried a fix like this on s14?

s14 has thin rubber all the way around but my rubber broke was going to try something like this

Post by **240DrpTop** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:05 pm

Sounds dangerous! That happend to me once.
Modified by 240DrpTop at 5:00 AM 12/22/2007

Post by **numnutzzz** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 2:31 pm

After owning my vert for about two years, i finally fixed my sagging door. I did the bushings and the pins which fixed the problem where my door drops alittle everytime i open the door. I also got that "Nylon Sleeve" from home depot. They call it a Nylon Spacer. it is 5/8" long and 1/2" wide. cost me like 60cents. bar code is "0 3069987288 6"

Hope this help someone later on in the future.

Post by **S15nS13vert** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 5:10 am

great info, thanks dude

Post by **Zmaller** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:33 pm

thank you so much man!!!!!! im going to go out and get this tomorrow and see how it works, i had the hinges replaced and that worked for a little bit but i just looked and there is NO plastic at all. PERIOD so im so excited, that light is super annoying and all my friends think they are going to fall out of the car, thanks a lot.-Zach

Post by **wmdavis007** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:42 pm

You can also get them from Lowe's. You'll find them near the screws and bolts. Here is a picture of the ones I got a few years ago:

How To: Door Latch Fix

How To: Door Latch Fix

Re: How To: Door Latch Fix (94_240sx)

Re: How To: Door Latch Fix (Eikon)

Re: How To: Door Latch Fix (94_240sx)

Re: How To: Door Latch Fix (94_240sx)

Re: (tenkawa_akito)

Re: (ishkabibble)

Re: (S13_convert)

Re: (ishkabibble)

Re: (Loki)

Plastic sleeve

Re: How To: Door Latch Fix (94_240sx)

Re: (AZhitman)

Re: How To: Door Latch Fix (94_240sx)

Re: How To: Door Latch Fix (JRd916)

Re: How To: Door Latch Fix (slip69)

Re: (biggie)

Re: (94_240sx)

Re: (jt15833)

Re: (numnutzzz)

Re: How To: Door Latch Fix (94_240sx)

Re: How To: Door Latch Fix (Zmaller)

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