Door Latch Fix...any interest in a Tech Article?

Anyone ever seen a tech article on how to fix your door latch's so you dont have to hold the button in on the door handle while closing and locking the door?

I intend to do one but wanted to make sure it hadnt been done already, or to see if there is any interest. I did a search and found zippo.

 

I'd be interested, it would be a good mod for the passenger side door, since most people don't get it...it's like a old Toyota......

 

Are you planning on installing remote door locks

 

would be interested...

 

So, not much interest, so this wont be too much of a tech article, pretty simple fix for those of us who do not like to hold the button in on the door handle when closing our doors to our mavericks. The wife says "I hate that because it makes my hands hurt", and I think Its a PITA, so anyway.........
Very simple fix, wont take more than 5 minutes once you have the latch out ( I actually think this can be done with the latch in the door) If you look at my pictures they show a screwdriver pointing to the offending lever, this simply needs to be bent out of the way, towards the outside of the latch, bend it far enough that all the linkages work without interference from this lever. Now, you could just cut the lever off, but if for some insane reason you want to go back to that PITA way of locking your doors and holding in the door handle button, then you can if you bend the lever rather than cutting it off. The first pic shows the right latch with the mod already done, and the left latch in the "before" mod, the second pic is the right latch with the mod done, screwdriver points to the lever or arm that was bent out of the way. This worked for me so it should work for you, Piece of cake!! One other thing......dont forget to take your keys out of the ignition before you close your doors, duh!!

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uh you need more than a few hours to garner interest...

im really interested in anything door latch related atm. especially how to get at fhe latch.

 

What do you want to know?

 

I"m confused alil... The second pic is of the mod done? It looks kinda like the left latch in the first pic to me

I have to be missing something lol

 

just remove the door panel and look in there. Bam! Latch.

I just hate removing the door panels...

 

I guess I didnt make that clear enough.......... the first picture has both right and left latches in it. The right door latch (is on the left in the pic) has already been modified, and the left door latch(is on the right in the pic)has not been modified, and the screwdriver is pointing to the lever that is in the stock prebent position. Kinda showing a before and after type pic. Hope this helps

 

I dig the having to hold the button down. But, just wait until someone can't figure it out and slams your door hard enough to break the latch. Then you might have a door welded shut like I do.

So uh any help on taking the door panel off appreciated.

 

I don't know the year when Ford changed things but on my Falcon the only way to lock the door is with the key. This was one of the selling points...you can't lock your keys inside the car.

 

Take off the window crank handle, then the armrest, then carefully get a putty knife to gently pry the trim panel away from the door so you can see where the clips are, then pry the clip away from the door with a screwdriver, between the clip and the door metal, not the fiberboard, the clip should pop off the door and then just move around the trim panel till its completely off the door. Then you can access the latch to try and get it unjambed.

 

cool thanks. Now I just need a non-rainy weekend so I can cutthe welds and fix the door.