Rear door latch malfunction

2003 quad cab rear driver door latch. Door opens with handle and locks just fine but once the door is open, more times than not, when you go to close the door it won’t.

that is, the latch inside the lock mechanism is somehow already closed so when it hits the locking pin in the jamb....it makes a fairly Good thud.

I can use my finger and lift the latch manually but that’s getting old.

any fixes short if removal? I’ve tried lubricant, also tried using a cleaner to get rid of the gummy mess from years of lube....doesn’t work.

thanks.

 

I have this same exact problem on the same exact rear door haha, I haven’t messed with it yet but hopefully someone here has a solution. I barely use the door but when I do that thud reminds me of it every time

 

I ran into this with a replacement door that I picked up down south. That latch actually has some sort of a hard plastic coating/covering on it. It had gotten worn off, mostly, and kept it from fully retracting up. I don't have a solution, as I had the one from my original door, so I "just" swapped them. "Just" as in removing almost everything on the door, times two!!!

 

Same issue for me...the driver's side rear door latch. I also noticed that a piece of black plastic alongside the latch was binding and preventing the latch from fully retracting. I removed the latch mechanism and lubricated everything well to no avail. Next, I tried to remove the worn plastic that was binding. Upon closer examination it seemed as though the plastic piece was integral to the assembly and not easily removed.

My remedy was to bite the bullet and order a new OEM latch. I have power locks and was able to order just the latch mechanism and move my original power actuator over to the new latch.

Toyota part #6930604020

Problem solved, door latches properly once again.

 

I took it apart tonite and it was a bit of a challenge. Once I got it apart the setup
Made sense.

I see the plastic part of the latch and mine is worn as well. I spent some time and immersed in solvent to clean it and it uponnreassembly seems to be working better. Not perfect though as the little latch still hangs down some just not enough to prevent closure.

see how long this lasts.

thanks guys

 

I just WD40 mine when it need it, just works

 

PB Blaster makes a spray graphite that works very well for locks, as it is dry, and therefore does not attract dirt and grit like WD40.

 

I used Triflow to clean and lubricate my latch, but as I mentioned the real problem for me was the plastic binding the latch. No lubricant was going to correct this issue. The plastic was worn, deformed, and pulling away from the latch.

Here's a pic of how the plastic should look when its intact. This is a shot of a left front door latch.

 

I was going to try and use a Dremel to remove the binding portion of plastic, but as I said the plastic is integral to the latch and I didn't have access to remove all that was needed.

 

Same problem w/ a 2002 double cab Tacoma. Always have to remember to use my finger to open up the latch before trying to close it. Learned after a few years of mindlessly closing it like it is supposed to close. Also, how many people have the problem of the drivers seat belt not retracting? Gotta love these trucks, at least they have consistent issues!

 

I replace mine with a salvage yard one in great condition still works like a champ.

 

I've got a 2003 with the exact same issues. I love this truck!

 

I’m having the same issue in my 02 double cab. I’m having a hard time finding the rear door latch assembly. Any suggestions on websites to find it?

 

Posted above: Toyota part #6930604020

 

That # is for the front right door. Does that make a difference?

 

That looks like the right part number.

I had the same problem on the left rear door. I replaced it with an after market assembly. There's plenty of YouTube videos on how to R&R.

 

The child safety locks on both my rear doors used to engage somehow, intermittently and without reason or cause, once the doors were opened. So when you went to push them closed, they would in fact make the same loud THUD that OP mentioned. It’s annoying AF, and one time I couldn’t get the child safety locks to disengage, no matter how many times I flicked the little black switch on the inside of the door, and I had to bungee the rear door closed so I could at least drive home. I have doused both rear door locks with PB Blaster and that seemed to help for a good year or so. Now it’s flaring up again. I would ultimately like to remove the child safety locks entirely and be done with it. Just the regular power door locks will suffice for my rear doors.

 

My 2003 has exactly the same issue.

They do indeed!

I’ve had the replacement latch for a year, and have partially dug into replacing the worn out original latch using the instructions in the FSM. It’s kind of complicated and involves removing the rear door window.

I have yet to find any YouTube videos on the rear door latch of a Gen 1. If you have any links to the videos you saw it would be most helpful.

 

Here's a video on how to replace the rear door latch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnEQ_MzKdK0

 

Yes, I've seen that one -- thanks.

Have you done that procedure on a Gen 1 rear door? The FSM describes what seems to be a significantly more complicated procedure that (possibly?) involves removing door molding, window, and window tracks. If all that's not necessary it would be a big help.