Door Latch

1996 Tacoma SR5 4wd 3.4l with factory power locks and windows. Driver's side (LH) door latch lost its rubber and doesn't close without slamming. As of today (6/2020) Toyota parts dealers read that the part is "discontinued."

Does anyone know how this part can be replaced or fixed?

Thank you in advance.

 

Not sure what you mean about the door latch losing it's rubber. What does that have to do with the power lock not functioning?

Anyway, best bet is used:

https://www.car-part.com/index.htm

 

Welcome aboard new member
Nice Rims

 

This plus haunt the Forums for people parting out first generation trucks.

Not really sure what you really need either .

Pictures of what your dealing with would be a great help

 

Thank you for the warm welcome and the feedback. I’ll follow the links and see what I can find.

Seems 1996 is a readheaded stepchild when it comes to power locks. It’s the one Gen1 year that’s different from all the others and the part is no longer available.

When I compare my passenger side to my driver side (problem side) seems there’s some rubber on the face of the latch mech that makes the latch grab tight. By driver side rubber is disintegrated.

my power is fine. Locks unlocks great. Just doesn’t close.

I’ll take some pics in morning when the light is good.

Again, thank you!

 

Fabricate a piece of rubber epoxy it in place .

Great advances in epoxy in the last 30 years what can it hurt to try

 

Some pics.
You can see the rubber wearing off on the passenger side.

The driver side is bare and the metal has started to wear from the slamming.

 

I don't see how the loss of that coating would make it hard to close. If anything it would make it easier because it wouldn't hold the door closed quite as tight. I suggest that you take the latch you have out and give it a good cleaning. I have done that and after, it both closed and opened easier.

 

Have you tried adjusting the striker bar? Slightly loosen the bolts holding it in place and whack it with a hammer in the direction from inside the truck to outside, then re-tighten. They are mounted to a floating plate that can be re-positioned. It will help tighten the door fit to the body.

 

True. Worth a shot if I can’t find a replacement.

Two questions:

1. Does anyone know if the power and no power latches are the same (difference being power lock actuator just connects to the standard no power latch)? (It’s cumbersome getting in there so if anyone can shed some light it will save me from tearing it all apart and then being left without a door lock/latch)

2. Anyone know of any reliable parts suppliers (used parts, nos, etc) worth reaching out to?

 

the rubber matters. It was engineered that way. The rubber grabs the striker bar tightly so there’s no rattle.

 

yes. I have the FSM and followed the striker plate adjustment procedure exactly. No dice.

 

If that part is obsolete from Toyota that number gets more or less purged from the system finding NOS would be pure chance at even a good dealer.See if Toyota has 2 different part numbers for power locks and manual though sometimes they use several part numbers for the same part.

Up grade to two newer doors since 96 has one of a kind parts . Maybe the internal door parts can be upgraded to the newer ones.

I know my 2000 does not have any rubber on the latch I do hit it with spray lube every oil change or more often.

If your in any of the Winter Chemical states even finding any good parts is rough what trucks were not crushed are just plain worn out. Look to the Southwest USA

Happy Hunting Good Luck!

 

**SOLVED**

So...here’s one way to fix a 1996 power door latch.

Total your Tacoma by crashing it on a retaining wall while driving to dismantler yards looking for your part.

Thats what I just did. Worked like a charm. Now I don’t have to worry about the latch ever again.

Thanks for all your help in this guys. Looks like I won’t be here in the forum much anymore. Keep doing what you do.
Much respect.

 

Holly crap! I guess since you are posting this you weren't hurt too bad. Hope everyone is OK.

 

Not the way I would wish anyone to solve a problem.

Glad your ok.

No reason to leave research on the next one.

 

This has no adjustment capability on my '03.

 

You can't see the adjustment. The backing plate inside with the weld nuts for the bolts is inside the body panels. It can be shifted when the bolts are loose. The bolts pull the plate in firm against the body and prevent it from shifting.

It's how they are adjusted before they leave the factory. This is from the 2003 Field Service Manual. See section 3.:

 

Thanks for this... perhaps I didn't get aggressive enough with the hammer.
I will have to try this out over the weekend. My passenger side has been a bit off since I purchased the truck new.

 

Any solutions to this? The rubber on my driver side is worn out and the door doesn't close all the way and rattles when I drive. The part is available but at $160.