95 TDi front door latch problem not the wee spring!

My trusty disco drivers side door bounces open when you try to close it.
Can be difficult to open from outside but opens fine from inside. Sometimes I have to slam the door shut 2 or 3 times to get it to close.

Adjusted the linkage to outer door handle and it opens easier and have oiled all the linkages and the latch.

Door closed and opened about 25 times with no probs then after driving home it would not close again. Seems to be intermittant and is ****ing me off now.

Do I need a replacement latch ? Central locking is ok and the wee spring has not broken yet.

MOT due and need to get this fixed, as SODS law states the door will not close during the test that's if I ever get all the welding finished in the boot.

Have you adjusted the door lock striker?

Yes, it's not that as it happens when I close the keeper with a screwdriver and it just does not latch closed.

Have a spare disco for parts so removed the latch from it last night but could not get the window frame to lift more than 3/4 of an inch at the lock end of the door so hope I don't have the same problem when replacing my dodgy lock.

Had the same problem on my '96 300 tdi. Managed to change the lock without taking window frame out. Really awkward but a bit of brute force does get you enough clearance to slip the lock between window channel and inside of door panel. Haven't been able to get central locking working since though. Actuator arm doesn't seem long enough to reach mechanism. Will figure it out eventually - I hope!!

Have to finish welding rear crossmember where it meets what used to be the boot floor, then will look at lock so I can get it to MOT. Just spent 3 days welding sills, wheel arch and sides of boot floor.