Defender Door latch? Lock?

My front passenger door has been driving me mental past few weeks to the point that its a bit dangerous! Its popped open of its own accord twice now!

It also wont catch at least 60% of the time when closing.

Any suggestions where to look? Or what needs adjusting?

You can slacken the screws ad move the striker a little to help but then the door may n ot look completely shut. Probably needs a new mechanism

I thought that, which helped a bit but still happening!

Start by applying some spray to all the moving parts. Likely grease and wax are preventing the returns doing their jobs. Lock the door whilst open and spring the fork with a screw driver, that will isolate the striker as the cause IMO.

Wear a seat belt too, handy and similar to the Cessna 152 when pulling 60 degree back turns when the door flies open

doriz said:

Start by applying some spray to all the moving parts. Likely grease and wax are preventing the returns doing their jobs. Lock the door whilst open and spring the fork with a screw driver, that will isolate the striker as the cause IMO.

Wear a seat belt too, handy and similar to the Cessna 152 when pulling 60 degree back turns when the door flies open

Click to expand...

Hahaha had the same in my old 90! Nearly lost a mate out the boot

Yeah ill degrease and regrease it all to start with. See if that helps.

Seems to move freely when moving everything by hand manually, just wont catch on the striker every time!

I replaced a hinge like for like on a door that fitted perfect. Once done the door just bounced off the striker, very frustrating but also quite cathartic as I used to lose my temper and slam the door so hard it’s lucky the window never shattered. Anyway with a bit of fettling I got there.

Hahaha i know the feeling!

Hinges are new-ish and well adjusted. When it shuts it shuts perfectly, no pannel gaps and aligned well.

Just bounces of the fecking striker. As if it itsnt catching.

bankz5152 said:

Hahaha i know the feeling!

Hinges are new-ish and well adjusted. When it shuts it shuts perfectly, no pannel gaps and aligned well.

Just bounces of the fecking striker. As if it itsnt catching.

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Do you have the rubber dampers on the striker?
Post a photo of the stricker

Strikers are the X-Eng ones. Improved things to no end when first installed!

bankz5152 said:

Strikers are the X-Eng ones. Improved things to no end when first installed!

Click to expand...

Not that good if the door is opening

normally get the lock & make sure both stages lock. If they do your striker may need moving outwards

(not seen the x eng strikers... off for a google)

(Quick google. Now I know what they look like)
Look for wear on the lock mech incase door is dropping i& causing rubbing

Yeah. Ive seen that happen. Thats exactly what happened on the same door couple years ago, as well as the rears. Since resolved - to a degree that is!

It doesnt appear to rub and when closed the "right" way it shuts perfectly. That said more often than not it doesnt catch and just bounces open.

When it does pop open while driving it is fully shut, its as though the mechanism inside the door has decided to let go.

Appreciate the xmas day help too!

Merry Christmas lads!!

Shoulda called out LZIR

Hahahaha i would have done if the mrs had fallen out

probably a bit of wear on the mechanism. A new lock is probably the long term answer. They are quite fiddly to change too

My nsr door used to do that, nearly lost the dog going round a round a bout. Mine was visibly sticky though, a good flush with WD-40 freed it off and a good spray with white grease sorted it. If you get a new one don't get aftermarket, I had two fail locked in short time which was a major pita.

Flossie said:

My nsr door used to do that, nearly lost the dog going round a round a bout. Mine was visibly sticky though, a good flush with WD-40 freed it off and a good spray with white grease sorted it. If you get a new one don't get aftermarket, I had two fail locked in short time which was a major pita.

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Cheers flossi.

Painful when LHD is £90, RHD is £20

I need LHD of course...

bankz5152 said:

Hahaha i know the feeling!

Hinges are new-ish and well adjusted. When it shuts it shuts perfectly, no pannel gaps and aligned well.

Just bounces of the fecking striker. As if it itsnt catching.

Click to expand...

Funnily enough mine has just started doing that. I think it's the weather..

@bankz5152 off the foundry4x4 sitecheck to see if the below is your problem .


In order to add the domed end (important to make the X-Trouser smooth and less likely to catch), we have shortened it by 1.5mm in order not to contact the door latch mechanism. In some rare cases, where the door is too far forwards, this causes the latch to miss the pin on the X-Trouser and the door not close properly. On your original door catch, you will be able to see a witness mark where the latch has been striking the plastic sleeve of the striker. If this mark is within 1.5mm of the edge of the plastic, you may need to add an additional spacer underneath the Nylon block the X-Trouser bolts to. We are able to supply these, Part Number MWC3148. Alternatively, slacken the door hinges and move the door backwards a couple of mm.