door adjusment

Hi.
I have this defender 90 and can I bu**er get the drivers door to close properly. I have to slam it really hard to get it to close. I need some tips on adjustment please. I have pratted around with shims and spacers etc for ages.
If you have any tips let me know.

tata

Is the door hanging low on the frame and if so how much?

If its a lot then as you will see you cannot just adjust the slam plate, if it is just a little bit then have you tried moving this to compensate.

It's possible that the stiffener plate which ..erm ... stiffens the body work that the catch fastens to is bent, and the whole door frame in the door catch area is bent backwards stopping you adjusting the catch.

You got to change the hinges and put new fixings in
I had to do my door and its OK know

Did you have any luck with your door? We have the same problem, first with the driver's door, now the other one's going. Only happens when it's cold! Had new door seal fitted but only made it worse. Dealer says they've never heard of it before and don't know what the problem is. You can shut them from the outside by lifting the doors but they just bounce when you shut them from the inside - no matter how hard you slam! Defender 90 Black 2002
What sgould we do?

Try slackening the door hinges and lifting the door, then tighten them with the door still lifted, then adjust the catch plates.

I've found that a nice piece of 3"x2" between the back of the door catch pin and the bulkhead behind the seats helps to stiffen thing up. Also my door had drooped quite a bit. So I slackened off all the hinge bolts, and with the door open a couple of inches, jacked the door up with the Hi-Lift, then tightened the bolts again. What a minter! (you may need the help of a glamourous assistant) Let us know how you get on.

Well F*%k me Grunt, you can type much faster than me!!!

i loosened the catch pin right off, then wedged the door tight shut wiv a bit of 4x2 under the door handle then climbed in the back and pushed the catch pin in and tightened it up. worked a treat, but no good if you've got a truck cab!

Have you got rock sliders on? The reason I ask is that I had a customer come in with a door closing problem that had tried the adjusting tips we gave them over the phone. When they brought the vehicle in I found a small stone had caught on top of the rock slider that was causing the problem. I have also come across doors that have had worn hinges that have a lot of play and that does not help either.

Thank you for all your advice. Pity one of you boys doesn't live next door! We will investigate further and keep you posted. Marshalls at Cambridge have now advised new door catches but your methods sound much more interesting! Unfortunately, our Defender is looked after like a baby so no bits of 3' x 2' for her! Air conditioning, leather, plush carpets, etc., only goes off road when my husband's not about!! Thanks again

I'm only posting this cos of past experience, cos if your truck is looked after proper like you say, then this probably won't be the problem... BUT:-

Have you checked the chassis recently...?! last time I couldn't shut the door it was cos the chassis was flexing cos it was so rusty . It was just the "shuts okay from the outside, but not when somebody's sat in it" type quote that got me...

Not a spec of rust anywhere! What I meant was that if you are sitting in it, you have to get someone outside to shut the door for you. We've been out and had a good look this morning after all your advice. There is no slack on the hinges (or very little) but there is wear on the door catch (burring)- the part that's on the main car - not the door ..... you can probably tell I'm not very technical! It looks as though the catch in the door is not hooking over the little bar on the body properly. I assume it's worse in the cold weather because the door seal stiffens up and offers more resistance.

piccies always help

Hi, I also have a 2002 black defender 90 with the same problem - its much worse on the drivers door but only in the cold. I also assumed it was the seals and have changed, adjusted and sculptured these seals but to no avail. I now belive it could be the internal lock mechanisme. If you stand outside the vehicle in the cold and try and shut the door it will bounce unless you shut it and then push it closed with a bit of force. If you do the same in the warm it shuts fine unless you keep hold of the door release catch. I belive the internal mech my be sticking in the cold weather and requires a lot of slamming and pushing before it un-sticks. I will strip the door liner and investigate. If you have solved the problem please advise.
I did hear that there was a modification to the catch plate in 2001???
Rgds
Tony

Hello Tony, How strange, maybe it's a common fault with that model. We have sorted it out by getting Marshall's at Cambridge to replace the lock mechanism. It is now perfect, but the passenger door is going the same way. The lock mechanism was £36 but they charged us £192 including fitting! Needless to say we will try to replace the passenger side ourselves. As you sound as though you know what you are doing (we definitely don't), when you have done yours, perhaps you could let us know of any pitfalls we might avoid??? My husband is not the most patient of men and I would really like my car left in one piece!!!
Good Luck!
Debbie

Debbie, Yesterday i took the door pannel off - it takes a bit of effort but it just pops off when the scres are removed. Behind this is a waterprrof membrane, this has a sticky seal around the edge that can be opened and then resealed if your carefull. Behind this is the door lock mech. On inspection it had some form of greese and also a bit of rust on the springs - I gave a liberal dose of WD40 type stuff and also did the electric window while i was there. Then replaced the dooe liner and it works fine. Tested it this morning and it was good - although i will have to wait until the next frost for a more thorough test - I will keep you informed.
Rgds Tony

Thank you Tony. I will keep my fingers crossed for you! I must say we thought we had solved our problem a couple of times, only to find it returned but you never know..................
Please do keep us posted especially as we have the other door to deal with yet. Also, since Marshalls did the door catch, the electric window appears to be sticking now!
Thanks again
Debbie

Debbie, Well i couldn't have asked for better cold testing conditions - this morning my 90 was covered in Snow. Opened the door and it closed fine, what a relieve. However i think you are right to wait out, All i have done is delay the inevitable, the lubrication i used will wear out at some point and will require another look. I will see how long it lasts and then if it goes again i will swap a few componants - i.e maybe a stonger return spring and see if that solves the problem, if that doesn't solve it long term then i'll stop being tight and pay for a new door mech. I'll keep you posted. But this battle is won for now!!!