Rear door not locking......help please. 90 model

Hi there folks,

Probably being an absolute clown here, I cannot get the rear door in my defender 90 to lock.

I've tried everything, it shuts and opens perfectly but won't lock.

I've only had the defender a week and I'm a novice with them.....

Help lol.....

Mine is quarter turn to right to lock, then back to vertical to get the key out. Quarter turn to left to unlock, back to vertical to get key out.

Upload a picture in case its something obvious to those in the know.

With the door open and the key in the lock, does the internal lock release lever move in sympathy with the turning of the key - also when doing this, does the release lever travel hard up against the slot that it moves in or does it look as though it hasn't completed its travel?

Try also applying a bit of hand pressure on the door as you are turning the key to lock it - I have a new door mechanism and lock and I occasionally have to do this to provide correct alignment as the door seal slightly pushes the door away from the catch mechanism.

That's a point - does it lock with the little catch that moves up and down in a crescent shaped slot on the inside? if so, then the catch mechanism is OK, and it's engaging in a suitable way with the striker plate. So maybe if that's alright the problem lies in the lock barrel and the way it engages with the catch. I had to buy a new lock barrel (really cheap fortunately!) and drill the old one out to get mine to work properly.

Mine can be a bit awkward at times. Sometimes you really have to slam the back door to get it to fully engage. If it's not properly closed the key will still turn and it will feel like it's locked, but you can then just open the door with the handle. Seems easier without the spare wheel on the door for some reason.

I had the same problem had to realign the striker plate slightly
Works fine since

you probably have a broken spring in the lock's mechanism. easy repair and pretty cheaply available on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Landrover...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20c06d86f8

reiny said:

you probably have a broken spring in the lock's mechanism. easy repair and pretty cheaply available on ebay.

Landrover Defender Safari Door Lock Repair Spring Kit | eBay

Click to expand...

Cheers reiny! I've been looking for that ting on ebay for ages.

Brilliant folks, everything works as it should when the doors open, I think it might just be out of alignment with the door closed.

I don't have it with me here today so I'll try a few moves when I get home tonight.

Thanks agin for all your help and suggestions!!

You're most welcome Buxton. That little kit was a life-saver for me four years ago. My lock broke 10 days before an overland trip and my local dealer didn't have any latches so I thought I'd buy a complete latch from ebay. I came across this kit and said "why not?" it arrived in the nick of time and I fitted it within half an hour.