Back door latch problems

17948 Views 25 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Chilapenos, 4 d ago

Doug Pizzy

Discussion Starter · Aug 19, 2017

2

So I've had my 2015 PMC for less than three weeks and already both hinge/latch thingy's on the back doors are broken or not working properly. Yesterday when I opened the left back door it opened all the way out (180 degrees). I looked and noticed that the latch thingy was recessed into the door and not interlocked with the yellow release tab thingy. I pulled the latch all the way out but could not get it to lock back into the release tab thingy. I manually aligned it but when I close the door the pressure makes the latch goes back into the door. After playing around with it for 5 minutes I opened the right door to take a look at how the hinge locks back in after releasing it with the yellow tabs and believe it or not the right side did the same thing! WTF? Now neither side works properly and both doors just fly all the way open. Am I missing something here?
I have opened and closed both doors at least 3 times since I've had the van and was able to close them properly with the latch reattaching to the release mechanism although it didn't snap in smoothly a few times. I think maybe because my driveway is pretty steep so the weigh of the back doors hanging open may have caused some misalignment. Has anyone else had this problem?

See less See more

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

Josh Cissell

· #2 · Aug 19, 2017

Doug Pizzy said:
So I've had my 2015 PMC for less than three weeks and already both hinge/latch thingy's on the back doors are broken or not working properly. Yesterday when I opened the left back door it opened all the way out (180 degrees). I looked and noticed that the latch thingy was recessed into the door and not interlocked with the yellow release tab thingy. I pulled the latch all the way out but could not get it to lock back into the release tab thingy. I manually aligned it but when I close the door the pressure makes the latch goes back into the door. After playing around with it for 5 minutes I opened the right door to take a look at how the hinge locks back in after releasing it with the yellow tabs and believe it or not the right side did the same thing! WTF? Now neither side works properly and both doors just fly all the way open. Am I missing something here?
I have opened and closed both doors at least 3 times since I've had the van and was able to close them properly with the latch reattaching to the release mechanism although it didn't snap in smoothly a few times. I think maybe because my driveway is pretty steep so the weigh of the back doors hanging open may have caused some misalignment. Has anyone else had this problem?

I'm pretty sure I don't have those yellow things. I have a 2014

Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk

proeddie

· #3 · Aug 19, 2017

Josh,

You have a Promaster, Doug has a City!

Wish the forum would split these... they are two different vehicles!

keeponvaning

· #4 · Aug 19, 2017

I've asked and asked but to no avail so I gave up. Perhaps if others contact the Admins they may push it forward. I confuses everyone for no good reason!

StudioX

· #5 · Aug 19, 2017

The arm is supposed to retract into the door when you close it. After checking mine, there is substantial resistance to the arm, and there is no way that I can "push" it in manually.
So, it sounds as if whatever spring or retainer mechanism for the arm to recess itself into the door when closed is possibly damaged, or maybe just out of alignment.
Perhaps remove the arm assembly and see what's going on in there, because that pic of the arm recessed into the door should be with the door closed, not opened. Hope that helps.

Reactions: 1

Doug Pizzy

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 19, 2017

Thx StudioX,
I figured there had to be a spring or something in there and will have to take a look. I still can't believe both sides broke within two days. Ugh!

Doug Pizzy

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 20, 2017

So I took the panel off the back door and loosened up the mounting ring where the arm comes out but I couldn't find any type of spring or any broken part. I even looked in the bottom of the door in case something fell into the pocket but there was nothing. I guess I'll have to take it to the dealer.

rdkeith

· #8 · Aug 20, 2017

I have a '15 and my rear door(s) don't look anything like that...???? I was working on the latch on left door today. Had to tighten T-40 torks bolt on bottom of latch. Now works. Someone above my grade will need to clarify.

keeponvaning

· #9 · Aug 20, 2017

This is the Promaster City side of the forum, not the Promaster forum. It's very confusing, I know - you're not alone!

StudioX

· #10 · Aug 23, 2017

Doug Pizzy said:
So I took the panel off the back door and loosened up the mounting ring where the arm comes out but I couldn't find any type of spring or any broken part. I even looked in the bottom of the door in case something fell into the pocket but there was nothing. I guess I'll have to take it to the dealer.

Interesting...well that bites, dude...Sorry for the issues...
Sounds like this could be an issue for a lot of us down the road...Please let us know what the dealer says...Thanks!

Doug Pizzy

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 14, 2017

Hey guys,
I forgot to tell you what I found out at the dealership last week. If the arm(s) of the back doors recess back into the door you can pull them out, which I did, but I didn't know that you have to give them a hard yank for the last inch or so to come out. The dealer estimate was $129 but they only charged me half because it took them less than 30 seconds to fix. After all, nothing was broken.
Since going to the dealer I've had the arm on the left back door do the same thing if I'm not careful closing the door from the fully opened position but at least I know how to fix it now. I'm having this problem mostly when I'm parked in my steep sloping driveway so I'm guessing the weight of the open door hanging on a downward angle is causing it to be misaligned when I close it.

Reactions: 1

jecwow

· #12 · Sep 15, 2017

The forum IS split. You have to go to the "Tools" pulldown to get the to City forum. Otherwise your are posting in the full size van forum. It looks like who ever created/maintains this site create a tab for the City model instead of having to find it under another tab.

keeponvaning

· #13 · Sep 15, 2017

The owners of the site have decided this is how it will be. Most of us would disagree as it causes much needless confusion but at least we were able to get them to create a separate side for the City people. One small step, etc, etc

Glasshauler

· #14 · Aug 8, 2020

Doug Pizzy said:
So I've had my 2015 PMC for less than three weeks and already both hinge/latch thingy's on the back doors are broken or not working properly. Yesterday when I opened the left back door it opened all the way out (180 degrees). I looked and noticed that the latch thingy was recessed into the door and not interlocked with the yellow release tab thingy. I pulled the latch all the way out but could not get it to lock back into the release tab thingy. I manually aligned it but when I close the door the pressure makes the latch goes back into the door. After playing around with it for 5 minutes I opened the right door to take a look at how the hinge locks back in after releasing it with the yellow tabs and believe it or not the right side did the same thing! WTF? Now neither side works properly and both doors just fly all the way open. Am I missing something here?
I have opened and closed both doors at least 3 times since I've had the van and was able to close them properly with the latch reattaching to the release mechanism although it didn't snap in smoothly a few times. I think maybe because my driveway is pretty steep so the weigh of the back doors hanging open may have caused some misalignment. Has anyone else had this problem?

Response:
I'm learning more and more about these "Door Check" issues. I have recently acquired a 2016 Ram ProMaster City, and the offending assembly is called the Rear Door Check. Once you have pushed on the two yellow tabs to release the sliding arm (so that the door can open completely) if the arm doesn't re-engage properly, it gets pushed all the way into the door. If no parts are damaged, you can pull it back out, with an enthusiastic yank at the end of its reach, then close it carefully while making sure it engages with the hooks next to the yellow tabs, and it's fixed. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you want to unhook the sliding arm to swing the door all the way out, first be sure to open the door until it clicks. That is what pulls the sliding arm all the way out, which is critical. Then it should re-align itself and re-engage as you close the door. Keep an eye on it, make sure that it snaps into the hooks properly. The sliding arm on mine is damaged (on the left rear door.) I need to find out the proper way to get the old part out, so I can get the new part in. Inside that door, the plastic license plate assembly is in the way, and hopefully, someone out there can share the trick to moving that plastic piece out of the way!

See less See more

DanKramer1138

· #15 · Aug 13, 2020

I'll have to take a closer look tomorrow to see if it's just inside, but at this moment I think I'm completely missing the door check on my PMC right hand smaller door. I hope it's just inside where I can get it pulled out again. If not, has anyone had experience getting another one of these to put in? I really would like the door to stop at 90 degrees, now it just flops open all the way on its own.

Glasshauler

· #16 · Aug 13, 2020

Hey Dan, it's almost impossible for that arm to disappear, so I think you'll see the end of the arm, with a cylindrical piece of metal going through it. Being careful not to damage the cylindrical piece, pull it straight out, and the last inch or so will be a hard pull, and it will kind of "pop" into it's final position. Then close the door gradually and watch that cylindrical piece to make sure it clicks into the claws of the other assembly that is mounted to the door frame. Now you should be back to square one, with normal operation. When you open the door normally, and you feel that bump at the end of the travel (a little more than 90 degrees open) the door should stay there, just like you would expect. If you ever need the wide open setting again, be sure to open the door to that "hold" position before you release the hooks with those yellow tabs. When you've finished loading and slowly close the door, the "door check" should now re-engage all by itself, but keep an eye on it.

DanKramer1138

· #17 · Aug 14, 2020

Yep, that worked. It was just pushed fully in, so I got it pulled out and now it works as it should. Thanks for the help. I'm glad it was a simple tweak rather than a need to get a replacement part.

Glasshauler

· #18 · Aug 15, 2020

So glad that worked!
On mine, I will have to replace the door check on the larger back door, and the license plate holder is in the way. If anyone can tell me what the trick is to getting that big plastic license plate assembly un-stuck from the metal door without damage, that would be greatly appreciated!

ProCityMan

· #19 · Sep 17, 2020

Glasshauler said:
So glad that worked!
On mine, I will have to replace the door check on the larger back door, and the license plate holder is in the way. If anyone can tell me what the trick is to getting that big plastic license plate assembly un-stuck from the metal door without damage, that would be greatly appreciated!

See my reply to you about this and how to successfully remove this door Check Arm here

www.promasterforum.com

PM City - Left rear door problem (door check)

TIL that the mechanism that keeps the door from swinging over 90 degrees is called a "door check". Today I opened the rear door past 90 degrees to unload stuff. When I closed it the sliding rod containing the pin that engages with the part of the check mounted to the body would not engage the...

www.promasterforum.com

www.promasterforum.com

LindaPMCV

· #20 · Sep 19, 2020

Doug Pizzy said:
Hey guys,
I forgot to tell you what I found out at the dealership last week. If the arm(s) of the back doors recess back into the door you can pull them out, which I did, but I didn't know that you have to give them a hard yank for the last inch or so to come out. The dealer estimate was $129 but they only charged me half because it took them less than 30 seconds to fix. After all, nothing was broken.
Since going to the dealer I've had the arm on the left back door do the same thing if I'm not careful closing the door from the fully opened position but at least I know how to fix it now. I'm having this problem mostly when I'm parked in my steep sloping driveway so I'm guessing the weight of the open door hanging on a downward angle is causing it to be misaligned when I close it.
Hey you just saved me a trip to the dealership and I was able to fix both sides! Thanks!

1 - 20 of 26 Posts