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Over the 50+ years I have owned the vehicle, the passenger rear door on my 1953 DeSoto Firedome has consistently had an issue closing. When the door is closed, it seems to "bounce back" and not latch. If you have an attitude when closing, most of the time it latches but may take multiple attempts. Over the years I have attempted to lubricate, adjust the catch, etc. but it still does not work properly. Recently, I have begun to wonder if the mechanism is just gummed up and this results in not latching. After removing the inside door panel, I see the mechanism from the inside door handle to the door latch but it is not obvious to me how this inside door mechanism connects to the door latch. I would like to remove the door latch and give it a good cleaning to see if this fixes the issue. Are there are any "gotcha" items when removing to door latch from inside the rear door? Has anyone experienced this issue and have a recommendation for a fix? Thank you for any input that can be provided. Peace.
I don't have a lot of experience with fixing latches, but it seems like a good application for (after cleaning) spray lithium grease, which is sold in spray cans at local hardware stores.
Thank you for your input. Lithium grease is on my to do list after cleaning the latch. A project for next spring. Peace.
