| DEFINITION: This diagnostic table is designed to address the mechanical diagnosis of the door latching system, which could include the inside and outside handles, latch rods/cables, latches, or latch cylinders. |
| 1 |
Did you perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle? |
Go to Step 2 |
Go to Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle |
| 2 |
Were you sent here from a Vehicle Access Symptom Table? |
Go to Step 3 |
Go to Symptoms - Vehicle Access |
| 3 |
Does the door open with the outside handle? |
Go to Step 4 |
Go to Step 10 |
| 4 |
Does the door open with the inside handle? |
Go to Step 5 |
Go to Step 11 |
| 5 |
Does the manual latch knob latch and unlatch the latch smoothly without binding? |
Go to Step 6 |
Go to Step 12 |
| 6 |
Does the door latch switch and/or the keyless entry transmitter latch and unlatch the door latch or door latches? |
Go to Step 7 |
Go to Step 14 |
| 7 |
Is the outside key cylinder loose or does it rattle or fall out? (if equipped) |
Go to Step 15 |
Go to Step 8 |
| 8 |
Does the outside key cylinder latch and unlatch the latch and function smoothly without binding? (if equipped) |
Go to Step 9 |
Go to Step 16 |
| 9 |
Does the door bind, does it take excessive effort to open, or is it misaligned? |
Go to Step 17 |
Go to Step 18 |
| 10 |
If the door will not open with the outside handle, or the handle is obstructed or loose, check the following:
- For cold weather freezing, thaw as necessary.
- Check the handle for foreign material. Remove material as necessary.
- Check the handle grab bar for looseness or damage. Repair as necessary.
- Check the handle for full travel.
If the issue is not resolved, remove the trim panel as necessary to gain access to door hardware and check the following:
- Check the handle chassis for loose fasteners, broken chassis inserts, loose or missing spring, or a loose, missing or bent rod lever.
- Check for bent rod to the outside handle.
- Check that the handle grab bar engages the rod lever properly.
- Check for interference of rod and handle to other components in the door.
- Check that handle rod is securely attached at both latch and handle.
- Check if rod is positioned properly in the clip on the latch. At rest position, the handle should be fully against the down stop and the latch lever should be at the bottom of its travel. Correct by opening clip, repositioning rod in clip and closing clip till it snaps, as necessary.
Did you find and correct the condition? |
Go to Step 18 |
Go to Step 11 |
| 11 |
Door will not open with the inside handle:
- Check the inside handle for foreign material. Remove material as necessary.
- Check that the handle is secure. Correct as necessary.
- If rear door, verify child security is not engaged.
- Remove the trim panel as necessary to and check the inside handle rod/cable attachments at both the latch and handle. If the cable is kinked or pinched, correct as necessary.
Did you find and correct the condition? |
Go to Step 18 |
Go to Step 12 |
| 12 |
The door will not or is difficult to unlatch with the inside manual latch knob:
- For cold weather freezing, thaw as necessary
- Check the latch knob for a loose condition. Repair or replace as necessary.
Check the latch knob for binding or dragging using the following procedure:
- Remove the latch knob.
- If condition goes away, check for drag/interference of the latch knob against the inner belt seal, or the trim panel. Correct as required.
If further action is required, remove the trim panel and check the latch rod and latch knob for interference with the following:
- Water deflector/paper
- Side Impact Foam
- Rod Grommet in sheet metal
- Glass Run Channel
- Other rods or cables
- Trim panel
Did you find and correct the condition? |
Go to Step 18 |
Go to Step 13 |
| 13 |
With a manual lock, if the latch will not function properly do the following:
- Function the lock/unlatch lever on the latch to unlatch the latch. Check for high internal resistance.
- With the door open, manually close the latch with a screwdriver.
- Check the latch for internal binding by actuating the latch with the inside door handle lever.
- Manually close the latch with a screwdriver again.
- Check the latch for internal binding by actuating the latch with the outside door handle lever.
Did you find and correct the condition? |
Go to Step 18 |
Go to Step 14 |
| 14 |
If power locks are included in vehicle options and do not function with either the keyless entry transmitter or switch:
- For cold weather freezing, thaw as necessary.
- Remove trim pad as required and check the following:
- Verify door harness has appropriate power connectors for switches and latch.
- Check harness connector pins for corrosion.
- Assure wire harness connectors are seated and locked properly at latch and switch. Remove and re-seat if required.
- Check door harness for cuts/chafing/corrosion. Correct/replace as required.
- Check for 12V at latch and door switch. Correct/proceed accordingly.
- Check BCM for trouble codes. Correct/proceed accordingly.
- If power locks still do not function do the following:
- Remove latch from door cavity.
- Connect latch to electrical connector outside the door.
- Function power lock/unlatch switch in both latch and unlatch directions. Watch for lock/unlatch lever on latch to move completely from one position to the other.
- If lever does not move, remove connector from old latch and attach to new latch outside of door cavity.
- Verify new latch is functional, if so, attach rods and install new latch in door.
Did you find and correct the condition? |
Go to Step 18 |
Go to Step 15 |
| 15 |
If the key cylinder is loose do the following:
- Remove the trim if necessary.
- Check that the retaining clip is properly seated. (if equipped)
- Check that the fastener is properly torqued. (if equipped)
Did you find and correct the condition? |
Go to Step 18 |
Go to Step 16 |
| 16 |
The outside key cylinder will not latch and unlatch the latch and function smoothly without binding:
- For cold weather freezing, thaw as necessary
- Remove trim if required.
- Check that the key cylinder rod is securely attached both to the key cylinder pawl and the latch.
- Check that key cylinder lever, rod and latch lever are free of interferences. Remove interferences as required.
- Check that latch cylinder rod is routed properly. Re-route as required.
- Remove rod from latch cylinder and actuate cylinder. Check for internal resistance. Lubricate latch cylinder as required
- Verify Cylinder rotates with vehicle key. If not, code and replace cylinder to match vehicle key. See latch cylinder coding and replacing.
Did you find and correct the condition? |
Go to Step 18 |
Go to Step 17 |
| 17 |
The door is difficult to open:
- Check for interference with the fender, adjacent door, body opening or door striker and adjust as necessary.
- Check for binding door hinges. Lubricate or align/adjust as necessary.
- Check the door check link for binding. Lubricate as necessary.
- Adjust the door as necessary.
Did you find and correct the condition? |
Go to Step 18 |
Go to Side Door Adjustment |
| 18 |
Verify proper operation of the door closing system.
- Outside Handle
- Inside Handle
- Manual lock/unlatch
- Outside Key Cylinder
- Inside latch knob
- Double pull handle
- Power lock/unlatch
- Door opening/closing effort
Is the condition still present? |
Go to Step 1 |
System OK |