The suicide door on the drivers side is stuck. The top latch will release, but the bottom won't. I noticed that there is a little play in the door handle.

Any suggestions on how to fix this. It is really a big pain having to go to the other side all the time to get in the back.

Thanks

 

Try seeing if you can shoot a bunch of penetrating oil at the area. My tailgate had a similar issue - one side wouldn't release. A bit of WD or something like that and it works like new.

 

I just fixed mine.

Basically the drivers side external handle (the one on the jamb) physically moves the latch mech inside. When it moves it, it moves it counterclockwise. This in turn loosens the bolt holding it onto the spindle/spring.

To fix:
Remove door panel (1 torx in the inner handle area, 2 phillips in the pull handle) and a panel removal tool to undo the 11 or so christmas tree fasteners and then there are 3 metal on metal push retainers on the rear upper frame.

Once you look inside, peel back the vapor barrier (i cut mine out and replaced it with 3m material) and look in the hole. Also, remove the lower vent/flap assembly (one xmas fastener, then it'll drop out, turn 90 deg and remove).

You'll see a rod going from the lower and upper latches to the mechanism in the middle. Fiddle with the handle and see how much free play each has.

On the mechanism, you'll see a barbed end of those rods fed into some clips on the rotating mechanism. Turning the rod will not move it up and down (taking up slack). Put a flat head screwdriver tween the rod and the clip holding it in, and pop it out. Then move the rod the appropriate direction to remove the slack, and re-press it into place. wiggle again. adjust again. etc etc. You don't have to shut the door to check operation either. You can manually shut each latch 2 clicks while the door is open, and the handle will work.

After it's adjusted to your liking, pull the 10mm bolt holding the rotator on the spindle (don't let the rotator fall off, it's a bear to put that spring on), and put some loctite on the threads, then put the bolt back in.



Passenger side, do the same, however the mech rotates clockwise in there, and shouldn't loosen the bolt holding it all together.


As for the inner handle, it's cable operated to the main mechanism.

When I tore mine apart, both ends of the cable had the retaining portion of the mount snapped off (thereby the cable wouldn't stay aligned to pull the mechanism correctly).

So, I opted to just not replace em ($35 from dealer, each) as I never have passengers.

The outside handles work just fine now.

PM if any questions.
__________________

 

More info.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...uad+door+latch