new (to me) 1995 80... door no workie so good

[gifu]

hi all... i just picked up my first 80 series. 1995 FJZ80 with 191K, lockers, OME, ARB. The truck is..... tired: rear bumper missing, roof rack torn off the top, a/c can thingy busted (behind the bumper), fenders cracked or missing, bald tires, no stereo, ABS light is on, etc etc.

It's beat... but it was cheap.

The first fix on the list is the driver's door. I have searched and found nothing... the problem is that the door will not catch. The mechanism just keeps opening (like some invisible gnome is holding the door flipper up). Before I order an entire new mechanism, has anyone seen or heard of this problem?

thanks.

 

[Biff]

Sounds like a good deal, how much did you pay?

 

[JerryLX450]

Got pic of it?

 

[TLC42TD]

Sounds like a fun project. Would like to see some pictures in the "before / untouched / as purchased" stage.

 

[sonoranfun]

I had door issues, I would look for the thread a few weeks back or search my name and check that first as I could for sure see how the same issue could happen in reverse...

 

[Shipwreck]

Hey Sully, Welcome to the club. I just bought my first 80 back in May and have already started a few mods. Should be ready for the rubicon by next summer.

As Sonoranfun mentioned, he had a pretty good write up on the door lock mechanism. Check it out, as the pictures might help.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=55406&highlight=door+latch

In your case, I would look to a grounding problem. Does your door indicator light or dome light come on before the door unlocks? I had a similar problem with mine as did several other people here. It turned out to be a bad ground at the "door closed" indicator switch in the door frame. Unscrew the switch , pull it out and chase the threads on the bolt and in the frame. Put it back and see if that helps.

BTW - Was this the cruiser down in Santa Cruz/Watsonville that showed up on craigslist recently? If so, that sounded like a cheapass price!
-Craig

 

[gifu]

hey Craig, didn't know you had one of these family trucksters. Cool.

yes, this was the one in the Santa Cruz mtns. The PO is a "backwoods realtor"... he used it to show property along Summit road (lots of muddy, off-camber fire roads twisting through the redwoods).

couldn't pass up a lifted, locked 80 for 3K.

It's not that the door lock mechanism doesn't work. The door mechanism doesn't work. I'm using shoelace to hold the door closed.

i just read Sonoranfun's post... that will be very helpful. I plan on taking this apart soon... but first I need to get my V860 back together and sell it. anyone looking for a cleanish 1985 TBI V8 with nv4500?

 

[gifu]

started tinkering with the 80... not fully getting into it as I need to get the TBI60 back together and to the painter.

things wrong so far: driver's door latch mechanism... is a piece of s###. mostly plastic. little spring in there wore all the way _through_ the plastic, was sticking out the side like something out of "Alien", and thus doesn't latch. was able to "patch" the hole with some thin stainless (from a piece of a hose clamp, glue, couple spot welds, etc. Why bother? new one is $300.

wiring. well, first off, after parked for 3 days, the battery is at 6volts. I hope... that the owner just gave me a POS battery. But, his son had installed (and took back out) a "really neat" stereo system (warning signs!). I hope he didn't screw up the wiring. Judging by some of the wiring I found... like the main battery lead going to the fuse box patched with speaker wire and duck tape... there very well could be a nasty short somewhere in there.

ARB bumper on front... I was leaning against it to work on above wiring, and realize it's loose. That must be the noise I hear. I investigate a little, and find one... 1... bolt holding it on. but I'm sure it's a strong bolt.

well, i knew what I was getting into when I bought this, so I'm keeping my sense of humor.