OT - van door latch

[Stormin Mormon]

The drivers door on my 1995 Chevrolet van has been trouble, since I got it. The keyhole turns, but the latch on the edge of the door is miserable sluggish. I've tried WD, Silicone, white lithium, atf, and gosh knows what else. Tried cleaning it with brake cleaner, etc.

What's a good lubricant that lasts more than a week? I spray it with stuff, cycle the inside lock button up and down, and the lock frees up. A week later, it's nearly impossible to open from outside with a key (the latch part is sluggish).

I think the last time this happened, different vehicle, I had to take the latch out, and scrub it with hot water and brush and oven cleaner, to clean it all out. Can't remember what I used for lube.

What works?

[philoÂÂ]

What you may need to do is take the door apart, clean the components and coat with a dry film lubricant. It's essentially painted on and though it won't last forever should not wear off in a day or two either.

When you get the door open you may find one of the pieces to be deformed slightly and the cause of your problem.

That said, taking a door apart is usually a PITA.

[Stormin Mormon]

This one isn't too bad. It's a work van, and I've had plenty of door panels off.

I'd not considered deformed. Could be. Sadly, the lubes I've tried each last about a week. After I get all the old crud out, I may pack it with wheel bearing grease.

[NotMe]

Take it to a lock smith (or do it yourself) for a good cleaning, I expect that someone has been using replacement keys made of aluminum.

The problem is alumumum dust oxidizing and gumming up the works. My son is a lock smith and alumimum keys are the best thing that happened to his service industry. Easy to fix = excellent money.

[Stormin Mormon]

1) I actually AM a locksmith. 2) the sluggish part is about 12 inches away from where the key operates.

Your answer is valid in many cases, but not in this case.

[Dean Hoffman]

You should pay yourself more. Ya know the old saying that you get what you pay for. Someone else mentioned binding. Maybe the lube is covering up the actual problem. Would a file solve your problem?

[Stormin Mormon]

I'm too poor to pay myself any more.

Don't know about the file. I had a lock I worked on, couple weeks ago. Sluggish, so I spray lubed it. Worked fine for about a week. Had to take it off the door, blast it out with solvent, and relube. Then, it worked.

I suspect this old latch is full of old lube, and keeps drying up. This week coming up is supposed to be snow and bitter cold, so I'll keep applying WD every day or two, to get by.

Thanks for an idea, might be what's needed.

[Vic Smith]

I've had good luck with motor oil. Had a Chevy under warranty with a sticking lock. They lubed it up with GM brand lock lube. Longest lasting fix I had, then I went to motor oil which was next best and handy. Use an oil can, and wipe off excess.

[Stormin Mormon]

I tried ATF, already. By lock, you mean where you put the key in? On my van, the latch is sluggish, about a foot below the key cylinder.

[Vic Smith]

Everywhere. Latch and lock mechanism.