Sliding Door Problem

ANYTHING FROM BUFFING YOUR PAINT TO REPLACING A DASH PANEL
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meetthespeakers
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Sliding Door Problem

Post by meetthespeakers »

Not sure if anyone has had this problem and found a fix. My sliding door is extremely hard to open. Is it the weather stripping? Or is there any adjustment you can make to the door? It's like you have to pull out and slide... Any thoughts?
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1993 Astro, 1973 Austin Mini Clubman Estate, 1980 Trabant, 1961 Morris Minor
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Smiliesafari
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Re: Sliding Door Problem

Post by Smiliesafari »

On my 97 Astro the handle is connected to the lower latch by a cable. There is a plastic bushing holding the cable in place. The plastic bushing rotted away and that left too much slack in the cable to unlatch the door. My fix for that was to use a flat washer in place of the bushing. Cut a slot in the flat washer. Slide the cable through the slot so the cable is now in the flat washer and with some pliers squeeze the slot closed. The washer has to be small enough so the swedged end of the cable won't slide through. The door works fine. The flat washer won't rot away.
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Rileysowner
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Re: Sliding Door Problem

Post by Rileysowner »

Smilesafari, could you post a pic?
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Smiliesafari
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Re: Sliding Door Problem

Post by Smiliesafari »

If it doesn't rain all day tomorrow I'll get some pics. Weather report isn't all good.
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Water Boy
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Re: Sliding Door Problem

Post by Water Boy »

meetthespeakers wrote:Not sure if anyone has had this problem and found a fix. My sliding door is extremely hard to open. Is it the weather stripping? Or is there any adjustment you can make to the door? It's like you have to pull out and slide... Any thoughts?
Do you mean as in having to reach up to the top rear corner of the door and pull it towards you to get the back edge of the door to "pop out"?
I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.
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meetthespeakers
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Re: Sliding Door Problem

Post by meetthespeakers »

Waterboy, I have to pull out toward the top front. I wish it weren't so cold out so I could do a thorough inspection as to why this is happening, my initial thought was that the door was sealed to tightly at the top where the weather stripping is, but maybe it is the latching mechanism...
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1993 Astro, 1973 Austin Mini Clubman Estate, 1980 Trabant, 1961 Morris Minor

Water Boy
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Location: Canton/Holly Springs GA (Atlanta)

Re: Sliding Door Problem

Post by Water Boy »

I did a write up not long ago on how I removed the body trim to gain full access to the roller assy and other points to lube.

Since you say the top front I'm not sure if my fix will help yours.
But it could not hurt.
I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.

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Re: Sliding Door Problem

Post by 6spd_monte »

I have the exact problem that WaterBoy described in his first post. I have to pull the rear edge of the slider away from the van before the door will slide open. I've just been dealing with it for quite a while because I haven't had the time to investigate it.
If there's a quick fix I would be most greatfull.
Smilesafari, is this the issue you fixed with the washer?
-James

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Wiley
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Re: Sliding Door Problem

Post by Wiley »

I added pics of the interior sliding door mechanisms here in a similar thread:

Sliding door frozen shut will not open
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