Door Latch Problem

[challenger440]

I've been trying to fix my drivers side door latch. When I lift on the door handle to open it, the door latch falls all the way down to where it goes when the door's closed. I have to manually lift up the latch before closing it or it bangs against the strike. I took off the interior panel to check it out and do some work on the window but couldnt tell what wasnt working. I think there should be a spring to keep the latch from falling but cant see where it would be. Cant find exploded diagram in my manual either. Also cant tell much of a difference from the passenger side that DOES work.

Anyone have any ideas? Would rather not take the whole thing apart if it can be fixed easily...but I'm afraid it wont be.

[challenger440]

Took the whole latch out. Turns out a wound return spring mounted on one of the rivets holding everything together broke off. Dont see a way to fix it unless I drill the rivet out and replace it...wherever I would get one. Not sure if they can just be taken out without destroying it. Either that or will "rig" it until I can find a whole new latch.

[Cranky]

Yeah, those were not made to be serviced but you might have to. Finding a spring that would work shouldn't be too hard because those kinds of springs are made for all kinds of equipment. A few years ago I found a huge assortment of springs at a garage sale and bought them all for 2 bucks....

[challenger440]

OK, glad it's not just me since they're not meant to be serviced. I happened across a hardware/fastener company going out of business so I hope I can find something cheap. Only issue will be that rivet holding the assembly together, which I think will have to be destroyed in order to fix it. We will see!

[Cranky]

I would think it wouldn't be too hard to find another latch....maybe from a B body? About that time, the B bodies were changed over to the wing less doors too and most of the car lines shared similar hardware like that.

[challenger440]

Ya I will definitely be on the look out. Didnt think that other models might use the same latch, but makes sense. I'll check the FBBO too.