Club 80-90 Forums

I'm having a problem with the door popping open at inopportune times when going over small bumps in the road. I'll eventually hit an oncoming vehicle if I don't get it fixed. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, what was the fix? Are replacement latch mechanisms available for T25's? Mine is an '83.

Latches are a used( I have some) but first try lubricating the latch

Thanks David. I tried lubricating the latch but if anything it made the problem worse.

I’m guessing that a spring in the catch mechanism has likely broken, and so locking latch is not positively engaging when the door closes and is working itself open in transit from the vibration. I don’t think these catches are available as new parts so I would suggest you look for a good secondhand example and try swapping it out.

Thanks clift_d. I'll try to find an old one.

David, have you any interest in selling one of yours?

I tool the latch mechanism off. It needed a good clean after many years of use. This took some time. Here are the before and after shots.


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After cleaning:



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You’re instincts about a broken spring were correct clift_d:



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Here’s where it came from:



I stretched the longer piece, cleaned out the channel it was in and reinstalled it (not easy to get out or in).

The latching mechanism is working much better now so hopefully it will last until I can find a new latch or a spring.


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what is the part number on the lock, starts 251 or 252 and has a suffix letter at the end
251 837 016 B is rhd drivers door for your year (drivers door can only be locked with key)
I may have one spare

Hi Aidan. The part number on the lock is 252 837 016 X.

Hi Aidan. The reinstalled latch seems to be working fine so don’t go to any trouble. If it hangs in there I won’t bother changing it out.

Thanks, Ciaran.


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Ciaraneng wrote:If it hangs in there I won’t bother changing it out.

It’s your decision, but I wouldn’t take any chances if it were me, i.e. I’d look for a replacement. The integrity of the impact protection to the cab relies on the stiffness of the doors transferring the force of the collision back into the rest of the body shell, which they wouldn’t be able to do if they pop open on impact for any reason.

Ciaraneng wrote:You’re instincts about a broken spring were correct clift_d:



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mine was doing it on way to work I used 2 pen springs interwoven together for right length been fine a year now


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