When I viewed the car, I noticed the screws securing the drivers door latch were slightly loose. Over the weekend I thought I'd tighten them, result being that the door wouldn't lock.
For now, I've slackened them again, but it convinced me it would be a good idea to get the passenger door locks working correctly. Besides the levers feeling stiff to operate, the key barrel had pushed in so this seemed a good place to start. A nice quick and easy job the get my ownership underway.Fault was simply the M6 bolt coming out. Route cause seemed to be the securing plate was badly worn where the star washer would normally grip, so this has been refitted with a countersunk screw with SS star washer underneath. Time will tell if that holds. I think it will.
Readers familiar with Toyota door handles will know whats coming next. Yes the rear nutsert was broken out. Quite a job getting the handle out and whats that vertical pin all about
Can't see it does much other than make dismantling very difficult when its seized in. Anyway, creative repair with an M6 threaded insert ( readily available from Screwfix) more usually used pressed into wood. I needed to add a 4mm "extension", but otherwise it bonded in well and the spikes on the outside fit against the webs of the original part, so should help resist torsion.
All now good, started re-assembly, lock working well, but neither internal nor external door open lever would work ( fortunately I'd actuated the latch with door open to check things - Phew. Spent the next 2 hours removing the latch and I really don't know how I would have done it if the door was latched closed). It looks like everything is just very worn. Once removed, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Interestingly, the internal plate was slightly bent, and when I clamped it to the nylon, it locked up, which is same symptoms I saw on the drivers door. In the end concluded nothing to be lost by drilling out the rivit pivot, so I can clean, deburr and grease it all properly. Picture of the internals, which no one normally sees below if anyone interested.
I think I have a plan to re-assemble it, but if all else fails LB are only 45 minutes away. I'll report in my next post if it works.
So, thats my first day of "on the road" Excel ownership. Wise words by those on the forum warning about the distraction from my Elite restoration
But I do like this sort of stuff and generally they are only a day or two tasks.Tony
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