Rear Door - High Closing Effort
Article No.93-14-2
07/07/93
DOOR - REAR - HIGH CLOSING EFFORTS - DIAGNOSIS AND SERVICE TIPS
FORD:
1989-93 TAURUS
LINCOLN-MERCURY:
1989-93 SABLE
ISSUE:
Rear door closing efforts may be high because of improper door alignment.
ACTION:
If service is required, readjust the rear door using the following diagnostic and service procedures.
NOTE:
CLOSING EFFORT CONDITIONS ARE OFTEN MISLEADING. OTHER CONDITIONS, SUCH AS HIGH FORCES REQUIRED TO MOVE THE DOOR THROUGH THE INTERMEDIATE CHECK AND A LOOSE SEPARATING BOLT (TSB 93-2-3) MAY CAUSE THE CUSTOMER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE EFFORT IT TAKES TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THEREFORE, CAREFUL, SPECIFIC QUESTIONING, EVEN CUSTOMER DEMONSTRATION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC CONCERN.
GENERAL DIAGNOSIS
1. Check the movement of the door, up or down, as the latch releases the striker. The up or down movement of the door will happen in the first 1-3 mm (0.040-0.120") of outward movement of the door. Apply sufficient inward pressure to keep the door from popping or bouncing outboard. This will enable proper identification of up or down movement of the door.
2. Check the relationship of door top to roof drip rail seal (shed lip) for tight fit, Figure 1.
3. Check the primary door opening seal gap for proper dimension, Figure 1. Tight seal gap can cause high closing efforts.
4. Check to ensure that the striker is not binding in the latch assembly.
5. Check the torque of the hinge bolts that secure the hinge to the B-pillar. This step will be performed when none of the above conditions exist.
6. After one or more of the previous conditions have been identified, use the following service procedure that outlines the repair for that area of the door.
NOTE:
BEFORE MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DOOR, LOWER THE DOOR GLASS COMPLETELY. ALL MOVEMENTS ARE TO BE MADE IN SMALL INCREMENTS, 1.0 MM (0.40").
UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT OF DOOR
1. Open the door and check for up or down movement as the latch releases the striker. The up or down movement of the door will occur in the first 1-3 mm (.040-.120") as the door opens.
a. Apply sufficient pressure to the outside of door to stop it from popping open too fast. This will help in observing the up or down movement of the door.
b. If there is up or down movement, go to Step 2, if not, proceed to the following Tight Fit part of this article.
2. Loosen the striker just enough to permit free movement of the door.
3. Holding the door in its closed position, check the alignment of the character line/pin stripe between the door and quarter panel.
4. If the the character line/pin stripes do not match up, proceed as follows:
a. Loosen the upper hinge body bolts slightly.
b. Adjust the rear edge of the door up or down until character line/pin stripes match up.
5. Tighten hinge bolts to 18-16 lb.ft. (27-35 N-m). Also, check lower hinge bolts and tighten if necessary.
6. Align striker to latch and tighten into position (33-45 N-m).
7. Check the glass frame fit above the belt for proper margin and flushness.
a. If the margins are off, adjust the door glass frame with the door open.
b. Lightly tap the inner side of the frame near the top where the glass channel is mounted using a rubber mallet.
c. Tap in the direction the frame has to move, forward or rearward. See Figure 2.
TIGHT FIT - DOOR TOP TO SHED LIP WEATHERSTRIP
1. Excessive sealer build up on the flange where the shed lip weatherstrip is mounted can cause improper installation of the shed lip weatherstrip. If excessive sealer is found, scrape it off of flange. This action may require touch up for corrosion purposes.
2. Check for bent or distorted mounting flanges which can effect installation of the weatherstrip. Straighten the flange as needed.
3. The door top to roof margin should be about 0.20" (5.0 mm). To achieve proper margin and flushness...
a. Open the door.
b. Lightly tap the door top frame with a rubber mallet in the direction the frame has to move, inboard/outboard, Figure 2.
TIGHT PRIMARY SEAL GAP
1. Before measuring the seal gap, make sure the door glass frame is flush with the quarter panel and front door. The seal gap should be 0.55 +/- 0.18" (14.0 +/- 4.5 mm).
2. To measure the primary seal gap proceed as follows:
a. Pull the weatherstrip off the mounting flange above the belt as far as possible.
b. Close the door and measure the distance between the surface of the door that the seal seats on and the flange that the weatherstrip is mounted to. See Figure 1.
3. Adjust the seal mounting flange in or out to achieve the proper seal gap. Use a mallet and a block of wood to pound the flange inboard or outboard as required.
4. Reinstall the weatherstrip onto the mounting flange.
STRIKER BINDING IN LATCH ASSEMBLY
1. Shim (N804243-S) striker to move the striker forward in vehicle position to allow proper alignment of the striker to the latch.
2. Tighten to 33-45 N-m. See Figure 1.
PART NUMBER PART NAME CLASS
N804243-S Shim C
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: 93-2-3
WARRANTY STATUS:
Eligible Under Basic Warranty Coverage
OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
931402AT Inspection To Determine 0.4 Hr.
Which Repair Is Required
(Both Doors)
931402A Inspection To Determine 0.3 Hr.
Which Repair Is Required
(One Door)
931402BT Repair Up Or Down 0.5 Hr.
Movement Of Door
(Both Doors)
931402B Repair Up Or Down 0.3 Hr.
Movement Of Door
(One Door)
931402CT Repair Tight Fit - Door Top 0.4 Hr.
To Shed Lip Weatherstrip
(Both Doors)
931402C Repair Tight Fit - Door Top 0.3 Hr.
To Shed Lip Weatherstrip
(One Door)
931402DT Repair Tight Primary Seal 0.4 Hr.
Gap (Both Doors)
931402D Repair Tight Primary Seal 0.3 Hr.
Gap (One Door)
931402ET Adjust Striker - Binding In 0.4 Hr.
Latch Assembly (Both
Doors)
931402E Adjust Striker - Binding In 0.3 Hr.
Latch Assembly (One Door)
DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
7026802 07
OASIS CODES: 111000, 112000