Drivers door latch does not work properly in cold weather

[74 Thing]

For some reason my drivers door latch does not work properly when it gets around 36 degrees or below. I cannot figure out why. When I try to shut the door sometimes it will not catch and sometimes when it does it only will not close the door all the way and it rattles. If I open the door and try to check the latch on the door by pushing the latch down with my finger there is two stops-one at like 45 degrees and one all the way down. Is there suppse to be two stops or only one-all the way down? I have taken the latch mechanism out of the door and cleaned and put back on the door but it has not helped. Any suggestions would be appreciated-maybe the latch just needs to be replaced. Sorry for the confusing description of the problem.

[surfarii]

If I close my door hard and do not lock it it will go to the rattle mode as well as soon as I hit any kind of bump. Locking it after I close it tight always works for me.

As far as your door working different in colder weather maybe it has something to do with the metal contracting in the cold and expanding in the warmth

If you move over here (Oahu) it might solve your problem.

[74 Thing]

Do you have a place to rent me and a place I can get work-I will be on the boat tomorrow :).

I know what you mean. I rarely use my door locks and a few times in cold weather the driver dor has popped open when driving in the cold. That will wake you up!

[Gary]

Your door latch mechanism is most likely full of dirt and old grease. Remove it and give it a thorough cleaning with mineral spirits and a wire brush. This will help remove the old grease. Then, use lithium grease (not wheel bearing grease) and lubricate all moving parts, metal-on-metal contact areas, and pack the coil spring with fresh lithium grease. Unlike wheel bearing grease, lithium grease will not "harden" in the frigid cold.
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West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

[74 Thing]

Damn sticky door latch-I will give it another shot at cleaning again. I am not too certian where the lubrication points are on the latch.

[Gary]

With the latch removed, clean it up really good. You may want to soak it in a container of mineral spirits for 30 minutes or even overnight. A parts washer works best. Then, like I said, grease all areas where you see metal-on-metal contact as well as packing the coil spring. That's all there is to it.
_________________
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

[74 Thing]

Thanks guys-I cleaned and lubed the latches again. I guess it actually had been a while since I did it last although it felt like I just did it. I guess with the mechanism exposed like it is on the Thing this is just part of the maintenance. I only wish I used something other then mineral spirits since the cabin smells like you know what. Thanks again.