Door latch

[Arkansawer]

I did a search and couldnt find what i was looking for. How do the door latches work on a P23? I can get the doors to close, although they arent completely flush but are pretty close, but the latch wont catch. After i shut the door i can just pull on the handle and itll open, on both doors. With the door open and i turn the handle, i dont even see anything move.

Can anyone explain this latch system to me? Also, is there way to get a picture of the latch on the door, and the catch on the door jam so i can make sure im not missing anything. The drivers side handle droops, would that have anything to do with it or not?

Thanks in advance

Torrey

Told yall id be asking ALOT of questions.

[Arkansawer]

Yeah that little rotor turns freely by hand, but doesnt turn at all on either door by any handle.

On the door jam (B pillar) i have a flat block, is that the latch? How is the rotor on the door suppose to catch that flat block?

[Plymouthy Adams]

if you have free movement in the rotor..this will allow the door to shut but as you say...will never seem tight...also look close at the rotor itsself for wear..if you have grooves..time to replace for this reason also...

[oldmopar]

try this link for some information that may help

http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Lit/Master/047/page22.htm

[Arkansawer]

Alright, i think i may have figured out half the problem. The part in the above picture that is circled on the latch, mine is either broke and half gone or completely gone.

Now another thing, is the little rotor doesnt move when the handles (inner or outer) are pulled or turned, on either door. Whats missing or broke that will cause the rotor to not turn with the handles?

And what is a good site to get parts, that arent completely outrageous.

[Arkansawer]

Ok i was thinking the rotor will move with the handle, that clears that up.

The rotor moves pretty easily with or without touching the handle. The catch spring on the latch doesnt seem to be as thick as the one in the pic. Ill try and get out there in the daytime and take a picture of it if thatll help. But the latch looks to be about half as thick as the picture.

[Normspeed]

The rotor is a two sided affair, and it's possible the hidden side has one or more broken teeth. I went through that on my 53. The driver door is the one that wears out first due to all the opening and closing. passenger side rotors are not the same. I've heard on the suicide door models that the right rear latch assembly might work on the left front but I would want to compare part numbers before buying.

[Arkansawer]

So can i get the rotor assembly and the latch at any auto place, or is there a place online thats not outrageous?

It would make sense that the right rear would work on the front driver, but im like youd id want to see for myself. Visually, yeah it would work without a problem.

[Normspeed]

I was lucky and found a good used assembly on ebay for a fair price. I kept my old assembly with the broken rotor, and some day I'll look into switching in a good rotor from a left rear latch. However there appear to be some springs and stuff inside and I may never get it back together. It doesn't appear to be made for rebuilding.

[Normspeed]

Oldmopar gave me this list of part numbers for the door latches, might be of some use to you in comparing what will fit. Looks like yours will interchange with any Mopar product of the same years. Mine was a Plymouth only part for 53-54.