Have you ever taken anything apart and wished you had taken better notes or photos? I have.
This post is part of a continuing series of posts that detail the internal construction of various things. This is not intended to be step-by-step instructions for repair/removal/disassembly/etc. Rather, I hope this post (and future posts) can serve as a reference for people who would like visual clues in making their own repairs.
See Also...
What's Inside: Door Handles
Window Channel Tab and Door Skin Crack
Left Side (Driver's US) Door
I never had the door latch mechanism apart (I'm the second owner since 1999). I believe this was the first time any of the door latch/handle stuff was apart since Germany.
- Driver's Door Lock/Latch
- 01 PXL_20220628_165700355.jpg (137.06 KiB) Viewed 337 times
Door Lock Motor
Behind the door lock motor is another black plate that probably makes "slim-jim" style door lock attacks slightly more difficult. I don't have separate photos of its removal, though it is straight forward.
The ball end of the nylon rod (that connects the power lock motor to the door latch mechanism) has a small clip that helps keep the ball end secured on its ball. That clip is known to fail and break away, which has happened here. If the nylon rod falls off its ball, the lock/unlock functionality also fails, naturally.
This nylon rod does not have distinct left/right part numbers.
left or right pn: 944-537-511-00-M100
- Door Lock Motor 01
- 02 PXL_20220628_170133464.jpg (103.53 KiB) Viewed 337 times
- Door Lock Motor 02
- 03 20221206_125922-COLLAGE.jpg (146.58 KiB) Viewed 337 times
Door Latch Block
- Door Latch Block
- 04 20221206_130056-COLLAGE.jpg (143.21 KiB) Viewed 337 times
Aft Window Channel
It should not be possible to remove the aft window channel quite so easily. The part circled in green is supposed to stay attached to the door. It is held on with two spot welds, both of which had failed on mine. For better photos of that part, and more information, see Window Channel Tab and Door Skin Crack.
There is a fastener that secures the black window channel to the part circled in green (and another one at the bottom of the channel, not shown). It may be possible to remove that fastener without removing the window. But removing the window is easy. Consider avoiding the hassle and just get it out of the way.
- Aft Window Channel
- 05 PXL_20220628_172713622.jpg (272.24 KiB) Viewed 337 times
Door Interior 01
The (very dirty) nylon part circled in purple has a separate left/right part number. I'm not sure which is which.
477-837-505-A-OEM
477-837-506-A-OEM
The black plastic part circled in orange is called the "Door Latch Socket". It does not have distinct left/right part numbers.
Left or Right pn: 999-168-004-40-OEM
- Door Interior 01
- 06 PXL_20220628_172756072.jpg (182.18 KiB) Viewed 337 times
Door Interior 02
A slightly different perspective.
- Door Interior 02
- 07 PXL_20220628_172808858.jpg (260.94 KiB) Viewed 337 times
Door Handle Removal
- Door Handle Removal
- 08 20221206_135403-COLLAGE.jpg (178.7 KiB) Viewed 337 times
Interior Door Pull
- Interior Door Pull
- 08 PXL_20220628_175641117.jpg (102.38 KiB) Viewed 337 times
Complete Door Latch and Handle, Exploded
- Complete Door Latch and Handle, Exploded
- 09 PXL_20220628_183435662.jpg (409.84 KiB) Viewed 337 times
