Latch on hood release door

gkb

gkb

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I am not even sure what to call this. Whenever I go over a bump the hood release door (near my left knee) pops open. I am sure this is a combination of a) my driving, b) Baltimore streets and c) a tweaked suspension. Apart from a duct tape solution is there any benefit in replacing the latch - is it available? Or are there other solutions? Is this a common problem?

Many thanks. Nice to get the coupe out of the garage for a drive. Looking forward to Vintage in the Vineyards.
 
I presume that you have the black turning knob (I have seen the chromed push button variety as well). The return spring might be tired or broken. Open the latch and turn the knob to see at what point it opens/closes the wings that keep the latch closed.
It might be that you need to turn the know manually upon closing the latch, just to ensure that the wings engage correctly.
I have this scenario on one of my cars.
 
Old thread new problem: my door was doing the surprise open trick; then one day the black rotating knob fell out and then the little black plastic catch and the associated spring fell out too; I can get it back together but i can't get the black plastic rotating knob to stay in place. It appears there is some other mechanism to hold that in its bore, but I can't find that part. Any suggestions/photos welcome!
 
I took the latch assy out of the door that hides the hood latch (unnecessary complication not seen in any other vehicle). There is some kind of retaining pin/clip that holds the rotating cam in the barrel but it seems to have vaporized. I just improvised for now, but I sure would like to see what the missing bit(s) are. Perhaps one has to buy the entire latch assy? WN shows it as a complete assy. Also there appears to be some sort of wire stay that prevents the door falling too far ... it's missing in my car. I used a little bungee cord as a temp solution for that. Finally there is a plug in there for some kind of trouble shooting lamp? Which I don't have. Small thing, big headache.
 
2002turbo said:
Old thread new problem: my door was doing the surprise open trick; then one day the black rotating knob fell out and ....
Click to expand...
Hmm - I wonder if that's the original latch. Mine has a chrome, push-button, not a black, rotating knob.

23002turbo said:
there appears to be some sort of wire stay that prevents the door falling too far ... it's missing in my car.
Click to expand...

You could bend one of those up from an old coat hanger - it's a pretty simple part. Do you have the fixture on the door that catches the wire loop?
 
Yeah I see that it's just some wire bent into a simple shape. If you mean those two plastic parts that attach to the bracket on the door, I do not. I do have a lathe though. My bigger problem is the latch; specifically how they retain that latch in its barrel. Mine fell out, I found the little spring and the plastic lug but not the retaining clip/spring whatever. And apparently they used both types, the push type and the twist type. Mine is the twist type.
 
I *think * I do have an e3 door, i remember it has a black twist lock as well.

I can check if i have it still wednesday. . Least i can do is check it for you, figure out how it retains itself, and you can see if you can fab something similar. If it is matching and not easy to fab you can buy the clip/thingy and get the rest of the e3 box for free :-)
(Provided I still have it...)

Wild guess while 500 miles away from my car; a simple C-clip?

Pic borrowedfeom @TomHom showing both types; twist (chrome) and turn(black)
 

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Such a small thing but so annoying when you are driving and the door falls open ... esp if you don't have the stay.
 
my 1972 coupe (July 1972 production) was very original, it has the black knob. Certainly possible that the original owner could have changed, but unlikely.
 
jmackro said:
Hmm - I wonder if that's the original latch. Mine has a chrome, push-button, not a black, rotating knob.



You could bend one of those up from an old coat hanger - it's a pretty simple part. Do you have the fixture on the door that catches the wire loop?
Click to expand...
Eeek, coat hangar wire is pretty crappy stuff. It bends easily and has little strength and would thus likely not retain its shape very long leading to more frustration.
A TIG welding rod of the right diameter would work well, but I think I'd choose one of stainless steel to prevent any corrosion. My 2 ¢.
 
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