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Chevy Cobalt Latch Bent, door wont shut.


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RavenZaiyo
New User

Nov 30, 2021, 8:33 PM

Post #1 of 3 (753 views)
Chevy Cobalt Latch Bent, door wont shut. Sign In

Forgive me but i'm not the most literate in automotive lingo. I have a 2007 chevy cobalt, 2-door. The door panel had fallen off the driver door over a year ago and we've just been living with it, at a loss for time or equipment to fix it. Today, my partner went out, door wouldn't close, so he slammed it several times, expecting that to help. Seems it made it worse. In all the videos we found on youtube, all you need is a screwdriver to move the latch. Isn't working for us. The latch is stuck in the middle. Following the directions of this video (Link deleted) he managed to budge it a little more, but not enough to get it to latch.

Due to the fact he slammed it several times, the latch appears to be upside down compared to the opposite door's latch. Assuming it's bent to the point of replacement. The bolts holding the door together are rusted and can't be removed, though, so we're having trouble doing so. Good news is there're no electrical components in the door, not even automatic windows, so there's less danger of screwing anything else up.

If anyone has any advice or video links that would be helpful in this situation, i'd be appreciative. We've gone through most of the videos on youtube we could find and he's still trying to fix it...


(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Dec 1, 2021, 5:17 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 30, 2021, 10:39 PM

Post #2 of 3 (739 views)
Re: Chevy Cobalt Latch Bent, door wont shut. Sign In

:-) Your "lingo" is just fine it varies by the day and area or how angry a car makes you!

#1 - Don't slam doors. #2 is lube hinges and latches at doors 10 years before this happened and it wouldn't have - of course it's too late.

What to do now: Lift the door up at the risk of chipping paint just get it open and access to the latch. If need be take that out totally it's probably trashed. Good luck finding a new one LUBE THE HECK OUT OF THOSE - any but GMs at times on crack or something about this junk.

Look at hinge at front of it. Is that welded or bolted on? With lots of foul language you can fix those with a pin repair set or even bend it I think all were welded about then.

Get the panel back if need be with a good look this now in the desperate stage of a busted up panel no doubt "sheet rock" screws with a washer at select spots are good sh*t box fakes.

Go easy with YouBoob videos. OMG the BS never ends on that up to totally wrong. Careful it's becoming a bad joke "Certified Mechanic by YouTube" so AYOR.

Think, think, think - you can outsmart it with a good fake as long as you need it to work,

Tom :-)



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 1, 2021, 5:22 AM

Post #3 of 3 (715 views)
Re: Chevy Cobalt Latch Bent, door wont shut. Sign In

First, I deleted your youtube link. They are not allowed in this forum.


Quote
Due to the fact he slammed it several times, the latch appears to be upside down compared to the opposite door's latch. Assuming it's bent to the point of replacement.


You didn't bend the latch. It's high strength steel. You may have damaged the inside of the latch itself but you didn't bend the hook part. It's probably still in the locked position. The screwdriver trick will work but you have to be holding the outside door handle open as you do it.



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