Door lock slider help

[02PewterBird]

I can't get the slider that locks the doors to snap on tight on the driver's side, and it rattles.

When I was trying to get the passenger one off I couldn't move it so I went to Circuit City and they used this screwdriver thing with a 90 degree bend at the end to pop it off. It went back on when I was done without me even thinking about it.

I borrowed the tool and took the drivers one off and did it easily in about 30 seconds. The problem now is that now matter how hard I try it won't snap back on. We tried without the trim piece on and it snapped on tight and was really hard to get off even when it was completely exposed using a normal screwdriver. It snapped on tight enough to where it won't come off without a tool, but it won't go on any further like it should.

Is there a way to force it on? There isn't enough room to fit anything that could squeeze it in there, so I'm limited to pushing it in with my own hands.

[user1101]

I struggled with this last weekend. Here's two tips:

The slider is just a piece of plastic, it has some give to it. Try mounting it and unmounting it on the guide wire with the trim plastic piece out of the way. Do it a dozens times or so to "loosen up the fit."

When you're ready to reinstall it for good, half-*** mount the door paneling to the door frame, and reach around the back of the paneling to secure the slider. You should be able to pinch the plastic and guide wire with your fingers if its 'broken in' enough. It's almost a two-person job - one to hold the door paneling close to its final mounting position, and the other to pinch the plastic.

Did that make sense? Did I mention mine still doesnt work quite right? [img]graemlins/dunce.gif[/img]

More fun stuff to keep me busy on the weekend. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[02PewterBird]

After playing around with the thing for quite a while I realized that it's actually on as far as it can go. I can feel behind the slider on both sides and the metal bar sticks out just as far, but something is holding the passenger side one really tight. I didn't think about it before, but I think the drivers side one actually was this loose before I ever took it off.

[img]graemlins/dunce.gif[/img]