Beetle doors not staying closed

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AlanH
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Beetle doors not staying closed

Post by AlanH »

Hi Guys,
Anyone have any advice where to look why my Beetle doors don't stay closed while driving on a gravel road? Initially I thought it was the nearly 60 year old hard grease, but I have cleaned it all out and re-greased the locks and they work beautifully. But... when I drive on a gravel road they first open to the first stage then, if I don't pull them closed again, it can open completely.


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retrovan
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Re: Beetle doors not staying closed

Post by retrovan »

Not sure but I think your model also has an rubber wedge that locks in place so the door can not lift on a bumpy road and unlock it self.

The early models came out with the normal mechanism that only works on the top edge of the door lock.

So if you lift the door it will open.

The newer cars have a wedge built into the lock to hold it.

See is they are there and if so that they placed correctly.

If they in place then lower your lock on the door or lift the heal block on the "B" pillar.

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Re: Beetle doors not staying closed

Post by Terry Phillips »

Door hinges worn bad maybe..
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Re: Beetle doors not staying closed

Post by Terry Phillips »

Door hinges worn maybe..
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Re: Beetle doors not staying closed

Post by 73type2 »

Those big rivets that attach the hinge to the door tend to wear over time. I drilled mine out and replaced them with M8 countersunk bolts and nylock nuts.
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