Auto door latch

[JVR]

I am referring to the electric solenoid operated latch in the door jam that latches when the brake is released on my 2006 Essex. We occasionally forget to engage the brake before opening the door and, of course brake the plastic latch located on the door side. Anyone have any ideas on how to improve the latch other than, just never forget to engage the brake.
Thanks,
JVR

[Iron Man]

Just try to remeber not to open the door while the brake is released. It has taken the family a year to get into the habit of not opening the door without the driver setting the brake. Not to hard to replace the plastic peice when it brakes and its not too expensive.

[Lug_Nut]

I agree with the Ironman John. There is no short cuts here, just apply the park brake and you are good to go. This is actually a safety feature. Nobody exits the coach, or enters, with out the coach movement being locked up

Peter

P.S. I still have no access with my No.1 computer. What's up with that!

[JVR]

There's no doubt about how simple it is to just don't make the mistake of anyone opening the door, but don't you know Newmar laughs all the way to the bank at $56 + $12 shipping for a piece of plastic, and not a very good one at that.

[dougburi]

Newmar should be ashamed to make something like this out of cheap plastic. Take the part to a metal shop and have them reproduce it out of 1/4 inch solid aluminum. That will NOT break. Newmar makes great coaches and then cuts corners on such "nickle and dime" stuff like this. Why?

[Lug_Nut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougburi Newmar should be ashamed to make something like this out of cheap plastic. Take the part to a metal shop and have them reproduce it out of 1/4 inch solid aluminum. That will NOT break. Newmar makes great coaches and then cuts corners on such "nickle and dime" stuff like this. Why?

Perhaps, it is made breakable for a purpose. May be it is made so it could never jamb anyway and if it ever did it is easily breakable. As far as the need for a heavier duty one, I don't see it. I have had mine, the original, there since new and checked it out yesterday. It's just as good as it was when it was new. And I know it was opened twice without the park brake applied. The first time was the dealer's salesman. Therefore, if you break it, you have to be forgetful more than twice.

Part No. 0900BIG$ - Description: Door Seal Lock. Special space age plastic specifically designed by space engineers to with stand life in a door jamb. This super stong locking component must be engineered to be virtually indestructable under proper use while having the unique ability to breakaway in two non-uses. One is to self destruct in an emergency should the door ever fail to open. The other is if an owner mis-uses its designed purpose.

Now, don't you feel better about the price?

Peter

[Iron Man]

This is one instance where stronger is not better. Thats why it made of plastic instead of metal. There needs to be some flex when you forget and open the door whithout the parking brake on.

[JVR]

Thanks for all the feedback, but I wonder if the tension isn't the variable that allows some coaches to get by with it.
JVR

["007"]

You may want to consider that the cheap plastic latch maybe for kicking out door in a emergency if you do not have time to operate foot brake in a fire situation or a accident situation.

[dougburi]

Thanks for the explainations, I never thought about it that way.