Basement compartment door won't open ??

[live4jeepn]

2003 Sightseer, my basement compartment door wont open. When I lift the latch, it feels like just one side unlatches. Any ideas ??

Thanks

[DriVer]

Originally Posted by live4jeepn

2003 Sightseer, my basement compartment door wont open. When I lift the latch, it feels like just one side unlatches. Any ideas ??

live4jeepn, The rod inside on the latch either came loose or something broke on the latch. See if you can open an adjacent compartment, look for the catches - they are secured with 2 Phillips screws ionto the coach body. Remove the 2 screws and you should be able to open the compartment and get at the back of the latch mechanism. Good luck!

If there isn't any access to the latches you might have to blast!

Just kidding!

[live4jeepn]

Thanks, I will give that a shot. Once I get the door open, hopefully I will have access to the latch......and not have to blast

[charles tuit]

If the above does not work, a bare hacksaw blade will slide between the doors and saw the plastic latch off. You then should be able to open the door and replace the latch.

Charlie Tuit
2002 Journey 126.000 miles
XL-7 toad

[AFChap]

In the first 3 years I had my '03 coach, I had to replace 6 out of 12 compartment door latches. They break inside the latch itself ...the most important part is nylon/plastic, and breaks under pressure. In '04 or '05, the latches were improved, doubling the thickness of that nylon part. I can tell the early ones from the later by feeling the handle ...the later ones have a ridge on the outer edge of the "handle" and the early ones are totally smooth there ...hard to explain/understand until you feel the difference. I can open my cargo doors in less than a minute by inserting a phillips screwdriver between the doors and removing the latch catch... that is how secure they are to an observant thief!!! The new latches are relatively cheap (I bought all mine from Lichetinn motors in Forest City), but they come in black and it costs me as much to get them painted to match my full body paint as it costs for the latch itself!!!

I have found it does help to keep the latches working if I regularly lubricate the slide bolts on each side of the door, AND if I press inward on the door with my leg when pulling the latch open.

[Roadking]

Most likely the nylon latch on one side of the hatch has broken. It is highly unlikely the rods connecting the latches to the handle would come loose or separate. You should be able to determine which side is broken by pulling on the hatch handle then gently pulling on each side of the door. One side will not move, hence the latch is broken. AFCHAP explained how to get the door open by removing the catch mechanism with a phillips screw driver. Replacment latches are available at a Winny dealer and the rivets in the old one must be drilled out to remove and replace the latch. Be careful when closing the doors as any hard closures, or slamming, will stress the latches and they will break. Good luck.