Cornerstone bay door latches defective

[Dutch Star David]

I've had mine adjusted twice. Yesterday one came open as I pulled into truck stop. Thankfully someone honked and stopped me before it hit a concrete barrier. Today TWO came open while driving. I called CS after hours number and insisted that they get someone to FIX these before there is a real problem. No reply as of yet. I don't need to have to replace bay doors along with the required painting. What a hassle that will be!
The last guy who adjusted them said he could not believe that Entegra would use such crappy door latches on a $600,000+ MSRP coach. I agree!

[hawgguy]

Hope you get squared away soon. Mine seem to be fine, if fact, significantly better than my previous MH. I probably just jinxed myself.

[hogdriver]

I don't know if Cornerstones and Anthem latches are the same, but knock on wood my 6 mo old Anthem latches work well. Maybe yours are not adjusted well?

[1mainiac]

I tend to agree they are not the best latch but they are pretty standard in the industry. The trick is to bend the wire arm forward to make it latch under the plunger further. When I prep one I take a medium sized pry bar and bend them forward As far as possible Doing this makes the door a little harder to open so I suggest customers put their knee against the door to take the pressure off the plunger when you pull on the handle. Also slamming the door will bend the wire latch back so if you want them to last close the door with the latch don't slam them shut. This is my first year working on Entegra coaches so I will be trying to get them to make several changes this winter I am building a list LOL. There is too much flex in the setup they use and it is too easy to bend which causes the doors to need constant attention.

[brobox]

Originally Posted by 1mainiac

I tend to agree they are not the best latch but they are pretty standard in the industry. The trick is to bend the wire arm forward to make it latch under the plunger further. When I prep one I take a medium sized pry bar and bend them forward As far as possible Doing this makes the door a little harder to open so I suggest customers put their knee against the door to take the pressure off the plunger when you pull on the handle. Also slamming the door will bend the wire latch back so if you want them to last close the door with the latch don't slam them shut. This is my first year working on Entegra coaches so I will be trying to get them to make several changes this winter I am building a list LOL. There is too much flex in the setup they use and it is too easy to bend which causes the doors to need constant attention.

Great tip and one that I needed for one door that I haven't been able to adjust to close tight....thank you!

On slamming the doors.......on the Travel Supreme the latches broke easily. The latches were pot metal, and got hard to get once TS closed there doors...we treated those like gold. We kept them well lubed with silicone spray and pulled the handle to gently close the doors. Thankfully I still have that habit.

[ravens2012]

I did have one cargo door came open as I pulled into the resort. They were locked also.

[14 Cornerstone]

We have been having this problem with the cargo doors ever since we got our coach. They have been adjusted about 5 times now. Since the last adjustment they have ( knock on wood) stayed closed. I still use a bungee on one door that kept coming open while driving down the road. We have even been stopped by the police because of an open cargo door. All doors were locked at the time.

[loisjop]

[QUOTE=dlovitt;2247845]I've had mine adjusted twice. Yesterday one came open as I pulled into truck stop. Thankfully someone honked and stopped me before it hit a concrete barrier. Today TWO came open while driving. I called CS after hours number and insisted that they get someone to FIX these before there is a real problem. No reply as of yet. I don't need to have to replace bay doors along with the required painting. What a hassle that will be!
The last guy who adjusted them said he could not believe that Entegra would use such crappy door latches on a $600,000+ MSRP coach. I agree![/QUO

Sometime in 2014 Entegra quit making the doors for the Anthem and Cornerstone and went to the same outside vendor that made the Aspire doors. When they went to the new style door it now has a latch like a house door instead of like a car door. Very much movement and the new style can come open regardless of whether it's locked or not. Not nearly as good in my opinion. Noel

[Dutch Star David]

[QUOTE=loisjop;2248780]

Originally Posted by dlovitt

I've had mine adjusted twice. Yesterday one came open as I pulled into truck stop. Thankfully someone honked and stopped me before it hit a concrete barrier. Today TWO came open while driving. I called CS after hours number and insisted that they get someone to FIX these before there is a real problem. No reply as of yet. I don't need to have to replace bay doors along with the required painting. What a hassle that will be!
The last guy who adjusted them said he could not believe that Entegra would use such crappy door latches on a $600,000+ MSRP coach. I agree![/QUO

Sometime in 2014 Entegra quit making the doors for the Anthem and Cornerstone and went to the same outside vendor that made the Aspire doors. When they went to the new style door it now has a latch like a house door instead of like a car door. Very much movement and the new style can come open regardless of whether it's locked or not. Not nearly as good in my opinion. Noel

That's exactly what CS told me today. Now they get to figure out how to fix the problem.

[DSL417]

The latches I'd seen in first half 2014 Anthems and prior are not the same latches that are in my 2015 Cornerstone. The discussion of the 3/16 gage metal loops that are obvious when the 15 Cornerstone bays are the ones referred to above WRT bending the wire to where the latch fully engaged. The 2014 and prior Anthems I am familiar with had a post "lock" that could actually be opened with a knife or other thin metal object by moving the dead bolt latch back. they also had a hook shaped latch, but the latch was for the most part was fully enclosed in the door. As this discussion proceeds, it may be useful to avoid confusion, to post a picture of the latch you are referring as both types had opening issues, but I suspect that the solutions may be different. JMHO

[MRUSA14]

On my '13 the electric lock and the key lock are separate mechanisms. Are the new latches more secure if you lock them with a key? Would that be a temporary "fix" until the real fix is forthcoming?

[brobox]

Originally Posted by brobox

Great tip and one that I needed for one door that I haven't been able to adjust to close tight....thank you!.

UPDATE:
Bending the wire striker forward as recommended by 1mainiac solved my loose door problem. I was out of adjustment on the wire mount and the door was still loose. Using 1mainiac method of taking a pry bar and bending the wire striker forward did the trick. The door is now nice a and tight. This was on the filter compartment door, the rest are adjust perfect.

[DSL417]

Originally Posted by MRUSA14

On my '13 the electric lock and the key lock are separate mechanisms. Are the new latches more secure if you lock them with a key? Would that be a temporary "fix" until the real fix is forthcoming?

Marc, if you're asking me that question, I haven't had the problem, but Dusty 56 and I have discussed the door opening issues and his thoughts. From what I understand, the answer is no to your question...but for different reasons. It sounds like the later 2014s Anthems have the same wire latch as the 2015s, and that fix will not work on the 2013 Anthem as they are different latches. Given what I've seen, they new latches would not be retrofittable as the mechanism is different. JMHO.

[brobox]

I will try to take a photo of mine tomorrow, completion date of MH 1/31/14.