Re: [Peugeot-L] 504 (1974 model) door handle/lock sticking

Jerome

The doorlatch receiver on the door post is adjustable vertically and laterally through a certain range by loosening the screws on it. However, often the door itself has sagged either due to wear in the hinge pins or by bending of the door metal around the hinge plates.

With the door barely open, lift the end of the door to gauge the amount of free play. The free play is due to hingepin wear. If you can lift the door while closing it enough to make it slide inito the catch smoothly, don't adjust the catch -- adjust the door, either by replacing one or both hinge pins, or by lifting the door with considerable force while it is barely open to bend the door metal near the hinge plate back to where the door latches properly. I routinely have to do this on 505 doors, and used to do so often on 504 doors.

The lower pin is usually responsible for most of the play. Replacing the lower hinge pin is quite easy on a 504 or 505 without power windows and mirrors; a little trickier with power because of the wires in the way. Remove the little plastic plug from the top of the pin, drive the pin down a bit with a well-dressed drift, then drive the old pin out by driving the new one in. Protect the plastic weatherstrip trim below the hinge by wedging a piece of sheetmetal or an old chargecard between the bottom of the pin and the trim as the pin comes down. If the pin is worn too much it may hang up and come out in pieces, with much more difficulty.

Once the door is properly aligned so it doesn't drag excessively on the striker plate, the unlocking problem inside may disappear. If not, Dan's advice is good. I find silicone spray on the internal doorlock mechanism to work wonders sometimes.

With all this trouble, just think how much crappier it would be if your 504 was a 75 or later, with nothing to really grab on to to open the sticky door. '74 was the one year with real bumpers and good doorhandles. A 74 diesel wagon was my favorite 504.

Brian Holm, Parts for Peugeots

At 07:51 AM 2/12/2008, Jerome Wiley Segovia wrote:
>I have recently purchased a 504 diesel, 1974 model.
>
>The door is not adjusted perfectly (sags a bit), so it must be shut
>with force. I hope to get it to the mechanic today, so they can
>adjust it.
>
>More importantly, however, when I lock the door, I am not able to
>easily unlock it later. Sometimes I have to get in on the passenger
>side, and slide over and then using both hands, "play with" the door
>handle and the locking button simultaneously until the door will
>finally open.
>
>I have never removed a door panel before, did not want to break
>anything -- is there an easy way to remove the door panel to view
>the internals, see how I can go about fixing this?
>
>I can't imagine it would be easy to purchase replacement parts for
>any of these items.
>
>Jerome in Arlington, Virginia.

Brian Holm, Parts for Peugeots
at Peugeot Holm, since 1969
2120 Maple Hill
Plainfield, VT, 05667
802-454-7132, fax -1310

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