A customer in Ashford called because the front door would no longer open.
The door was locked shut, so I first had to gain access. Once it was open, the fault became clear: the latch was no longer retracting far enough to clear the frame, regardless of whether the customer used the inside handle or the key.
The failed part needed replacing rather than adjusting.
I had the correct replacement in van stock and fitted it straight away.
While testing the door afterwards, I also found that it was rubbing heavily on the handle side. I adjusted the door so the replacement mechanism was not being forced against the frame.
Once everything was aligned and tested, the front door was opening, closing and locking normally again.
Whether the mechanism would have lasted longer if the door had not been misaligned for so long is impossible to know, but reducing that resistance certainly gives the replacement a better working environment.
