Technical Doblo Dynamic 2007 rear sliding doors won't close/lock reliably

[bjsg]

Both of our rear sliding doors are getting increasingly unreliable at closing AND locking

They need a real slam with your second hand putting pressure on the middle of the door to get the correct alignment and achieve a "flush close". Otherwise you can see/feel daylight and the central locking won't work.

But we worry that it only has a certain number of "slams" in it and will eventually come off its runner or somehow not close at all.

We have limited technical skills/knowledge but can't find a "car door specialist" to help - it feels too old for Fiat dealers and falls into the gap between regular mechanical garages and bodywork garages.

Can anyone please help?! Any advice very gratefully received.

 

[bugsymike]

Both of our rear sliding doors are getting increasingly unreliable at closing AND locking

They need a real slam with your second hand putting pressure on the middle of the door to get the correct alignment and achieve a "flush close". Otherwise you can see/feel daylight and the central locking won't work.

But we worry that it only has a certain number of "slams" in it and will eventually come off its runner or somehow not close at all.

We have limited technical skills/knowledge but can't find a "car door specialist" to help - it feels too old for Fiat dealers and falls into the gap between regular mechanical garages and bodywork garages.

Can anyone please help?! Any advice very gratefully received.

First make sure all the runners , top and bottom are free of debris.
Next get an oil can of proper oil (not WD40) and squirt in the runners top and bottom plus all the rollers on the door sliders and work the doors forward and back all the way.
Once you know both doors slide freely, next slowly move door towards the lock area and see if they line up with the catches, if so good.
Generally that cures most issues and at your mileage they shouldn't be worn out.
However if you do all this and still have problems then alignment or adjustment may be the answer.

 

[bjsg]

First make sure all the runners , top and bottom are free of debris.
Next get an oil can of proper oil (not WD40) and squirt in the runners top and bottom plus all the rollers on the door sliders and work the doors forward and back all the way.
Once you know both doors slide freely, next slowly move door towards the lock area and see if they line up with the catches, if so good.
Generally that cures most issues and at your mileage they shouldn't be worn out.
However if you do all this and still have problems then alignment or adjustment may be the answer.

Thanks so much @bugsymike, really appreciate your help - I've now done that hoping it'd be such a small fix. But it feels more structural with the door itself - i.e. slight misalignment over time. I fear it'll need new door(s) eventually, but still wondering what else I might do in meantime....

 

[bugsymike]

Thanks so much @bugsymike, really appreciate your help - I've now done that hoping it'd be such a small fix. But it feels more structural with the door itself - i.e. slight misalignment over time. I fear it'll need new door(s) eventually, but still wondering what else I might do in meantime....

Most sliding side doors on vans are quite heavy so put a lot of strain on the mechanism.
I didn't go into great detail out of respect for your admitted "limited technical skills/knowledge"
However unless door has been damaged in an accident , normally if out of alignment it should be physically obvious from standing back and looking at it in closed, partly open and fully open positions. So there would be no need for total door replacement unless you feel obliged to pay for the mechanics Christmas Bonus!!!
I have adjusted literally 100s of those sliding doors on a variety of vans and much bigger ones and never felt the need to replace the door.
Also on how the door appears to locate at it's closing point.
From memory the sliding roller brackets bolted to the doors are held on three 13 mm bolts in a groove, so if adjustment required it is usually a case of slackening the bolts enough to move the door in relation to the brackets to achieve alignment on one bracket at a time until perfection is obtained.
Note as mentioned at the beginning the doors are heavy , so do not take bolts right out, only slacken enough for adjustment.
If you are not happy to try this , most small garages should be more than competent to do the job for an hours labour I would have thought.
These are the adjustment points on a 2010 Doblo van o/s sliding door so should be fairly similar.

 

[bjsg]

Thanks again @bugsymike, just returning this after Xmas hiatus! Really appreciate you trying to help

I've taken a couple of videos to show the situation - looking at them closed (when successful), there's definitely gaps at the top (you can see daylight when closed from inside) so it definitely feels like the doors have misshapen over time.

The missing plastic "door locators" won't be helping so I've just ordered some to try.

But am otherwise stuck what to try next - given you've adjusted 100s, I don't suppose you'd be willing to have a go for a fee?!

 

[bugsymike]

Thanks again @bugsymike, just returning this after Xmas hiatus! Really appreciate you trying to help

I've taken a couple of videos to show the situation - looking at them closed (when successful), there's definitely gaps at the top (you can see daylight when closed from inside) so it definitely feels like the doors have misshapen over time.

The missing plastic "door locators" won't be helping so I've just ordered some to try.

But am otherwise stuck what to try next - given you've adjusted 100s, I don't suppose you'd be willing to have a go for a fee?!

Ha,ha! I am retired so whilst I don't mind offering suggestions, that's all , sorry.
The front end positioning will definitely improve with the missing locators replaced both in the frame and any missing corresponding ones in the door it's self, once the door is set up to align with them.
I am guessing they are missing because they broke up when door sliders were out of adjustment or dropped they smashed them up. One of your videos shows marks in the frame where the door locator has banged into them.
Re the back end of door, is there play in the roller /slide area as once door is closed properly at the front, then normally the back is pulled into place.
I have just checked one of my Doblo's and it does that.It is strange your doors are so worn, I had an 05 1.9 7 seater Doblo with 220K miles on it and the sliding doors all worked fine.
What I suggest is you fit the missing parts and then adjust the sliders so the doors engage correctly with those locators, then assuming no wear in the rollers and runners it should close correctly.
Does the lock engage at the back of doors when door is shut ?

 

[bjsg]

Thanks again @bugsymike. I've fitted the 2 locators but it unfortunately hasn't helped.

I'll have a go at adjusting the sliders but worry I'll make it worse - is it just a case of slackening and tightening bolts to bring the door in/out?

Failing that, I feel it's either a lost cause or needs someone with experience - any idea at all who/what service would help? I feel a regular mechanical garage won't want to know. Shame I can't persuade you out of retirement!

Thanks again, yours appreciatively

 

[bugsymike]

Thanks again @bugsymike. I've fitted the 2 locators but it unfortunately hasn't helped.

I'll have a go at adjusting the sliders but worry I'll make it worse - is it just a case of slackening and tightening bolts to bring the door in/out?

Failing that, I feel it's either a lost cause or needs someone with experience - any idea at all who/what service would help? I feel a regular mechanical garage won't want to know. Shame I can't persuade you out of retirement!

Thanks again, yours appreciatively

Just fitting the new parts is not the answer , as they cannot drag the door up into line, that is the reason they have broken in the first place.
You have to slacken the sliding hinge mounts and adjust upwards (not in or out) so that when you offer the door towards the parts you have just fitted they correctly slide into engagement.
Mark the original position of the sliders in case you make it worse so you can revert back, then start with the front bottom slider on the door and slacken, then move it so the door is raised a little on the slider then tighten and slide the door up to the new locators and see if it is going into a better position, do it a little at a time so you can see what difference you are making.
What has happened, is due to wear the door drops down so to align it the actual door needs to raise slightly.
If you slide the door almost to the closed point , you should be able to see the misalignment of those pins to the locator parts you have replaced, this will guide you as to what direction the door has to be raised.
As I mentioned before , "Does the lock engage at the back of doors when door is shut ?"
If you are happy the front is adjusted and aligns with all the location pins, then gently slide the door towards closed , but with a slight pressure inwards at the back of the door with your other hand to help it push inwards and engage the lock at rear of door.
If that lock will not engage fully it is possible there is a problem there also.