Defender doors staying open

[kenleyfred]

Fred is in at the moment for first service.
One of the things I wanted them to check is all my doors. Except for one, they will not stay open.The boot is the worst. I find myself parking on an angle to let gravity keep it open. Very annoying when trying to load anything into the back.

Apparently this is just how it is and there is nothing that they will/can do.
I went into the showroom and checked the Defender on the floor. Every door on that one clicked (sort of ) into open position.

Do your Defender doors stay open on there own?

Thanks
Kenley

[muddymech]

no they should hold open, the hold open stay holder needs tightning, mine been done twice, its a simple system but does not work too great
ian

[one_iota]

Not out of the Factory they don't.

The rear can be adjusted by removing the trim off the inside of the rear door and tightening up the bolt on the door slide:

Photos courtesy of timNZ:


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/05/931.jpg

It should look like this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/182.jpg





The front doors are a little easier to do but the same principal applies albeit that you dont have to remove any trim. These aren't as positive though so a stiff breeze or a slope will still close the doors.

[werdan]

The main problem with the back door is than when you pull over to the side of the road, the road usually tilts towards the drain. Therefore you have gravity pulling at that heavy spare wheel mounted on the backdoor. One option is to spend a few hundred dollars on a wheel carrier that takes the weight off the back door. Another option is to carry an 'ocky' strap and use that to hold the door open while loading/unloading instead. I'd like the former but currently do the latter.

[solmanic]

Yes, all the doors should stay open. My rear door has been adjusted and is probably about as good as can be expected, the rear passenger doors are fine, and my front ones both need tightening. Some people get a gas strut screwed to the top of their rear door which helps hold it open if you don't plan on fitting a spare wheel carrier.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Yep, this is the only way I found to fix it.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/09/171.jpg

It's very effective too.

[kenleyfred]

So the doors should stay open themselves, thats what I thought. I'll see what they do about it today. Not expecting much though as they already told me that they dont stay open.

That gas strut looks effective.
Kenley

[JamesH]

Thanks for the tip.

But without the tell tale grease spot on the back of the clean shirt which along with the torn belt loops is a useful way in a crowd to tell who drives a Defender.

[dullbird]

we found once a rear wheel carrier was fitted this also helped in keeping the door open...once it had been adjusted..

before the carrier was on there it was getting adjusted all the time:)

[dgardel]

Not out of the Factory they don't.

The rear can be adjusted by removing the trim off the inside of the rear door and tightening up the bolt on the door slide:

Photos courtesy of timNZ:


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/05/931.jpg

It should look like this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/182.jpg





The front doors are a little easier to do but the same principal applies albeit that you dont have to remove any trim. These aren't as positive though so a stiff breeze or a slope will still close the doors.


Better if you use a "autolock" nuts..........

[tieds]

Yep, this is the only way I found to fix it.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/09/171.jpg

It's very effective too.

Gday, where would you get a gas strut like this, do you know a supplier?

Tieds

[Drover]

Hey Tieds

Get in touch with Daniel at Mulgo.

He supplies a gas strut kit for the rear door, it replaces the factory mechanism, very neat and works a treat....

I have had one for a year or more and it is a gem.

Cheers

[Nera Donna]

Dovers right. Here’s the one from Daniel I fitted to mine.
Word of warning: Hang on the door when you open it, the strut really assists with the opening of the door as well.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members/nera+donna-albums-work+so+far-picture2646-rear-door-strut-installed.jpg

Cheers
Craig

[Loubrey]

Do you need to modify the rear door trim for Daniel's strut to operate? If so, a picture would be much appreciated.

[rainman]

If you want to DIY, UES Int'l (http://uesint.com/product/gas%20springs.php) has all sorts of wonderful bits and pieces.


James.

[Nera Donna]

Do you need to modify the rear door trim for Daniel's strut to operate? If so, a picture would be much appreciated.


No, door trim fitted back in no problem. ‘Riv-nuts’ are a bit tricky when you don’t have the correct tools (I didn’t). Daniel provided extra nuts and bolts to allow for this. Take your time getting the right (fully open) angle correct. Otherwise the spare wheel will take out the Right rear tail light.
It’s not as difficult as it all sounds.

[Loubrey]

Thanks for that! The rear door on the Puma is my only actual gripe with the car. The door has taken the wife out a few times and her sense of humor regarding the issue is failing fast...

I've fitted wheel carriers to previous Defenders, but they were usually a few years old and fell into the "hobby" catagory. Drilling through the body capping on the 1 year old Puma to fit the top hinge is a bit daunting and this looks like the best alternative.

I think I'll be placing an order today!

Cheers!

[KarlB]

I had Mulgo fit the replacement strut when I was having some other things done a few weeks back. An excellent solution to an annoying rear door issue. Not only does the door stay open when required, it is adjusted to stops just short of the Front Runner gas bottle bracket that was fitted at the same time.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[Quigley]

I have one of the rear wheel carriers made by Rijidij of this forum.
It is an excellent wheel carrier with the added bonus of a locking device to hold the rear door open. No more unwanted rear door shutting problems.
Very well designed, constructed and the answer to spare wheel and rear door issues of the Defender.

[TeamFA]

I have one of the rear wheel carriers made by Rijidij of this forum.
It is an excellent wheel carrier with the added bonus of a locking device to hold the rear door open. No more unwanted rear door shutting problems.
Very well designed, constructed and the answer to spare wheel and rear door issues of the Defender.

Any more info on this, or any pictures...?

[oldyella 76]

I pulled the little latching gizmo off the rear door and fitted a gas strut in its place and secured the front to the inside of the tub. I have a drawer system that has a gap on the drivers side that allowed me to do that and it does not get in the way. Cook recons its the best thing I ever did.

[Don 130]

I pulled the little urethane buffer out of both my front door hold out mechanisms and trimmed about 2-3 mm off them to allow the roller to snug down behind the spring bar. they hold open well now.
Don