Dethleffs A6991 habitation doorlock problem

[barnaclebill]

Hi, wondering if anyone has tried to gain access to the lock workings of the habitation door? I think the return spring has broken as their is no tension on the key and it locks itself when being shut,meaning you have to unlock from the outside everytime you close it. Not sure if the door has to come off to remove the inner plastic panel. Any thoughts would be geatfully recieved.

 

[irnbru]

What kind of door lock is it? A photo would be good.

 

[barnaclebill]

Hi Ironbru, I have enclosed 3 pics if this helps cheers

 

[barnaclebill]

2nd pic

 

[barnaclebill]

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[barnaclebill]

3rd pic

 

[irnbru]

Bill, your door is different to ours but the lock looks the same. I will see if I find the thread about when we replaced our lock.

 

[steviebouy]

Way hay, the infamous Dethleffs door lock springs!
I've had to replace two of mine now. I couldn't see how to dismantle the door but some kind fellow on this forum outlined how easy it really is.
Prise off the plastic cover from the internal opener. Remove the two plastic bungs hiding the screws which hold the vertical "pull" handle and remove.
Remove the waste bin and its framework. Now the clever bit - squeeze the cream coloured moulding at the join and you will see that it is retained by a small lip at the edges. Difficult to describe, hold at either side and crush. Once it starts to move and you see the lip all will be clear. Work your way all around the door and it will come away.
Depending on which spring has broken you may be able to improvise or you may need to get one from the Dethleffs Owners Club.
The first pic relates to fixing a floppy internal handle, the second shows the range of springs available from DOC. My outer handle was cured by fitting the top spring.
Good luck
Steve

 

[TheBig1]

@barnaclebill there you go instant knowledgebase. Why not subscribe as a full member to join our community? it's only £15

 

[Antique]

Yep
We've got the same door.
Had to strip it down twice for two separate spring failures.
Very good description by Steve but for the spring I sourced spring wire from a local locksmith and re-fashioned it to fit. That was several years ago and still going strong.

Finding the solution on this forum certainly convinced me to join

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[barnaclebill]

Hi guys, A big thank you for info on the door panel removal. And yes Steve its the top spring thats broken. It looks like the spring works both ways up and down? So not quite sure if i can get round it or sauce a replacment. Only problem is i am in Spain for a few months so might have to wait til back in uk. Thanks once again all.

 

[TheBig1]

Hi guys, A big thank you for info on the door panel removal. And yes Steve its the top spring thats broken. It looks like the spring works both ways up and down? So not quite sure if i can get round it or sauce a replacment. Only problem is i am in Spain for a few months so might have to wait til back in uk. Thanks once again all.

The replacement spring is not available by itself. The only option is make one from spring wire of pay someone else to do it for you

 

[barnaclebill]

Many thanks!

 

[steviebouy]

You are welcome. As I mentioned before I got the gen on door panel removal from someone on this forum so all credit to them really.
You are correct about the spring working both ways even though I couldn't see how this worked. Obviously TheBig1, the springs are available. I can make anything but wouldn't fancy trying to duplicate the spring without one to copy. I couldn't see how my two broken parts fitted together or how it operated the lock!
As for spring availability see the chart from the Dethleffs Owners Club. As I don't see eye to eye with the D.O.C. I googled the part number and got one from a dealer in the Netherlands.
My spring failed on a trip around Germany which left us with the hab door permanently locked but able to use the inner handle to exit the van. Early one morning we left the van to shower without keys and were locked out. My brave wife (smaller than me) climbed to the roof, one foot on tyre, then mirror, then bonnet and dropped in through the roof light which we had left ajar.
Phew
Steve

 

[barnaclebill]

Cheers steve, my thoughts exactly about the spring. Ive put it back together working after a fashion with elastic bands and a spoon jammed in the lock for now but will need sorting later. Lucky you have such an agile wife to go mountaineering! All the best Brian

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[chrisgog]

Hi . We have the same problem with our Dethleffs. We have received the replacement springs from Dethleffs but we do not know where to put them in the lock as they fell out.. We have stripped off the door cover ready. Does anyone have a picture of this lock showing exactly where the springs go please? Becoming desperate now. Thanks

 

[steviebouy]

Have a look at this and see if it helps.
Cheers
Steve

 

[chrisgog]

Thanks Steve. Looks promising. Will give it a go tomorrow. We are totally bafgled

 

[Sandman1966]

Way hay, the infamous Dethleffs door lock springs!
I've had to replace two of mine now. I couldn't see how to dismantle the door but some kind fellow on this forum outlined how easy it really is.
Prise off the plastic cover from the internal opener. Remove the two plastic bungs hiding the screws which hold the vertical "pull" handle and remove.
Remove the waste bin and its framework. Now the clever bit - squeeze the cream coloured moulding at the join and you will see that it is retained by a small lip at the edges. Difficult to describe, hold at either side and crush. Once it starts to move and you see the lip all will be clear. Work your way all around the door and it will come away.
Depending on which spring has broken you may be able to improvise or you may need to get one from the Dethleffs Owners Club.
The first pic relates to fixing a floppy internal handle, the second shows the range of springs available from DOC. My outer handle was cured by fitting the top spring.
Good luck
Steve

 

[Sandman1966]

Where can I buy the springs from as my door lock is playing up. Was in spain went for a shower when I returned to my motorhome the door was locked very embarrassed I was anyway the spring i need is 460079 any help would be great regards phil

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[Ryan]

Way hay, the infamous Dethleffs door lock springs!
I've had to replace two of mine now. I couldn't see how to dismantle the door but some kind fellow on this forum outlined how easy it really is.
Prise off the plastic cover from the internal opener. Remove the two plastic bungs hiding the screws which hold the vertical "pull" handle and remove.
Remove the waste bin and its framework. Now the clever bit - squeeze the cream coloured moulding at the join and you will see that it is retained by a small lip at the edges. Difficult to describe, hold at either side and crush. Once it starts to move and you see the lip all will be clear. Work your way all around the door and it will come away.
Depending on which spring has broken you may be able to improvise or you may need to get one from the Dethleffs Owners Club.
The first pic relates to fixing a floppy internal handle, the second shows the range of springs available from DOC. My outer handle was cured by fitting the top spring.
Good luck
Steve

Way hay, the infamous Dethleffs door lock springs!
I've had to replace two of mine now. I couldn't see how to dismantle the door but some kind fellow on this forum outlined how easy it really is.
Prise off the plastic cover from the internal opener. Remove the two plastic bungs hiding the screws which hold the vertical "pull" handle and remove.
Remove the waste bin and its framework. Now the clever bit - squeeze the cream coloured moulding at the join and you will see that it is retained by a small lip at the edges. Difficult to describe, hold at either side and crush. Once it starts to move and you see the lip all will be clear. Work your way all around the door and it will come away.
Depending on which spring has broken you may be able to improvise or you may need to get one from the Dethleffs Owners Club.
The first pic relates to fixing a floppy internal handle, the second shows the range of springs available from DOC. My outer handle was cured by fitting the top spring.
Good luck
Steve

 

[Ryan]

How or where do I get the defhleffs door lock springs number 1 of image please

 

[gwynne thomas]

Way hay, the infamous Dethleffs door lock springs!
I've had to replace two of mine now. I couldn't see how to dismantle the door but some kind fellow on this forum outlined how easy it really is.
Prise off the plastic cover from the internal opener. Remove the two plastic bungs hiding the screws which hold the vertical "pull" handle and remove.
Remove the waste bin and its framework. Now the clever bit - squeeze the cream coloured moulding at the join and you will see that it is retained by a small lip at the edges. Difficult to describe, hold at either side and crush. Once it starts to move and you see the lip all will be clear. Work your way all around the door and it will come away.
Depending on which spring has broken you may be able to improvise or you may need to get one from the Dethleffs Owners Club.
The first pic relates to fixing a floppy internal handle, the second shows the range of springs available from DOC. My outer handle was cured by fitting the top spring.
Good luck
Steve

steve
thanks for info i have the door apart following your advice but cant see what spring is broken there only seems to be one spring and this is ok.
the inside locking lever flops in and locks the door when closing with a bang.
regards gwynne

 

[gwynne thomas]

Hi, wondering if anyone has tried to gain access to the lock workings of the habitation door? I think the return spring has broken as their is no tension on the key and it locks itself when being shut,meaning you have to unlock from the outside everytime you close it. Not sure if the door has to come off to remove the inner plastic panel. Any thoughts would be geatfully recieved.

i have followed your thread i have the same broken spring no460097 but i dont know where it came from in the door mechanism. i also dont know where to get one . can anyone help?

 

[gwynne thomas]

Way hay, the infamous Dethleffs door lock springs!
I've had to replace two of mine now. I couldn't see how to dismantle the door but some kind fellow on this forum outlined how easy it really is.
Prise off the plastic cover from the internal opener. Remove the two plastic bungs hiding the screws which hold the vertical "pull" handle and remove.
Remove the waste bin and its framework. Now the clever bit - squeeze the cream coloured moulding at the join and you will see that it is retained by a small lip at the edges. Difficult to describe, hold at either side and crush. Once it starts to move and you see the lip all will be clear. Work your way all around the door and it will come away.
Depending on which spring has broken you may be able to improvise or you may need to get one from the Dethleffs Owners Club.
The first pic relates to fixing a floppy internal handle, the second shows the range of springs available from DOC. My outer handle was cured by fitting the top spring.
Good luck
Steve

i have the same problem with broken spring i think from steves info no 460079. i dont know where this spring fits as it was at the bottom of the door when i took off the liner.
any suggestions where i can get one.

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[art800]

Way hay, the infamous Dethleffs door lock springs!
I've had to replace two of mine now. I couldn't see how to dismantle the door but some kind fellow on this forum outlined how easy it really is.
Prise off the plastic cover from the internal opener. Remove the two plastic bungs hiding the screws which hold the vertical "pull" handle and remove.
Remove the waste bin and its framework. Now the clever bit - squeeze the cream coloured moulding at the join and you will see that it is retained by a small lip at the edges. Difficult to describe, hold at either side and crush. Once it starts to move and you see the lip all will be clear. Work your way all around the door and it will come away.
Depending on which spring has broken you may be able to improvise or you may need to get one from the Dethleffs Owners Club.
The first pic relates to fixing a floppy internal handle, the second shows the range of springs available from DOC. My outer handle was cured by fitting the top spring.
Good luck
Steve

Hello ! i need door lock spring for my dethleffs . 460552 how can i buy them ?

 

[steviebouy]

Hi there, art800.
These springs are (were?) available from the Dethleffs Owners Club.
I bought mine from Henk Pen Caravans and Campers in the Netherlands.
Good luck
Steve

 

[bexleyjohn]

I have a 2016 Trend with remote locking. For 6 years it’s been fine but now the longer, large internal door opening handle is now floppy but works. Everything else seems OK at the moment. Just concerned it might lead to further problems. Is there a spring that just pulls the handle back to its “resting place” or is it part of other aspects of the mechanism?

 

[IZ0FRN]

Dear friends
Thanks to the directions found on this post, I have understood the shape and location of the broken spring.
With a 1mm diameter steel wire found at a model airplane store, a 4mm diameter drill bit (to roll up the coil) and a pair of pliers I reconstructed the shape of the spring.
It works like a charm!
Thank you all for the inspiration, I hope this video can help other friends in the same situation
PS Don't make the same mistake I did: you don't need to remove the outer seals to disassemble the door!