Temperamental side hab door on Ducato PVC (1 Viewer)

[Sixty-nine Chevy]

Hi all. The sliding side door on our Ducato PVC almost always needs a bit of an inward push from the outside when closing, otherwise it doesn't shut properly and won't lock. From the inside, this means that it needs a good sliding slam in order to close with us inside. Is this typical of the Ducato side door, or does our's need attention? I see that there is what looks like an adjustment 'thingy' visible from the outside when it is open, but I cannot find any mention of this online. Owner's manual makes no mention of it. Any comments appreciated. Thanks! Ian.

 

[Garfields]

Lubricate seals , wheels and the two tabs that locate the door at the front when closed
If you decide to adjust the catch after the above mark its current position before you start

 

[TheBig1]

It will need a tweak of adjustment by the sound of it. A builders van door is much lighter, with no window or upholstery. This can cause the door to drop a few mm over time and the runners to wear quicker

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[mike mcglynn]

Hi our van goes in for first service next week and one of the faults is the sliding door will not close from the inside handle ? We have to go outside then slam shut after jumping in .

 

[Sixty-nine Chevy]

Hi our van goes in for first service next week and one of the faults is the sliding door will not close from the inside handle ? We have to go outside then slam shut after jumping in .

Sounds very much like our issue. Our van is still under warranty and so I would be very interested to hear how you get on. Thanks!

 

[Deneb]

If it's under warranty, I'd leave it to the dealer, as it can be quite complex to realign. Just keeping the rollers and linkages lubricated can make a tremendous difference though. I use silicone spray grease.

Lubrication of the lower track rollers and mechanism is actually a service item, but I wonder how many dealers actually bother.

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[Gaston aires]

It will shut if you leave a skylight open. Air pressure prevents it closing.
Phil

 

[mikebeaches]

It will shut if you leave a skylight open. Air pressure prevents it closing.
Phil

I was just about to say exactly what Phil has highlighted.

Our door has always required a 'good slam' to close it fully, but it makes a significant difference if a roof light, window or cab door is open. In which case it closes more easily.

Has always been the same from new.

 

[Spriddler]

Yup, the sliding door closes more easily if you leave a cab door open and the cab door closes more easily if you leave a rooflight open and the rooflight will close more easily if you leave the plug out of the sink.............

(..............but I don't know why she swallowed a fly).

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[Sixty-nine Chevy]

Yup, the sliding door closes more easily if you leave a cab door open and the cab door closes more easily if you leave a rooflight open and the rooflight will close more easily if you leave the plug out of the sink.............

(..............but I don't know why she swallowed a fly).

Thanks all for the air pressure comments. Yep, I thought of that and it does close a bit easier if a cab door is open but I would still expect it to be easier.

 

[DBK]

It is possible to fit a strap on the inside of the door, nearest the rear of the vehicle, which makes it much easier to pull it shut without slamming. Although I just grab the edge of the window and pull. The frame hasn't fallen off yet.

 

[TheBig1]

Some converters are fitting a powered soft close mechanism. No slamming, just press the button to close or open

Fiat Ducato Automatic Sliding Door System

Fiat Ducato automatic power sliding door kit | High Quality, Best Price and FREE SHIPPING!

www.modifero.com

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[Garfields]

We have the soft close on our van
It works well but was a PITA to begin with until I sussed it out
As already mentioned plenty for lubrication on seals rollers and locating tongues

 

[2x2camper]

Sorry, but what's wrong with just slamming it shut

 

[Sixty-nine Chevy]

Sorry, but what's wrong with just slamming it shut

It's not great for anyone else around.

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[TheBig1]

It's not great for anyone else around.

the great shaboom! curse of the campsite

 

[2x2camper]

the great shaboom! curse of the campsite

Well actually I can think of worse, but that won't help the OP

 

[Sapper520]

Like the idea of the auto closing system, but the box position wouldn’t work with our layout.

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[duane0001]

With my old tribute I used to slide the door and just as it was about to close I popped the passenger door open to allow the presure to escape, it became second nature

 

[dipsie]

My wife was having trouble closing the door from inside. I had a look at what I would call the “ privet point “. I established that if one could pull it closed from the centre back that would help.
I took off the bottom panel and worked out what position to pull from ( our V Line has a fly screen ) so I had to allow for this. I drilled a larger hole where the centre location screw is in the inner panel of the door, I put a penny washer to a 6mm bolt, approx 3cms long, pushed the bolt through the newly drilled hole, another penny washer and then tightened up with a 10mm nut ( the washers should spread the pulling load ) then opened up the corresponding screw hole in the covering panel, fit the panel over the extended 6mm bolt and then refit all the panel’s screws and decor caps. I put another penny washer on the bolt. I had already found a 4cms wide ( wife’s old belt ) nylon strap, I cut it to a comfortable length, the frayed ends I heated up to avoid loose strands, folded over and ran two holes through and pushed over the bolt, another penny washer and tightened up with a domed headed nut.
The door can now be quietly closed to about 9 - 10 inches, pull on the strap and with very little effort it closes. By only closing it from such a small area there is not so much air to displace as a full pull, this gets over having to open a roof vent or window.
I had prior to this spent quite a considerable amount of time adjusting the door to get a satisfactory fit, there are quite a few adjustment points and used a lithium oil on the rollers.
This has proved to be one of the successful mods I’v ever done.

BernieT

 

[BlackIce]

I think it is just one of the Ducato features, our sliding door has needed a healthy pull shut from new and always fails to close properly if you attempt to close it gently (quietly). I clean and lubricate the rollers fairly regularly and have checked the alignment but nothing has improved things. I am going to fit a handle or strap when I get round to it, I'm surprised there isn't an aftermarket part available?

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[Otter Spotter]

Dipsie
Just spotted your post, could you photograph your mod and post it please.