Sliding door latch not functioning

One of my doorwall latches aren't latching right. When I push the handle, it's suppoed to pop the latch out, then move up and lock in. There's an adjustment screw to bring the latch in and out, but I have to adjust it all the way in or else the latch moves up all the way, THEN pops out.

So it short, latch should pop out then hook up. It's hooking up, then poping out.

Is this something that maybe could just be oiled? I'll get a picture up in a few minutes.

 

Welcome to the forums.

Not knowing what type of doors those are I have to wonder if maybe the locks are in upside down. If the latch arm came down to lock it wouldn't have a tendency to slide out of the strike plate.

What do you think ?

 

I have two others that are installed the same way. When I start pushing the lever, I can reach in and pull the latch out, but it won't come out on it's own like it's supposed to unless adjusted all the way in.

 

Hmmmm....... then maybe it could benefit with a little lubrication.

 

I'm not positive....but I swear it should reach out and latch down. Can't tell from the pics...but a very common latch mechanism in your area has a history of a small spring inside breaking. It presents symptoms like you describe.

 

The orientation of the latch looks normal to me. It's similar to that used by Andersen and many other generic vinyl door latches.

The piece that that hook latches onto may have a height adjustment that could be adjusted up or down. (likely down) See if you can loosen some screws and adjust it as needed.

Or it could be that the door is out of alignment with the jamb (bring the door almost closed and see if the gap of light that shows along the entire side of the door is STRAIGHT or TAPERED. If it's tapered, one of the rollers on the bottom of the door needs to be adjusted. (likely the latch side roller would need to be adjusted UP if there is a larger gap on the side of the door near the bottom as compared to the side near the top).

Its funny that it seems like it's only people from michigan that call patio doors "door walls". Must be a local thing!

 

I had never heard of door walls until I moved to michigan.

I'll try lubing it. It's in my baby's "safe room" and I don't have anything non-drippy around the house so I'll have to buy something. If that doesn't work I'll see if I can disassemble and find that spring.

Thanks.

ETA: just found the door and window forum, maybe a mod could move it there.

 

Lubed it with some CLP and a cotton swab. It works.