How do you replace Mazda b2200 door latch?

Answer 1

I just replaced the door latch mechanism inside the door on a Mazda B2200. It was not too difficult to do as long as you have some mechanical ability.

Trouble Symptoms: The door would not open using either the latch outside the door or the release latch on the inside of the door.

The resolution to the problem is replacing a small 1/4" spring on the latch mechanism inside the door. Unfortunately Mazda will NOT sell just the spring. You must buy the whole latch assembly (for approximately $120). In my case, I refuse to pay that much!! I went to a junk yard in Houston and purchased the the latch assembly for $35.

To start you must remove the inside door cover. First remove the two screws holding the arm rest. The armrest should just pull off or fall off when the second screw is removed. Then remove the window rollup and rolldown handle. To do this push in the panel behind the knob then you will see a spring C-clip holding the handle onto the handle shaft. Pry off the clip (be careful as this is spring loaded and flys off as it comes off so it is easy to lose). Once it is off the knob and the back plate should slide off the shaft.

Now remove the screw holding the inside door latch. Unscrew the screw and pull out the latch. You will see that it is attached to a metal rod. There is a plastic fitting holding the "L" shaped end of the rod on the latch. Pry off the plastic part of the fitting that is on the longer part of the rod. The pull the "L" part out of the latch. The latch should now be free to remove from the door.

Now it is a matter of putting a screw driver between the leather door cover and the metal door. Pry outward toward you. There a plastic snap fittings that pop loose as you pry. Try to pry near the fittings so that they do not pull though the panel. Once they are all loose (about 10 or 12) the panel should lift up towards the top of the door. (Might take a tap or two with the palm of your hand.) If it does not come off, check for another plastic snap fitting still holding the door panel on. Take off panel. Peel back plastic insulator from top left corner near the push button lock. Look inside the door and you will see the latch mechanism. There will be four rods attached to the mechanism. (Kinda looks like spagetti and way to complicated, but trust me they are bent so that it is fairly easy to put them back together.)

Look inside the door past the latch mechanism and you will see 2 10mm nuts. These nuts hold the outside door latch on. I took these off so the the latch was looser in the door and easier to move. I then remove the 3 Phillips screws that were in the door jam. This releases the door latch mechanism, however the mechanism is still held in place by the window rail which is also a 10 mm bolt in the door jam. Once this is removed the rail comes loose in the door as does the latch. I then removed the plastic fittings on the other two rods, one for the keylock, one for the pushbutton lock. The last rod is the rod between the outside latch and the latch mechanism inside the door. This MUST be unscrewed from the outside latch as there are no plastic fittings. This was done for security of the vehicle. One the latch is loose inside the door just push the rod so that the rod pushes out the outside door latch -- then unscrew it. The installation is the reverse of these steps. I choose to replace the tiny spring from then salvaged latch on my old latch, however you can either replace the entire latch or just the spring. REMEMBER there is a difference between the drivers side latch and the passenger side latch so specify accordingly.