Chrysler Repair: rear driver side door latch: Neon, door latch, striker plate

Question
ok hey iv looked everywhere and have had no luck but maybe you can help me, i have a 2001 neon and the door latch on the rear driver door wont latch shut it moves like theres no spring in it i can get it to stay shut most of the time but it takes an hour of good moving the latch manually to get it aligned just enough to stay shut what do yothink i should do

Answer
Hi Justin,
If the latch mechanism itself operates differently from the one on passenger side, then you might want to get a replacement latch at a junk yard or a dealer and install it. You would have to remove the inner trim panel and also a plastic water covering to access it. You have to remove the connection rods from the lock button and the release handle inside and then remove the screws to release the mechanism. If the problem seems to be the interconnection between the latch and the striker plate on the door frame, that striker plate is adjustable so you would loosen the screws on that a bit which would allow you to move the striker up/down or out/in to better mate with the latch. Look carefully at the intersection of the latch with the striker using a flashlight as the door is just about to close so as to see if it might be resolved by moving the striker up or down.
Other than that I can't suggest anyother solution.
Roland