[jjfish]

That was what I was working on this weekend. Mine had neither. I imagine the white plastic is some kind or door unlocked warning feature. The other is hard to see what it’s attached to. I don’t have it but it may be related to the other feature.

 

[aslanefe]

My guess is that it keeps the spring rigid/straight so it does not flop around, not hit the latch and not rattle when you close the door. Plastic piece is perpendicular to latch surface in that area so it keeps the spring rigid in that direction. Holes at the end are used to pull it through the spring with a pick. Again, this is my guess.

 

[aslanefe]

That was what I was working on this weekend. Mine had neither. I imagine the white plastic is some kind or door unlocked warning feature. The other is hard to see what it’s attached to. I don’t have it but it may be related to the other feature.

He is asking about the red arrow. Blue line/yellow circle one is “door ajar warning switch” if I remember correct.

 

[handyandy87]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll just leave it be, then. It is so thin and flimsy, I thought it was just packaging someone forgot to remove, until I saw it on both latches, and then on someone's photo on VMF. I tried researching the web and found nothing. Also, it's not on the repro latches.

 

[stephanorf]

Do you mean the little plastic thingamabob that runs through that little latch spring?

Here's a pic of a similar spring and the thingamajig plastic thingy off of a 1969 Ford Galaxie. The spring broke, and it was near impossible to find replacement spring. I ended up buying a whole latch mechanism (used) just to get a new spring.

 

[22GT]

Hmmm… The "plastic thingy" is an anti-rattle device. The spring is what trips the latch closed, and will not latch if missing.

As for replacement springs, how many you want? Virtually every Mustang dealer sells a stainless steel replacement.

 

[stephanorf]

Hmmm… The "plastic thingy" is an anti-rattle device. The spring is what trips the latch closed, and will not latch if missing.

As for replacement springs, how many you want? Virtually every Mustang dealer sells a stainless steel replacement.

Just one, and for a 1969 Galaxie. Not sure if they are the same for a Mustang though.