Door striker problems

[wood8835th]

Passenger side door striker is siezed up and wont loosen opr tighten with penetrating oil and all the nudging I can give it.

What is the smartest way to get to it to examine, remove, replace it?

 

[jmccloud]

Stuck striker

These things are a real booger to break free. I don't know what your year uses for a fastener, phillips or hex. But get a tool that goes on a square drive ratchet then get another set of hands to help. As one person applies torque, the other should whack the back of the ratchet with a large 'dead blow' hammer (driving the phillips or hex into the fastener). The shock will break the fastener loose. An old Navy noncom showed me this trick in the 60's and it usually works. You can also use a screwdriver-like handle for the phillips or hex tool but much more torque can be applied with the ratchet.
A 'dead blow' hammer is polyethelyne filled with lead shot. Many tool supply houses carry them (like Hollingsworth in Wilmington DE near where I live). A big rock will work too.
Hope this helps.

 

[DMGroh]

I have a similar problem only that I have the correct torx tool. I can get the striker (bolt) loose, but there is no movement. All 3 manuals say there is a caged nut behind the door frame.

Would loosening the striker 3-4 complete turns then lightly hitting it on it head (like driving a nail with a hammer) do the trick? Or is there something special. I know how easily fiberglass can crack, so I want to ask twice and hit once.