On my 1996 4 door XJ the Drivers door does not latch all the way...and rattles in the most annoying way. Should I get a new latch or new door assembly the door pin is adjusted all the way back and the door lines up with all body lines "now" after I just spent the time to adjust the shims. (door latch issue was there prior to the adjustments with no change.)

Here is a short crappy video of what my issues is.

 

Move striker in on body yet ?

 

yes it is pushed as far back as possible

 

The door latch has a plastic covering over the metal. My issue was the plastic wire and was bunched up around and inside not allowing it to travel in enough to lock into place. Had to pull all the plastic out with needle nose and a small pick.

 

Not wire. Just the plastic covering. Dang autocorrect

 

I have had to pull some plastic out before. It latches all way back when I latch it with a screwdriver. With the door striker should it be pushed in towards the passenger side or towards the drivers side.

 

To passenger to pull door in. With plastic gone it still may rattle.

 

So should I just buy a new latch?

 

When mine went bad I hit the junkyard. Used rear one from 4 door have a lot less wear and tear.

 

awesome I will have to run and grab one today!

 

If I remember theres one piece to swap over on latch because theres no key cylinder on rear doors. Pretty simple job .

 

I can just take it from my current latch with no issues correct.

 

Exactly very simple to do. Might of just been a plastic clip.

 

Mine still latched with a screwdriver but there was a piece of plastic that made it so there wasn't enough room for it to latch once the striker was in there. And my door doesn't rattle without it.

Also if the striker is moved too far to the passenger side the door will be unable to close far enough to let it fully enter the latch. Try moving it out toward the door if you haven't already gotten a replacement. Moving the striker to the passenger side would only help if the door was latching completely but not closed tightly.

 

I think you are on to something here and I was thinking the same. I have ran into this on other vehicles and some do indeed have a "half ****" latch position. It may be too far in to close all the way to the "full ****" latch position. Moving it back out some and then fine tuning it might be the answer to this problem.