No matter what type of car, truck, or SUV you drive, old or new, it probably has doors. Those doors are heavy, and they see a lot of use. Naturally, from time to time, parts wear out. If your door doesn’t function as well as it should, here’s why, courtesy of Elite Automotive LLC in Covington.
Hinges
Door hinges are the actual moving part on your vehicle’s door, and they connect it to the body. Your hinges may be worn out, broken, or have partially detached from either the door or the car itself. Hinges support a lot of weight, especially considering the amount of heavy electronics, air bags, and wiring that has been added to the modern car door. Malfunctioning hinges will allow a door to sag, creak when opened, cause difficulty opening or closing a door, or a combination of all three.
Bushings
Sometimes, the hinge itself is fine, but the bushing inside has worn out. Bad bushings often display the same symptoms as a faulty hinge but can typically be replaced without having to install a new hinge.
Misalignment
Doors must be precisely aligned in order to operate properly. If the door has previously been installed improperly, or has shifted over time, it may not open, close, and seal the way it should.
Internal Mechanics
Doors have a system of levers, springs, and latches inside them that allow the door to open when one of the handles are pulled and shut tightly when pulled closed. If any of these parts become dirty, rusty, bent, worn, or broken, your door will not open and close properly. Sometimes the solution is as simple as strategically applied WD-40, sometimes parts need to be replaced.
If one of your doors isn’t functioning correctly, it’s advised that you have the problem corrected before it escalates. Since proper door function relies on alignment, one problem leads to several very quickly. A door that sags will damage expensive weather-stripping, causing leaks and excessive road noise, will wear out the striker that holds your door closed, cause damage to latching and locking mechanisms, and further destroy hinges and welds...not to mention the general annoyance a malfunctioning door will cause you.
If your door isn’t working properly, don’t wait until the problem gets worse. Typically, repairing a door is an inexpensive and simple fix, unless neglected to the point that other components are damaged. For all your repair and maintenance needs, doors included, call or stop by Elite Automotive LLC today. Our team of qualified mechanics have the skill and ability necessary to service any car, truck, or SUV. Let us know what we can do for you.
