Car Door Won't Open Fully

[Erisari]

I tried doing a search and could not find anything on this topic... If there is, I apologize for a duplicate post!

Here is the quick run down - it's cold! I'm not sure if this has any or all to do with the reason my driver's side door will not open fully. I'm pretty sure this happened last year too.

Long version - Tuesday we had a bit of snow/rain mix overnight and it froze my door shut a little on Wednesday morning. I was able to get it open by getting the ice off the door. But, when I went to open the door it opened up until the hinge had tension and wouldn't open any further. I'm a 125 lb woman with very little upper body strength. I'm weak - I know this! I was able to squeeze into the car without a problem. I get to work after the car has been running for about 20 minutes with the heat and I try to get out. The door still won't open fully. I mess with the door in the parking lot for a bit, seeing if there is ice or anything in the hinge. Nada! I was able to get it to open fully with after pushing a little harder. :banana: After that, I was able to open and close it easier. I had no issues after work getting in or out the car.

Cut to this morning. No snow, no rain, no frost on the car. It is 9 degrees F out and freezing my butt off as I raced to my car this morning. Again, it wouldn't open but til the hinge tension! Am I completely stupid and missing something here? I had no issues with the door over the spring, summer, and fall. I feel like I recall this issue happening last winter.

Do I just need to WD-40 the hinge? Anybody else having this issue?

 

[Natesriv]

That is odd... There's nothing holding the door on but a couple of hinges and there's a bundle of wires going into it to power the speakers and door buttons..
Unless there's some ice built up in the forward part of the door which prevents the full swing of the door I can't guess...that's very odd.

Not WD-40, that's a penetrant oil...

Something like a spray on grease would work. Get door open, look at hinges, spray hinges, open and close door a few times to work the grease into the hinges

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Champion-Chain-Lube-Multi-Purpose-Spray-Grease/16881733

 

[Papasonic]

That is odd... There's nothing holding the door on but a couple of hinges and there's a bundle of wires going into it to power the speakers and door buttons..
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Don't forget the door check/detent assemblies that hold the door open at predetermined positions. If this mechanism is bent, frozen or damaged in some manner; the door will bind as the OP described.

 

[Erisari]

That is odd... There's nothing holding the door on but a couple of hinges and there's a bundle of wires going into it to power the speakers and door buttons..
Unless there's some ice built up in the forward part of the door which prevents the full swing of the door I can't guess...that's very odd.

Not WD-40, that's a penetrant oil...

Something like a spray on grease would work. Get door open, look at hinges, spray hinges, open and close door a few times to work the grease into the hinges

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Champion-Chain-Lube-Multi-Purpose-Spray-Grease/16881733

Don't forget the door check/detent assemblies that hold the door open at predetermined positions. If this mechanism is bent, frozen or damaged in some manner; the door will bind as the OP described.

Thanks for the responses! I had some WD-40 and sprayed it on the door hinge last night and it seemed to help loosen the door a bit. The hinge is pretty simple as you described. I did not see any noticeable damage or ice on it at the time. I had no issues opening the door this morning.

I will definitely look into the product you linked.

 

[Natesriv]

don't forget the door check/detent assemblies that hold the door open at predetermined positions. If this mechanism is bent, frozen or damaged in some manner; the door will bind as the op described.

good point!!

 

[ChicksHateMe]

I was just searching for this problem as well as "Sticky Door" or "Door Sticking".

Next month is my 3 Year anniversary, so I want to make sure everything's good. I had some issues early on, but a __GOOD__ Dealer fixed those issues, and this is the first problem I've had since. It feels so tight that I thought it was metal bending on metal, or ice in the door jams. Wicked tight.

I'm not sure whether I should bring it in, or if I should just handle it myself.

I'm afraid WD-40 is too thin and would only be a short-term solution. Even that can of grease seems like it might be too thin and short-term.

I'm thinking I need something thicker, like real grease, but not sure what to use, where to use it, and if it would just get all over the place.

It looks like there was some grease on the door check/detent assembly, but not much and it feels old and sticky. Maybe just not made for the cold.

I might call or just stop by the car dealership and see what they recommend...

 

[5.0]

I had this problem the first year I owned the car (2012). The drivers side rear door would only open half way. I used rust check in the green can and never had a problem since. It's thicker than penetrating oil. Coat the hinge pins and the piece that goes in and out of the opening in the door. Never had a problem since.