My driver rear door is stuck open. It seems the door check strap will not release and allow the door to close.

What kind of car is it?

__________________
Jim

Sorry in my haste I forgot to mention. '82 240D

give the check strap a few light whacks with a hammer. I would take the door panel off and replace/remove/fix problematic parts.

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

10 mm wrench/socket. remove and replace the checkstrap

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82 300D Turbo 124,000 mi.

I'm in the process of trying to remove the door panel right now and searching for the instructions to make sure that I don't screw anything up.

Fairly easy.

Use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the
black plastic in the door pull handle.
This will reveal a small phillips head screw, remove.
This will allow you to slowly pull the metal surround
down so you can access the phillips head screw
holding the top of the grab handle.
There are two more on the under side remove.
This will take of the whole handle.

Remove the pull knob by uncrewing it.
Carefully pry the plastic buttons holding
the doorpanel to the metal of the door.

The map pocket is also hooked to the metal, so be
carefull when removing the panel.

Once the panel is removed, remove the bottom half
of the vapor barrier.
Undo the 3 10mm bolts, 2 in the door sill and one
on the door it self.

Remove the C-clip on the pin holding the check
strap.
Then with a rubber mallet hit the pin up untill you
can remove the pin.

Installation is reverse of removal.

Louis.

PS: you might struggle some what when removing
the whole thing from the door.
Room is thight.