Broken door check strap (pix)
 

Just replaced the right rear door check strap. In case anyone's wondering what can happen to them to go bad, here's a look.
My front driver's door seems to be giving me warning signs too. How common is it for these things to fail?

Pretty common Chris. I would say about every 80-120k miles on the drivers door. I don't know why they do not hold up any better than they do.

Is this the cause of the popping when the door is opened? I may need one for mine if it is. How hard is it to replace?

A popping sound was one of my symptoms....followed by the door getting stuck in the open position and being VERY difficult to close.

As for replacement:
The hardest part is the whole door panel removal and reinstallation. Other than that, you just have to remove 3 bolts and the part comes right off.....Oh, and the removal of the 'pin' that attaches to the door frame was kinda difficult to remove (tight).

Overall, easy job....if you don't run into any problems, it can be done in under an hour.

ck42 , your post inspired me to take apart my door (rear passenger side) that would not open more than half way. result same as you . spring was toasted:rolleyes:
having no spare took out the offending spring , put everything back together again and now the door opens fully albeit without the 'middle' stop.
maybe someday i will buy a replacement , but for now it works ok.

84300DT:

Good to hear! The part itself is only about $13 :cool:

The new ones come with a plastic cover that keeps water out, should make them last longer than the original.

I've put three in the 300TE and one into the 300d -- that one was fine actually, except that the rear screw had come out, and the "ears" on the front fatigued and broke off. If the screw had fallen down and rattled, I'd probably not had to replace it, but is stayed up in the door and was silent....

Watch that you dont' trap and crush the vac/pressure lock line when replacing.

Peter

I have a replacement in my 108 car to be put in next time I feel like taking the door apart. On mine, the aluminum casting at the end broke loose preventing the sprung wheel from keeping the door open. The previous owner obviously had probs with it and installed a stack of washers to compensate for a bent inner door panel. So, I've got some work to do....

Sholin

Yeah, I have to weld up the door where the front bolts go -- cracked right through, probably a result of having a bad check all these years. PO didn't take very good care of the old thing.

Peter