Hello, long story short, I opened my rear right passenger door this afternoon to about the 1/3 open rest point and the hinge made a dull creaking/groaning sound. It will not close - pretty much locked in place. I know I cannot close it without certainly breaking the hinge and probably damaging the body too. Also, the front passenger door was open and I don't dare close it because it will crush the frozen rear door.

If possible could someone please diagnose the problem and explain a possible solution? I'm not that mechanically inclined so I might have to have the car towed but not too sure how I will 1.) get the car out of the garage with doors open and 2.) keep the doors stationary while towing the car (can I even tow it with both doors open on a flatbed?). Thank you much. I appreciate it.

The culprit is the door check strap. In between the two hinges on the door is the door check. look at the part of the door that faces front when its closed and above and below the strap you will see two 10mm bolts. Remove them and see if the door will let you close it- there is a third bolt behind the door panel, but sometimes you get lucky and it may have fallen out already. If not, thentry working the door back and forth a little to see if you can close it- it may take quite a bit of force and sound horrible but you may be able to "break" the door check so one of the ball bearings falls out and will let you close the door.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350