Door Check Failed Me at 2AM!!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pawoSD · #1 02-10-2007, 02:50 AM

I got home tonight at around 2am, opened my rear door to get a box off the seat, heard a "Creeeaaaunkkcrack" sound when I opened the door....

and proceeded to not be able to close the door AT ALL, it was open, stuck fast. So I pushed on it and applied pressure, it bent the little door check arm, I pulled, pushed, back and forth until it broke the door check arm in half....then I got a hammer and wrench, took out the pin, removed the large piece hanging from the door jam, then I dremeled off most of the "stub" sticking out from the check in the door....took me about 25 mins, in the FREEZING COLD (13F)

So now my rear passenger door has no door check, and I need to order one. I must say, the door moves very smoothly without a check....

I am VERY glad I had gotten home when that happened, had I been somewhere else I'd have not been able to fix it/close the door to drive home!

networkboy · #2 02-10-2007, 02:57 AM

That happened to me about a month ago, happened to have some Liquid Wrench PB in the car, squirted that in there and presto! door worked.

Followed that up with Tri-Lube on all the hinges and door checks. Noticed that the PO had to replaced the driver side one, as it did not match the car's paint...
-nB

barry123400 · #3 02-10-2007, 02:58 AM

When i saw the heading I thought perhaps some young lady had kicked the rear door open and destroyed the door check. The time was about right. Hardly worth a half hour in the cold otherwise. I guess you cannot keep us old letcherous guys down.

pawoSD · #4 02-10-2007, 03:18 AM

Yeah, I knew that a lube wouldn't fix it, it was completely broken/jammed....so I opted to break it.

It had been creaking a little bit before, but I didn't realize it'd just up and seize like that.

I guess I should just travel with my Dremel in the trunk so I can cut parts off the car that fail!

networkboy · #5 02-10-2007, 03:56 AM

seriously, a little lube woulda fixed it!
My car was doing the creak-thud then just outright siezed. PB broke it free and the tri-lube fixed it!
-nB

MBeige · #6 02-10-2007, 05:15 AM

My guess is the cold temps made it even worse. Driver door check strap groaned on me for weeks. Never failed to function, but I was worried. WD40 and let it sit and groaning stopped. But I wasn't going to risk it so I bought a new one, painted the strap, and installed it while doing other related bits. The original touch up stick can come in handy with small projects like this. You wouldn't know it was new

Astroman · #7 02-10-2007, 09:50 AM

I had my driver's rear door check strap freeze open on me at a gas station in the middle of a 700 mile road trip. No amount of spray lube would free it. Luckily I travel with a tool box in the trunk. I pulled around back, removed the door panel and then the check strap. The 126 check straps do fail catastrophically and cannot be repaired. When the spring and the ball become too worn, they fall out of place and it's done. Unfortunately they seem to fail in the open position. If you open the door, and hear a really nasty creaking sound, count yourself lucky if you get it closed again.

rg2098 · #8 02-10-2007, 10:27 AM

Its so ironic how someone always posts a problem I just resolve. Mine seized 2 days ago and I replaced it last night. I wouldn't bother trying to fix it, they are cheap. I just slammed the door and bent the check-strap closed. Worked fine when you remember not to open the door until you have time to fix it.

dougk · #9 02-10-2007, 11:18 AM

I broke mine about 10 months ago and never got around to fixing but it was a pain to break. I am glad to hear that it is an easy fix as I was pretty angry when my sister told me that she broke the back door.

DK

PatricdeBoer · #10 02-10-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg2098

Its so ironic how someone always posts a problem I just resolve. Mine seized 2 days ago and I replaced it last night. I wouldn't bother trying to fix it, they are cheap. I just slammed the door and bent the check-strap closed. Worked fine when you remember not to open the door until you have time to fix it.

Ha! same here. Lucky for me I was at home, it was a balmy nice day and I had a spare.

MS Fowler · #11 02-10-2007, 11:35 AM

The door check did not know it was 2am.

pawoSD · #12 02-10-2007, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

The door check did not know it was 2am.

I know...

I wasn't as mad at it after it wasn't that hard to get off. And I was even more suprised that fastlane sells the door checks for $19.27...I have one on the way already, along with two engine belts.

JimmyL · #13 02-10-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

I got home tonight at around 2am,

Once again proving that nothing good happens after midnight.....

Hatterasguy · #14 02-10-2007, 02:27 PM

Yeah its a commen failure point on W126's and W140's, luckly they are cheap and easy to change. Get a can of spray paint if you want the new door check to match.

Not always but usualy they seem to make some noise before they fail, so if yours is groaning when you move the door better change it soon.

rg2098 · #15 02-10-2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

... Get a can of spray paint if you want the new door check to match.

Or replace them all so they match. Gives a nice contrasting accent in the door jamb.

I can't believe how much smoother my door is with the new strap in place. I really need one on the 16V. The rear door is really stiff and makes a ton of noise. I try not to use it very much.