Rattle and shake.

[DarkMatter]

Maybe this is normal, but whenever I drive over a rough surface my drivers door rattles/shakes a lot. The passenger door doesn't rattle/shake anywhere near as much.

I have adjusted/tightened the hinges so there is no play there. I have also adjusted the striker plate, even to the point where you have to lift the door to close it.

It is definately not the window rattling, the noise sounds like the catch knocking against the striker plate. I'm beginning to wonder whether the door catch or striker plate are worn.

I know that I have to expect a certain amount of scuttle shake and rattles in a convertible, but is this normal for an "S", am I just being too fussy?

[clive f]

when you close the door do you have to give it a firm push to lock the catch home on the 2nd click of the catch? could there be anything loose inside the door rattling about, its fairly easy to remove the door panel to investigate.

[steve j]

Yeah I agree with clive, I have something loose in my drivers door, maybe a nut or washer, when you close the door can you hear the rattle.

[clive f]

No, thats the creak from his wallet!!!

[NicBowman]

Hi, when I first got my S the drivers door shut fine, but on slamming it it would shut further, I discovered that the striker plate was way too far in and the door was only latching on the outer of two possible stops. Check the striker plate allows the door to shut fully (2 clicks). Otherwise, have you tried taking the trim off and looking for loose bits?

Nic

[Kentish]

Also check that you have the angled rubber buffer fitted in the body part of the door catch assembly.

[Ralph S3]

When I fist got mine the screw holding the top of the window rising mechanism (at the top end of the door above the strike plate) was loose giving rise to a similar rattle.

Ralph

[DarkMatter]

Thanks for all your suggestions so far. I'm quite certain that the noise is from the door catch bouncing on the striker plate.

I have already had the door panel off, when I tightened the hinges, and found nothing loose inside.

I'm fairly sure that the door is engaging the second latch, but will check.

The rubber wedge is still in place on the striker plate.

[keithyboy]

Are you sure its the door and not the window rattling in its channel (caused by the felt that should run thr length of it working loose)?

[DarkMatter]

keithyboy said:

Are you sure its the door and not the window rattling in its channel (caused by the felt that should run thr length of it working loose)?

I tried tugging at the window and detected no movement.

I guess the noise could be better described as a shudder or knocking, rather than a rattle. Having had another look at the catch and striker plate - which both look ok - I've come to the conclusion that there is some play in the lower hinge.

Looks like I need to read the availble material with a view to rectifying a hinge problem.

[DarkMatter]

I thought that an update to my rattling/shaking door may be of interest to some of you...

A close inspection of the door showed that there was about 5mm of vertical movement at the hinge end, but negligable movement at the catch end. From this I concluded that the hinges were not worn due to the weight of the door.

I tried tightening the top and bottom hinges, but there was no slack to be taken up. I suspect that due to manufacturing tolerances there has always been an excessive amount of vertical play in the door hinge. Wear on the cill and bonnet appear to support this theory.

I decided to slide a plastic packer between the door and cill at the hinge end. Lo and behold, this cured the noise (more of a knocking) which has been bothering me.

A more practical solution was required. I removed the door panel, front window support, and lower hinge (luckily the hinge bolts were not seized up) and placed a 4mm thick plastic washer between the hinge and the door. On retightening the hinge the extra washer has reduced the vertical play so that now there is virtually no rattling/shaking.

The hinges have top hat shaped nylon bushes. It is quite common for these bushes to wear. I'm not sure how thick the "rim" of the bush is - it is possible that fitting new bushes would also have reduced the vertical play in the door.

Here are some photographs of the hinge parts, and the inside of the door - they may help anyone else considering working on the hinges...

The first two pictures show the hinges (copied from an append by yellabelly)
[pic] http://home.btconnect.com/DarkMatter/hinge1.jpg [/pic]
The two round holes visible in the next picture are much larger than the bolts securing them to the door - this allows the door to be adjusted fore and aft, in and out, and diagonally.
[pic] http://home.btconnect.com/DarkMatter/hinge2.jpg [/pic]
The following pictures show the inside of the door where the hinge fits, then the hinge in position, and finally the window support attached to the hinge.
[pic] http://home.btconnect.com/DarkMatter/hinge3a.jpg [/pic]
[pic] http://home.btconnect.com/DarkMatter/hinge4a.jpg [/pic]
[pic] http://home.btconnect.com/DarkMatter/hinge5a.jpg [/pic]


(edited to correct problems with pictures)

>> Edited by DarkMatter on Tuesday 20th September 14:12

>> Edited by DarkMatter on Tuesday 20th September 14:15