If your car door keeps popping open, it’s probably because of a few simple things. Here’s how to fix them.
The weather stripping around your car doors is designed to keep out the elements and ensure that the door doesn’t swing open while driving. If this rubber or foam has dried out or cracked, it won’t keep water and air out of your car as well as it should. This can cause the doors to stick or make them harder to close when you want them to stay shut. To fix this problem, remove the weather stripping around your door (it may require some prying), clean it off with soap and water and let it dry completely before replacing it on your car door.
If your door still won’t stay closed despite replacing its weather stripping, there’s probably something wrong with how the latch works on your car door. You’ll need to remove the handle from the inside of your car so that you can access its mechanism more easily without breaking anything in the process. Consult an auto parts store for instructions on how best to do this safely if you’ve never done so before.
If your door is sticking or squeaking when you close it, applying some lubricant may help. This includes WD-40, known for its ability to dissolve rust and lubricate metal parts. If there’s a lot of friction between moving parts in your latch mechanism, apply a thin layer of grease or oil to reduce friction.
The cables that pull up and down each side of the door are called lift cables. They’re made of steel wire rope and run through pulleys on either side of the vehicle so they can be pulled up and down by hand to open and close the door. If one breaks, it can cause your door to pop open when you least expect it. Luckily, it’s not hard to fix if you have some basic tools and know how to use them.
If your door doesn’t stay closed because one of its cables has snapped or broken, replace it with a new one from an auto parts store or repair shop. A professional technician can do this for you if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.
The regulator is what controls the window and door opening and closing mechanism in your car. If it’s broken or malfunctioning, you’ll need to replace it before fixing your door that keeps popping open.
The hinges on your car are attached to each side of the body panel that houses your door opening mechanism. They connect with a pin through holes drilled into them from inside and outside the vehicle body panel, where they meet in the middle of the hinge assembly, called pivot points. If one of these pivot points becomes loose or damaged, it can cause problems for your car doors, including making them more likely to pop open when driving down the road or parked in a parking lot somewhere.
Remember, if your door pops open in the middle of driving, you should slow down and pull over to a safe place quickly, and as soon as it is safe, secure the door with all available safety devices. Ultimately, it is best not to drive a car with a door that keeps popping open.