147 GTA door card removal + slight "clunk"

Hi,

I have the "click clicking" noise of the door check strap everytime I open the door, lived with it for a few weeks now I just have to sort it out.

Read around the forum and found its a part i can buy from 'stealers pretty cheap, obviously have to take the door card off to change is this pretty easy to do? Any hidden screws? Experience from other cars tells me there's always one screw you miss and takes ages finding.

Also, unrelated to above, on the very odd occasion when I first get in the car and apply full lock to say get out of a parking space I'll hear a small clunk from the front suspension somewhere. Never have it when driving and its not an issue, just wondered if anyone could shed any light?

Cheers,
Mark

Is it an 05 Red car?

nope, black '04. why? do red cars develop more faults?

Have pretty much the same, mine are knocky sounding clicks for each opening of the door, three clicks when fully opened. Recall reading something about an offending screw somewhere that causes it, haven't attempted to track it down as yet. Passenger door is silent.

The steering clunk, doesn't make a similar sort of sound as the door by any chance does it? That's what I have, was on the occasion though it is now becoming more frequent, definitely steering related, sometimes with acceleration or braking but not over bumps. Almost feels like there is an obstruction and then pinching causing the knock... wishbones?

yeah the clicking is on what I've found out is called the check strap - the metal strip in the middle of the door opening. where this strap meets the body there is a securing pin and its this that has worn away and causing clicking. Next time you open the door watch it and you'll see it move with the clunk. It seems on other models this can be tightened up a star drive, but not on mine its a blank pin so have to replace the whole thing, and that means taking the door card off!

yeah the steering clunk is like the door i guess but a lot more muted and less noticable. Havent felt it while properly driving the car yet... hope it doesnt manifest into something nasty.

Thanks for that, will have to have a closer look after the weekend. The door's been doing it for a while now, only just started to bother me since this driving knock, do a double take every time switch off and open the door.

The driving knock could almost be the spring not sitting right, not sure if that is possible but that's kind of what it feels like, will have to have a closer inspection maybe find an open space to see exactly what is triggering it.


Hope this helps:

1. Remove the bolt cover.
2. Unscrew the panel retaining bolts.
3. Remove the panel (3a) from the internal retainers (3b) using the appropriate tool.
4. Lift up the panel an remove.

Brilliant thats just what I was after! Special removal tool? I'm sure I can make something work, have you/anyone else done this before and if so what you use?

I've taken many a door card off just always on older cars where I havent been too bothered if the clips break, this car is a little different. Best thing for this will be have a look myself, sunday job I reckon.

Still dont know about this clunking from suspension or whereever, I find myself listening for it now and starting to annoy me a bit on the odd occasion it happens

Only ever taken the Bose trim out the boot that was by hand, proper tool's that angled v-shaped thing under the spanner in the diagram, can't see a problem using some creative finger work though

All you will need is an allen key and a screw driver for the door card, be carefull getting the door handle plugs out, they can get ruined very easily as the plastic they are made of isn't that rugged. They only cost a few quid, so its not that bad an idea to replace them after removal.

Originally Posted by alimac1973

All you will need is an allen key and a screw driver for the door card, be carefull getting the door handle plugs out, they can get ruined very easily as the plastic they are made of isn't that rugged. They only cost a few quid, so its not that bad an idea to replace them after removal.

I think I read on here, like you said, that it is preferable to drill the cap off and replace it rather than risk marking the handle as replacing the handle means replacing the whole door card ! I think this was how a dealer went about the removal.

That clonking noise is interesting.......I have something similar on mine that sounds a bit like a spring moving on acceleration and braking. Interestingly I am changing my suspension this week to a set of coilovers, so I should be able to tell if it is the springs or not. I have also noticed that my engine top mount is in poor shape so I have ordered one of those to do at a similar time. Reason being that it sounded like something banging, or catching and releasing again after a heavy on and off the brakes. The rubber in the mount is split and it could be the rod hitting the outer margin when it pushes through the rubber.

Time to investigate.

E.

Cheers Beatbox, Blakey £4 that plug cost! but as you say there is no other way of getting it out without risk of marking the handle, wouldn't want to chance it. Check strap was £17, reasonable for what is quite a complicated mechanism.

No real surprises removing the door card, just to add, there's the corner where the wing mirror is that needs to come off, pulls out easily. A screw in the middle of the door, can't miss it, that undoes the controls for the windows / mirrors. Also the cable for the kerb light to disconnect & reconnect when taking the card off & on again.

When it is off, the speaker has to be removed to get to the check strap. Putting the door card back, the Bose 'tweeter' surround has to come out to get around the door handle at the same time as sliding the window sill back down, if you can do it to begin with even better, but the card comes off with it on, well it did anyway.


1 noise down, 1 to go!

Glad to hear you sorted it. Thanks for putting the pic up, saved for future reference.

Good work, I've ordered the check straps and blanking plate, only £13 and 50p not sure why the variation in price? Going to be my Sunday job can't wait to get rid of that noise.

I still have the steering clunk - let me know if you get that solved

Originally Posted by earthy

Good work, I've ordered the check straps and blanking plate, only £13 and 50p not sure why the variation in price? Going to be my Sunday job can't wait to get rid of that noise.

From a local fiat indie, think the mistake was leaving to them to get hold of the parts without getting a price beforehand... still, saved going out of my way to the dealer or postage elsewhere I guess.

Originally Posted by earthy

I still have the steering clunk - let me know if you get that solved

Will do, haven't had it examined yet, but been told that it could be the drop links.