What Causes the Car Door to Make Abnormal Noises?
3 Answers
If the car has been used for a period of time, it is necessary to check whether the door seal has aged. Since the seal is made of rubber, over time, the seal will gradually age and deteriorate, which can cause noticeable wind noise and friction sounds for the occupants. The related details are as follows: 1. If the seal is aged or damaged, it is recommended to replace it directly. Regularly clean the dust and rainwater between the seal gaps during daily use to prevent aging. The door and body are connected by hinges, and the noise produced by hinges over time is normal. To ensure the hinges remain smooth and silent, lubricating oil should be applied every 2-3 months for maintenance. 2. Everyone applies different force when opening and closing the door, which over time can lead to significant wear on the door hinges. If there is a feeling of stiffness when opening or closing the door, it indicates reduced lubrication of the hinges. At this point, lubricant should be applied to the hinges to improve lubrication. Long-term lack of lubrication can lead to wear, resulting in issues such as the door not closing tightly and abnormal noises.
Last time, my car's front left door kept making a creaking sound, which annoyed me so much that I specifically went to check the cause. The mechanic said the most common issue is lack of lubrication in the door hinges—over time, the grease dries up, causing friction noises. Another possibility is wear and tear on the door stopper, which makes a clicking sound every time it reaches a certain angle. I also noticed that after rainy days, the weatherstripping can become stiff and produce friction noises, but wiping it with a damp cloth helps. The most hidden issue, however, is loose screws inside the interior trim panels—on bumpy roads, it sounds like a tiny drum. Now, I spray some WD-40 on the hinges every month and tighten the interior trim screws while I'm at it, and the noises have mostly disappeared. Never ignore door issues—small problems can easily turn into major repairs.
Door squeaking is mostly caused by mechanical wear. The hinge pin is the primary culprit—when it lacks lubrication, metal-on-metal friction creates that annoying creak. A loose door check spring makes opening and closing feel jerky. Aging door seals are even more interesting, staying quiet on sunny days but singing in the rain. Also inspect the door latch mechanism—worn fasteners can prevent doors from closing tightly, causing vibration noises. Loose window regulator brackets often contribute to secondary rattles. Once encountered a rare case where unsecured trunk tools reflected sound to the doors. Start by spraying lubricant on hinges, then check seals and door checks—this solves most issues. Persistent noises require removing interior panels to inspect fasteners.
