SOLVED 2007 Denali driver door popping against fender

[11bravo]

Hey, guys,

Just this afternoon, the driver door started bumping against the fender on opening. Nothing crazy happened prior to this that I am aware of. I can see that the gap is very small, and paint has been rubbed away. On the inside, I see nothing indicating a shift in the hinges, etc. It's a loud pop on opening, nothing on closing. Is there anything I can do before throwing money at a body shop to see what they say? Thanks for the help in advance. Jim

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I had a popping situation with my Denali drivers door, but it was on the rear of the door, and it was contacting the side trim piece.

 

[11bravo]

I had a popping situation with my Denali drivers door, but it was on the rear of the door, and it was contacting the side trim piece.

What did you do to resolve it?

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I cut off the end of the trim piece, so that it would not contact the door when opening it.

In your case, I'd recommend taking it to a body shop and ask them what can be done to resolve your issue. To my knowledge, the door hinges are not adjustable for alignment purposes, but I've never looked real closely at them.

 

[Blackcar]

Have you had any mechanical work done to vehicle recently?

 

[11bravo]

Have you had any mechanical work done to vehicle recently?

No, no work done. Thinking back, I know it was very windy (35-40mph) the day I first heard the popping. Maybe a gust of wind caught it when door was opened. I could see that the edge of the door at the top/back was very slightly further out than the body area it closed against. I placed a small 2x4 at the bottom back edge, and closed the door so it was against the body metal at the bottom. I pushed the top of the door in (closer to closing) several times, and it stopped the popping on the fender. I removed the 2x4, and closed the door. It now is even where it meets the body. No more popping.

 

[Blackcar]

Yea, I'd say wind may have tweaked a hinge.

 

[11bravo]

Have you had any mechanical work done to vehicle recently?

Only what I have done...new rear bags, new tires. Nothing in the last 3 weeks or so, and this issue showed up very suddenly.

 

[petethepug]

Another winner! Congrats on fending off a $750 auto body repair

“I placed a small 2x4 at the bottom back edge, and closed the door so it was against the body metal at the bottom. I pushed the top of the door in (closer to closing) several times, and it stopped the popping on the fender. I removed the 2x4, and closed the door. It now is even where it meets the body. No more popping.”

 

[Rocket Man]

Probably going to have to replace the hinges. Sounds like one or both got bent in the wind /2x 4 incident. Hard to tell which one. Unless you’re saying you fixed it with the 2 x 4 in which case lucky you.

 

[11bravo]

Just to wrap this up and put a bow on it...The popping returned, slightly. So, I loosened one of the two bolts on the top hinge, on the door side, slipped a small washer in between the door and the top hinge, and tightened the bolt just a bit. Then, I removed the bottom bolt of the top hinge on the door side, and did the same. Then, I tightened them both down all the way. The result was about a 1/16" larger gap between the fender and the door. It looks fine, and works with no pop, and no change to the closing of the door. All joints are in alignment, with no noticeable change to the gap, top to bottom. I think it is fixed this time...

 

[opfor2]

I replaced the lower hinge on my 2011 and I have the same issue. It's a door alignment issue that I will deal with once the LA riots stop and life gets back to normal.

 

[swathdiver]

Vehcor says the hinges are made from Playdomium. They bend easily which is a good and bad thing depending on who you ask.