Re: 1998 Convertible Door 'snapping sound' when opened or closed

"banker16" <clynnmurray@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:urmdnaCYMsYavN_anZ2dnUVZ_saknZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> > banker16 wrote:
> > When I open and close the drivers door it makes a 'snapping' sound.
> I can see what the cause is but don't know exactly how to repair it.
> The door 'stop' seems to have some sort of plastic covering.  This
> plastic piece is broken and part of it looks to be on the hinge
> pillar side and the rest of it slides on the door stop.  The one on
> the other door is covering the strap all the way to the pillar end.
> When you open or close the door this piece of plastic sticks to the
> strap for a while and then snaps forward making a loud sound when it
> strikes the other end on the door pillar.  You can see it 'jump'
> toward the door pillar when it makes this noise. It is quite
> annoying.  I wonder what the purpose of the plastic covering on the
> strap is?  It looks like the door stop strap is bolted on both ends
> and you would have to remove the door panel and remove that end from
> the inside of the door?
>
> Glenn
>
> I'll take your word on it and you  are correct in that I don't
> understand the reason for putting a plastic covering on a metal strap
> that keeps the door from opening too far? It seems to me that the
> metal strap is doing the job so I fail to see the reason for the
> plastic covering?
>
> Lynn
>
I think it's kind of pointless to worry about how something was made 10 
years ago. There are two options here. Change the strap or listen to the 
clicking. You HAVE to remove the entire door panel to do this job. It's
not 
a hard job if you are handy at all. It just takes a little time. I think 
that when you get a look at it removed from the car you will see how it's 
really made and will understand it more. The concept was ok, but for some 
reason a LOT of them broke.