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Here ya' go: Left and right sides, I rechecked the receipt, it was done in 2008 by Hendrick at 52,201 miles. The car currently has 84,748 miles. All actual documented miles. Glenn Left Right
Drivers side is starting click. Here’s a pic. So is the consensus spot welding can work? Really don’t want to cut into the A pillar. Can’t believe that’s the actual fix.
Drivers side is starting click. Here’s a pic. So is the consensus spot welding can work? Really don’t want to cut into the A pillar. Can’t believe that’s the actual fix.
Spot welding won't likely work once the factory welds have already gone (clicking sound). Proper repair means door removal and cutting a window into the A-pillar.
Here's a pic of poor spot welding after the factory welds broke.
The following picture is of a failed check-strap that was mostly ignored.
After reading this post I finally got around to looking at my door straps. Both of mine have the very clean welds on the bottoms. However, the driver's side is cracked. The door strap is still in tack without any clicking, I am going to have the crack repaired and hope that holds.
First photo is of the driver's side and the second of the passenger side.
^ I would cut out/re-center the drivers side before any further repairs. For whatever reason it was welded in the wrong location after initially failing.
Porsche used (and maybe continue) to not confine itself to aligning minor changes here and there during model years, and so it's not uncommon to find differences among cars of the same MY (i.e. some early build 95s [or European 94s] have basket handles and those close to 96s don't). Overall production numbers were small back then and Porsche wasn't exactly in top financial shape.
Knowing this design flaw, I now gingerly open and close the door; and tell the occasional passenger to do the same.
One question though: is there such a things a door strap repair specialist, or a good body shop should suffice; knowing the car may eventually need one?
My question is similar to the last question. I don’t know if any of my local body shops are experts in this repair. Is there a guide available online for best practices to fix this if it comes up? I ask because I’m going to have the rear bumper cover resprayed, so it might be worthwhile to preemptively fix or evaluate the check straps while working on the car. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
For the record, my 96 C4S with 10/95 production date is welded at the bottom only. Both driver and passenger side doors are welded. Paint appears undisturbed so I assume from the factory. I’ve owned it 16 years.
Passenger door hinge
Last edited by autobonrun; 11-09-2021 at 06:31 PM.
On my MY 95, it has the tiny welds on the underside, no welds above, pretty sure this is factory, I bought the car with 20k miles from the first owner 15 years ago, car now has 30k miles..
Porsche used (and maybe continue) to not confine itself to aligning minor changes here and there during model years, and so it's not uncommon to find differences among cars of the same MY (i.e. some early build 95s [or European 94s] have basket handles and those close to 96s don't). Overall production numbers were small back then and Porsche wasn't exactly in top financial shape.
Knowing this design flaw, I now gingerly open and close the door; and tell the occasional passenger to do the same.
One question though: is there such a things a door strap repair specialist, or a good body shop should suffice; knowing the car may eventually need one?
Imagining how the request would be interpreted by your passenger. "Oh. BTW... please move the door very, very slowly as you open and close it on my $80k Porsche."
Aside from playing Russian Roulette every time you open/close the door what might prolong the inevitable is placing a half moon piece of Delrin or similar material in the slot on both sides of the door check strap. This is where the trouble begins because the elongation of the slot allows the strap to leverage back and forth. Why Porsche didn't make this opening the same dimension as the check strap is curious.
FWIW: People keep referring to these welds as "spot welds". They are not. These are glorified tack welds or short beads.
Last edited by notfastenough; 11-18-2021 at 09:23 AM.
When this thread first started I thought there was no way that the welds were done by Porsche. After reading all of the postings and seeing photos (& finding that my cab has them) I believe Porsche did this. Why on early ones and why they didn't address an obvious defect is beyond me.
When this thread first started I thought there was no way that the welds were done by Porsche. After reading all of the postings and seeing photos (& finding that my cab has them) I believe Porsche did this. Why on early ones and why they didn't address an obvious defect is beyond me.
Chances are complaints started arriving to Porsche after some cars were already produced, sold, and on the street. It probably wasn’t obvious during initial testing. Some issues aren’t obvious until a product is in everyday use. This would be a solution from the factory to cars still in production.
10-25-2021, 02:26 PM
