Driver's door not shutting properly

[CoriBug]

The driver's door doesn't shut properly, leaving a gap between the black part of the door (above the outside door handle) and the body. The passenger's door is fine. When I wash Daisy with the high powered wand at the car wash, a small amount of water seeps through. All the seals look ok but there seems to be a problem with the door locking mechanism. It doesn't move as easily as the passenger side.

Would a little WD-40 solve my problem??

TIA!!

[wawalker]

I'm concerned that you are only describing the upper part of the door as sitting out away from the body--is it out below the door handle too? Has your door ever been thrown open hard by the wind? Could be tweeked if so. Post a pic if you can.

[CoriBug]

No, the lower part of the door is ok. Yes the door has been thrown open pretty hard by the wind. A couple times, actually. I will go take a picture.

[CoriBug]

Driver's door - I can see how this would require a little more than WD-40. I wonder if my insurance company would see this as an 'incident' and not 'wear and tear'....

[CoriBug]

passenger door for comparison

[wawalker]

Ouch. Well, seeing that I think you should prolly go talk to a good body shop. I had a similar problem on an old Rabbit, but in that case someone tried to get into the car by pulling out the top 1/2 of the door so they could pop the lock--I wrapped a 2x4 with a towel, closed the door against it and bent the top of the door back in and it worked perfectly, but the NB is no Mk.1 Rabbit.

[CoriBug]

Thanks for the reply. I already know the body shop I would take her to. My insurance policy does not list "wind" as being covered or not being covered so I need to ask my agent Monday. My deductible for comprehensive is ZERO.

And, no, the NB is not a Rabbit!!!

[jiggseob]

On my 98 tdi Beetle, the top hinge bolt worked itself out.

I had exactly the same symptoms, saggy door, wind whistle, some water leaks.

A closer check found I could lift the back of the door - with the door open - up and down and inch or so. Lotsa play somewhere. I could see the play in the top hinge.

I decided I was going to check out the top door hinge. I took the two phillips screws out of the plastic hinge-mirror bracket cover; you get to them from the door hinge area with the door open. Slide the plastic cover forward, and it pops off. In my case, something fell on the floor. I chased down what fell, it was a taper countersunk bolt. It came from the bottom of the top hinge. 6mm allen wrench and put the bolt back in, door closes perfectly now. No leaks no whistles. Zero dollar fix. I was lucky that the bolt fell out and got trapped in the plastic cover, rather than falling onto the road and being gone. If your plastic cover fits properly and isn't busted, the bolt can't get lost, but it can work itself out so it doesn't hold the hinge.

It would suck to pay a body shop $100+ to fix something you could fix in 5 minutes.

I hope your problem is that simple. With the door open about a foot, try and lift up on the rear of the door. If you've got play, and wobble, you have to find the loose-ness and eliminate it.

Jiggs.

[CoriBug]

Thank you! I will check that out tomorrow.

[jiggseob]

Keep us posted what you find.

Jiggs

[CoriBug]

The issue required a body shop because the door hinge was bent.
However, since the wind caused this problem and "wind" is covered under comprehensive on my insurance, Bristol West (Farmers) took care of it for me.
And my comp deductible is $0.
And the body shop, a very reputable one, fixed it today.

They did a superb job - removed the door, replaced upper door hinge, filled in with a little epoxy, add paint and clear coat, and voila!! All done.