Door check straps noisy or knocking?

If you own a Vauxhall, you'll no doubt be used to check straps - the device that stops your door opening too far and also holds it open - getting noisy.

I'll concentrate on the early models first staring with my favourite, the Corsa B (Astra F's too). Open the door and I'm sure you'll see a rusty stain appearing from the A pillar where the check strap attaches. The "roll pin" will be worn out and just needs replacing. You just tap it up and out with a hammer and punch and fit a new one in exactly the same way. Keep your knee against the door to keep pressure off as it comes out. (The parts are cheap and readily available at the dealers.) Wipe the stained paintwork with a rag and WD40 and it should look as good as new. Best of all, it will now be silent.

The other main offender is the Vectra B. Again you will need to buy a new part from a Vauxhall dealer but this time it's a small plastic bush. Undo the 10mm headed bolt out of the check strap and push the shoulder bolt up while easing pressure off it by holding the door. Remove the bush, fit the new one in and replace the bolt. Simple and easy and that annoyng knock will have disappeared!

On the later Astras (G model onwards) and Zafira's, Vectra C, Corsa C and Meriva's it is usually just a case of tightening the bolts that actually mount the check strap to body and door. Check them all for tightness and, hey presto, the noise should be gone.

You can add a little spray grease to all the moving parts too if they are coarse when moving.