Aw heck! Door click, electric windows squeak, shock mount click...

["Gerard van Vaugh" <gerard@acenet.co.za>]

Hi!

For a while now I've noticed that when I open
the driver's door completely it will make a "click"
at full travel. If you move it back and forth
a bit it will repeat the click. Seems to be coming
from the upper hinge on closer inspection. But,
there is this slight movement in the panel to which
the hinge connects to and what looks like a tiny
cut/crack in the panel towards the rear of the panel
to which the hinge is connected. I wonder if
wear and tear has just set in as in the rest of
the damn car? Anyway, anyone had similar light
clicking on full door travel and perhaps seen
some cracks on the hinge or panel to which
the hinge is connected? I assume taking the
car to a panel beater and saying "see tear,
weld shut!" will do, or "hear clicking, find
and get rid of by welding". Paint on top hinge
is cracked along the weld.

Doesn't click on any other door. Probably just
a minor annoyance, but I did see that tiny
5mm - 1cm tear in the panel and wasn't gonna go looking
for others for fear of depression to my automotive
karma.

Also, on the driver's window, another problem
related to wear and tear (only 128k km on car),
the window will make a sharp squeak when opening
and when I stop the travel it still seems like
the window is slipping down. That is, it clicks
a bit and I must hit the close switch to make
it settle. I guess this is just wear and tear on
some internal rubber bit or roller or support.
How to get rid of that squeak and hesitation when
I've reach the opening I want in the window? All
other windows are fine.

Next thing: when I turn near lock on the steering
I will get a clicking that sounds like my old
CV joints. It comes from the left or right of the
car. Shocks went in 1.5 weeks ago. New shock top
mounts over 1 month ago, alignment done right
after shocks went in. Took it to the mechanic
today, he said it wasn't the CV joint but the
mounting. Took it to the people who fitted the
shocks, they loosened up the struts and moved
them outwards. Clicking died a bit. They then
sprayed Q20 all over the left mount. Still
some clicking returned later in the day from the
right side of the car. Will do Q20 tomorrow, but
would like to know if it is common for new top
mounts and shocks to result in creaking noises
or must I be looking deeper at the steering rack
or CV joints? Oh yes, LHS side inner and outer
CV joint 1 month old, RHS serviced. Clicking
only showed up on the weekend. Darn! Now the
whole alignment thing is out again and me with
no cash to use in redoing the alignment!

Thanks and sorry for the useless questions.
They're probably simple, but what do I know.

G.