Re: Stiff door hinge - Impreza

"DJA" <NOTHANKS (AT) news (DOT) com> wrote

The passenger door hinge on my '97 Impreza is getting *very* stiff. I've
soaked the hinge with oil but it only seems to be getting worse. It's now
impossible to close the door by just giving it a push - it stops before
reaching the door frame.

What would cause this? Is there any kind of bearing surface on the slider
that might be bad? This car is used for work and back and the passenger
door
is used very little, but the hinge is not rusty.

It could be an issue with the guide (the flat metal piece which is between
the two hinges and goes into the door) - you want to grease that, and also
make sure that the part in the door hasn't come loose (check to see that the
bolts where the guide attaches to the door and where the guide itself
attaches to the door frame on the car haven't come loose. The door slides
on that flat piece of metal as you close it - if it is dry/unlube'd, the
door will be sluggish to close