Clunky Doors!

[Dennis45]

Don't get me wrong, I love my Merlot.

But, one thing that really bugs me is the doors.
When I close the doors they sound like my old 53 Ford Mainline and not a 2004 $40K Thunderbird.
Sometimes I'm actually embarrassed if there are people close enough to hear them rattle/clunk.
Before I go taking them apart, is this normal or is there a known fix?

[Tbear]

Re: Clunky Doors!

Could it be that the automatic window drop is not adjusted properly?

I don't have that issue with my cars as long as I remember to reset the window drop when I change tops.

[AZTB]

Re: Clunky Doors!

I may understand what you're dealing with (but don't have a solution). On the '05, the driver's door closed solid, but the passenger door "bounced" when it closed (more pronounced when the soft top was down). The '02's doors both closed solid. Not sure if the "bounce" is the same thing you're referring to, but I do know it bugged me.

[JohnA]

Re: Clunky Doors!

Gee Dennis, I've never noticed such a thing on mine. Should've compared when we were together... maybe this summer! John A

[Cards]

Re: Clunky Doors!

When I worked for Texaco a lot of cans of Rust-Proof compound were sold. People would take the door cards off and empty an aerosol can of compound in the interior of each door. One can in each door would really dampen the tin can sound. And, there would never be rust from condensing moisture. If you ever needed body work on the door it might be a mess but bondo could be added to the door exterior.

[Dennis45]

Re: Clunky Doors!

When I worked for Texaco a lot of cans of Rust-Proof compound were sold. People would take the door cards off and empty an aerosol can of compound in the interior of each door. One can in each door would really dampen the tin can sound. And, there would never be rust from condensing moisture. If you ever needed body work on the door it might be a mess but bondo could be added to the door exterior.

I heard that. That was one of my thoughts to "Dampen" them. Rattlie might be another description.

[DaiUyTed]

Re: Clunky Doors!

I may understand what you're dealing with (but don't have a solution). On the '05, the driver's door closed solid, but the passenger door "bounced" when it closed (more pronounced when the soft top was down). The '02's doors both closed solid. Not sure if the "bounce" is the same thing you're referring to, but I do know it bugged me.

With my '05, it's the opposite. Right side solid, left is clunky.
Watching this thread for further advice.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Re: Clunky Doors!

My doors aren't clunky, but they're not the bank vault either. For a $40k car, Ford cut a lot of corners. But we've got what we got so just enjoy it! It seems that every time I wax her there are more paint marks. Maybe the new grill will help IMHO Ford skimped on insulation in the doors and numerous other areas, both in quantity and quality. My first encounter was a squeaky center council that was thread bare of insulation. The trunk the same way. Maybe ther is a way to reinforce the existing doors????????

[AZTB]

Re: Clunky Doors!

...It seems that every time I wax her there are more paint marks. Maybe the new grill will help

Stop waxing her and the doors will work fine...or perhaps the grill will make the doors work - who knows. Anyway...BACK to the doors (SQUIRREL!).

[FUNDERMAN]

Re: Clunky Doors!

I do have the same problem with clunky doors on both sides of my 2003 bird and it has always been that way. IN fact, this generally has been a problem on all 2 door coupes that I've owned. Don't know for a fact but the weight itself could be a problem here. Two door cars put a lot of stress on the hinges for example.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Clunky Doors!

The clunking noise I hear seems to come during the glass drop down operation, as though it catches the weatherstrip as the door comes open or goes closed. Everyone listen close and see if you can tell the area the sound is coming from.

[AZTB]

Re: Clunky Doors!

Mine wasn't the drop-down issue of the window...it was the door - it seemed to "bounce" when it hit the jam.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Clunky Doors!

Mine wasn't the drop-down issue of the window...it was the door - it seemed to "bounce" when it hit the jam.

That sounds like a striker out of adjustment.

[Rondor]

Re: Clunky Doors!

Ragtop doors are always a little more noisy but at least we don't have side curtains.
It is a rather cheap car in many ways considering the price. For as many corners as Ford cut on this car they had to make a decent profit even for the low production #'s.
I didn't buy new because of price and mark-up over that. There is no way a Mercedes 580 SL back in '89 was worth 70+ K either. Which shows why the Mustang was such a success. You got what you paid for.

[Brad]

Re: Clunky Doors!

Maybe try something like this:

http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/dyna...FQ6paQod9eQPNA