A squeaky car door rarely means something is broken, but it grates every day. Noise when opening and closing usually comes from the hinges and the door check strap, the metal arm that holds the door open. Creaks while driving with the doors shut more often come from the seals and the latch.
Ignore the squeak and the parts wear, the door gets stiff and may eventually sag. The good news is that in most cases cleaning and the right lubricant sort it out in half an hour.
What you will need
Important: Keep lubricants off brake discs, tyres and interior fabric. If a hinge has play or the door sags, lubrication will only hide the noise: the bushes need checking or replacing.
Step 1
Find where the squeak comes from
Open and close the door slowly a few times, holding your hand near the hinges and then near the check strap. Look for rust on the hinges and check the mounting bolts are tight. If the noise only appears on the move over bumps, focus on the seals and latch.
Step 2
Clean the hinges and door aperture
Wash the hinges, check strap and door edge with a sponge and soapy water. Soften old dirt and dried grease with WD-40 Smart Straw: flip the straw up to aim right into the joint, wait a minute and wipe off. It also displaces moisture and loosens light rust.
Dry everything with a microfibre cloth, as grease does not stick well to wet, dirty metal.
Step 3
Grease the hinges and check strap
Shake the can of WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease and use the straw to apply it to the hinge pins top and bottom, the check strap arm and the slot it runs through. Open and close the door several times to work it into the joints.
Treat every door this way, even the quiet ones: it is prevention for the season ahead.
Step 4
Service the latch and striker
Apply a little lithium grease to the latch mechanism in the door edge and to the striker on the body, then wipe off the excess with a dry cloth. Do not forget the boot latch. The doors will close more softly, without a metallic clack.
Step 5
Treat the seals
Vacuum the sills and door aperture, wash the rubber seals and let them dry. Put WD-40 Specialist Silicone on a cloth and wipe the rubber. Silicone stops the seals creaking against the body on the move, keeps them supple and stops the doors freezing shut in winter.
Tip: In frosty weather the squeak often comes from hardened rubber rather than the hinges. If the doors only creak in the cold, start with the seals. And always renew hinge grease after pressure washing, as the jet washes it out along with the dirt.
What next
Repeat the hinge and latch treatment every six months, ideally in autumn before the frosts and in spring after the road salt season. For quick top-ups in between, keep WD-40 Multi-Use in the boot.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
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