Q: The door on my Carrera, wouldn’t stay open as it used to so I had the latch bar replaced. Now when I open the door, I hear a snapping sound from the latch bar. Of course it stays open…but. – Jim
A: I may have some horrible news for you. First make sure that the latch bar is genuine Porsche and that everything is tight. Next, put a stethoscope on the “A pillar” and have someone exercise the door where the snapping sound occurs. If my suspicions are correct, there is a stress crack in the body where the latch bar anchors into the A pillar and this is the horrible part. The door needs to be removed, surgery performed on the A pillar to reinforce the cracked area, then paint and door re-installation. It sounds painful and it is. About $500.00 per door last time I checked.
This is a common problem with earlier cars and eventually the crack spreads and the anchor breaks free from the A pillar. At this point, the damage gets far worse quickly sucking hundreds from your wallet. Putting that old, weak latch bar back in might be the best thing to do to postpone further damage. I hope you didn’t throw it away. – MC