Toyota Sienna Sliding Door Hinge Problems (Plus 4 DIY Tips)
We all know Toyota cars are reliable, but even reliable car parts can wear out with heavy use. Most people buy minivans to haul kids and lots of gear, so Toyota Sienna sliding door hinges are a part that often wears out over time.
How do Toyota Sienna sliding doors work? Toyota Siennas have middle and bottom door hinges, also known as hinge rollers or hinge assemblies. Each hinge has ball bearings built into it that roll on them to allow the door to open smoothly. Power door mechanisms use a cable to open and close the door. The cable is attached to the middle or top hinge (the hinge next to the window).
What causes problems with van sliding doors?
Most people who buy minivans use their sliding doors a lot. Over time, the grease in the door tracks starts to break down, the bearings deteriorate, and the door hinges wear out. As hinges get older, your door may become harder to open than it used to be. Your power sliding door may not close properly and may bounce or start to close on its own. You may also hear an occasional clicking or popping noise while operating the door.
Toyota offers an extended warranty for center sliding door hinge issues, and it’s likely that this hinge is the source of your problem. If you notice any of these symptoms, it may be time to replace your center hinge, or possibly both hinges.
Sliding door closes on its own
When you open a sliding door, it should click into place. If the door won’t latch, it may close on its own, especially when parking downhill. If you hear a clicking noise, it may be time to replace the center door hinge.
Door is hard to open
When a hinge breaks, it won’t move as easily as it used to. The door will open with a little more force than you need to pull the handle. If you have to pull the door harder, your sliding hinges may be old.
Door Won’t Close
If your sliding door won’t close or opens on its own as if there is an obstruction, there may be a problem with one of the hinges. Before replacing the hinge, make sure there is nothing stuck in the track. You may need to clean the track from time to time to make sure the door moves freely.
Noisy Door Movement
As your van gets older, the grease needed for the door hinge bearings can wear out or become worn. You may hear a scratching, scraping, or squeaking noise as the door moves.
In some cases, a small amount of grease may be all it takes to get the door opening like new again. If re-greasing your truck doesn’t fix the problem, it may be time to replace the hinges.
Potential Security Issues
If you have small children, it’s very important that if you notice any unusual behavior in your sliding door, get it repaired as soon as possible. If a door closes automatically when a child or parent doesn’t expect it, they could be seriously injured if the door doesn’t detect an obstacle in its path.
Key Points for Sliding Door Replacement
If you want to do this job yourself, here are some tips to make the repair go a little smoother.
1) Switch the Door to Manual Mode
You don’t want your door to close while you’re working, do it. Make sure you put the door in manual mode to stop the motor.
2) Support the Weight of the Door
After you remove the hinges, you’ll need to support the weight of the door in some way. A jack is great for this, allowing you to slide the door back and forth while you work for easier access.
3) Apply lithium grease.
You may need to grease the rollers after you’re done to keep them running smoothly. Apply grease to the roller path. There may still be some of the original grease left, this will help you find where to apply the new grease.
4) Watch out for the rear window area.
The rear window is very delicate. Be careful when removing and installing the center hinge – do not pull on the glass. You will need to remove a trim piece near the back to remove the hinge.
