2016 Doors Hard To Close
 

For some odd reason, I can not index my windows on my new C7. Has anyone figured out how to do this, or did GM just skip this technique on the new cars? The current setup means the doors are very hard to close unless they are slammed which we all hate. :salute:

Mine seems to have minimal indexing also, and the wife had a hard time closing the door during our 4400 mile trip home from the Museum.

We didn't have that problem with hers ('14) 15 months prior, so it appears that something may have changed related to the indexing.

don't ever close the door with the windows all the way up or you'll soon be buying new window components and seals. Here's an easy way to index:

pull the NEGATIVE batt cable for 10 min. when you attach it back, it will ask you to index the windows....

I usually have to slam mine twice before it closes right. And there is no place to grab to close it. I usually use the window so I don't scratch the paint. Mine is a 16 as well.

Does that work on a 2016? I know it will work on an earlier model.

I use the U shape striker bar on the inside of the door jam to close the door, one finger, never touch the outside of the door.

I do the same. Works well.

That may close the door, and it does not leave fingerprints which is a problem. But...can the windows on a 2016 be indexed?

The 16 is no diff wiring wise than a 14 (re this situation) and disconnecting a Neg cable should have nothing to do with years. Call your local dealer and ask. It will be the same.

Are you saying that your windows do not lower approximately 1/2" when you open the door?

Correct. They do not. And I tried indexing a la 2014 and on my 2016 it did not work.

Mine index just fine. As a matter of face had them tinted yesterday and the indexing was causing problems. They had to re do it twice. Just very hard to shut!

Is yours a 2015 or a 2016?

Indexing is working fine on my 2016 also - they will close easier as they are used more - my driver's door closes easier than my passenger door

Well now I'm thinking that if indexing works on a 2016, I guess I have to go and figure out what I'm doing wrong. Thanks.

do you mean you did the neg cable disconnect? did you stay disconnected for 10-20 min?

It's a new car. I did not do the neg cable disconnect. Maybe if all else fails, I'll try that, but then that would mean that I have to reset everything. :willy:

Indexing works on mine, but doesn't appear to lower as much as on my previous cars. I'll have to compare the wife's '14 to mine to see if there is a difference.

Again trust a few of us that have done this several times ........you lose virtually nothing when you pull the battery cable ....it's because most the settings are stored in NVRAM, now , instead of needing current like past Corvettes. Just do it.

Done here.

Wow, what a timely thread. I just picked up my first Corvette yesterday and had a heck of a time closing the door. It sounded good and felt right but 3 times I had to pull over and come to a complete stop in order to open and slam the door. Annoying that I can't just pop it open and slam it without having to pull over and stop. Those electronic nannies again!
Guess I will disconnect the neg terminal before I go ahead with all my personalizations

If disconnecting a neg terminal on a 2016 works for you, I'd try it. Please come back and tell me/us if you were successful.

Mine lowers a little, but it is not enough to release the glass from the seal. My Driver's door is a bear and I typically pop the hatch when getting out and then shut the door.. Then I go back and lightly push on the rear hatch to let the auto-latch lock it. Pain at this point, but it has been in the garage because of the weather...

Thank you GM ...you are making mechanics out of all Corvette buyers ..

I have owned a lot of new cars ...my C7 is the most expensive..

It also is the fastest , best looking , and great sounding .... it also has the most flaws ..paint ..fit and finish ... hard to close doors .. creaking roof ...cheap interior products etc.

I've also found the doors on my '16 are hard to close especially compared to a buddy's 15 z. I started a thread a while back trying to figure out how to adjust the indexing height of the windows with no luck. Mine are currently indexing but it doesn't seem to be enough to vent the cabin. When my car is in garage I leave the windows slightly down and doors close supper easy.

I wonder if this is a side-effect of getting rid of the vent in the rear. Fixing the hatch closing issue while creating a door closing issue.

More reasons to buy a 'vert. No problem closing the trunk or doors. :lol: When I slam the door, I can see the bottom edge of the roof lift slightly to release the pressure.

Did you try the process noted in the owner's manual?

You do not have to wait until the car asks you to re-index the windows.

Close the doors
Start the vehicle
Hold the window switch up to the fully closed position...

I do not find this process in the 2016 manual. Please please point me to a page. :flag:

Here you go ......
 

Here you go ......


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...9285fd2a67.jpg

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

OK, I found it on Page 46 just like you posted. I tried to Index the driver's window and it did not work. Guess I'll have to take the battery off line for 1-20 minutes.

I have found that Glen-E advise is usually spot on.

I don't think doors would close at all if indexing wasn't working. I wonder if door glass is adjusted wrong at factory. The tightness of glass against the weatherstripping can be changed by adjusting the glass regulators. The caps on the bottom of door cover the adjustment bolts. You need door panel off to do it right. I had door glass replaced on my car and ended up adjusting glass myself since body shop had it misaligned.

Once I had glass aligned right I noticed door was hard to close and determined it was the glass hitting the weatherstrip too soon. I adjust the glass slightly out and used the dollar bill trick to get it right. The glass should be tight enough against seal to hold a dollar bill but you should still be able to pull the dollar bill out with some resistance.

The simple fact is that the doors on these cars are hard to close even with indexing. You have to learn to close them pretty hard or they won't latch.

Got the same problem with my 2016 and the doors. I do use the hook on the end of the door. Grab that and shut the door. For some strange reason the door closes easier when I shut the door the regular way. Go figure!!
I also have found more issues with this car than any of my Corvettes except the 1966 (my 1st of 15). Quality control had slipped back to the 60's!! And the orange peel is crazy bad.

:flag:I found Indexing on page 46 as advertised. Tried it and at first thought it did not work. When I was out of the car, I could see that it did work, but the window did not open very far. It ultimately made the door a little easier to close, but it is not what the 2010 did. I guess that is progress but I do hope that GM does better with the 2017. Thanks to everyone for their contribution. :flag:

Orange peel ... what orange peel ... the C7 2016 has a special paint job..

It's called texture paint ...it's something new .... I love it ... refrigerators sometimes have it too ... becoming very popular ...it hide finger prints ... and you don't get all that glare ....

Funny, I have had my C7 for two years this week. I still can't get my hatch to latch without the door open (or windows-in fact have purchased a device to allow my FOB to open the windows remotely, a Window Valet. That could work for you but would be a pain just to close the doors.)
Although the hatch is an issue I have never had a problem closing the doors, even the passenger door that is seldom used closes by pushing on the glass next to the door. I don't use what I would consider excess force.
Good that you have a 2016 with the motorized latch (like I had on my C6) since many folks have reported paint cracking from latching the 2014/2015 by pushing! In fact when I tried pushing to latch the first time, I saw the hatch frame bend-so stopped.
The Bottom Line is the cars vary in air tightness. Some in fact were able to have the hatch latch from delivery using the GM handhold with the "memory wire activated vent," which GM publicized extensively. However it did not work for many of us and IMO they reverted back the motorized latch at least partially because of paint cracking warranty issues!
Folks would say my hatch latch issue would get better with time- after 2 yrs it still will not latch without a door or window open. Hope your door reacts better!

what he said!

I just completed the window indexing as well. It worked and both doors now close much more easily.
Thanks to all

I don't think the window indexing is really intended to provide venting to make it easier to close the doors. The purpose of indexing is to lower the windows just enough to clear the groove they seal in at the edge of the roof, then raise the window into that groove after the door is closed.

:iagree:

Absolutely true , as far as I know early BMW coupes with no b pillar, were for the first ones to do it, and it is because the window does not have hard channels on both sides. When closing the car you can buffet the window out, out of the top sealing track. So it relieves the pressure and then moves into the channel top. It really has nothing to do with our problem of the trunk lid closing problem or a hard close front door.

:iagree: It is done to get a better seal and reduce wind noise. Tadge said at a "Bash" when asked why they didn't just lower the windows more to help the hatch latch, said they are only allowed a 1/4 inch to avoid pinching. I assume he was referring to a child's nose/hands (and dog's as well) getting pinched when the windows would automatically close after the hatch latched. In a later GM bulletin re dealer testing hatch closing, it said to open both windows 2 inches! Probably what is needed to make the doors easier to close as well. Could easily check for those with hard to close doors to see how much that helps.

:bs

:iagree:

Not necessary to touch the glass or the paint to shut the doors. Use the hook/latch at the end of the door to swing it closed. No fingerprints on surfaces or deformation of window angle. :cheers:

Is everyone lubing the door parts that latch the door? White waterproof lithium grease works fine from the auto parts store......

after living with the car for another day or so, I find that after indexing the windows, the doors still need a little extra force to close properly.
Will likely just involve developing proper muscle memory.
No harm, no foul

just another design flaw ... car doors should have to be slammed ... period !

I suspect you mean that they should NOT have to be slammed. I agree.

These do if the windows are up.

I have noticed most of the two door cars I have had are harder to close. It might have something to do with the length and weight of the bigger door.

Correct should not have to be slammed ..

Should be a movie lol ! slamming doors ..roof creaking after it is slammed shut ...scratch yourself of the paint finish ...and on and on ...would be too funny ,,,,

My 2015 has the opposite problem, doors close perfect, rear hatch will not close properly until I open the door or lower the window.

Are you guys that are having problems all coupe owners? Just wondering if the soft top deals with the air compression better since it is a little bit flexible, just a thought.

To call this a problem is a little silly. You just have to pull the door a little harder than say in a C6. Big ******* deal.

Mine is a coupe, and I do believe from all the posts that a soft top allows the doors to close much easier. But I have now indexed both windows, and the doors are a bit easier to close than before, but still harder to close than on my 2010. I can live with that, at least until something needs replacing. :flag:

Why should the C7 doors be more difficult to close than the C6?

My C6 coupe's doors close very easy, and I don't get any water intrusion nor do I have any wind noise at 160+ MPH.

Just sounds like the windows are adjusted where they tilt in a little too much at the top. Maybe a simple window adjustment is all that is needed.

The soft top actually vents the air when you close the doors. If I close the door quickly, I can see the bottom edge of the soft top (below the back window) lift slightly as the air pressure in the car increases. That won't happen in a coupe.

This door closing issue is not unique to the 2016 Coups. I have the same problem with my 16 Vert.

When you close it from the outside you can see the indexing is working but it simply does not open far enough to clear the seal. This needs to be fixed by GM in the software. Obviously not a problem with the top down.

Unless I missed it, I've read this thread 2 times and nobody mentioned how the doors close when the windows are all the way down.
While at MacMulkins last week I was with a Salesman checking what they had for C7's.
I've noticed before this time the doors need a good shove to close.
But, while taking with the Salesman he said it's because the Rubber Door Bumpers are too Thick.
Whether that's true or not I don't know, but it would seem logical to me if the doors do Not close any easier with the windows All the way down.
I do know that when the C7 first came out, there were complaints about the doors and the back Hatch.
But unlike the doors, the back Hatch has bumpers you can adjust to let the hatch close easier and it solved the problem for some.
Just my 2 cents

Hard to close or not, I'm looking forward to getting my 2016 this week if all goes well :woohoo:

Interesting. My early C6 of course had no bumpers. As a result the doors closed just a bit too far in, and that exposed the front edge of the rear 1/4 panel to rock damage. We invented the C6 door bumper right here on the forum out of assorted hard rubber parts glued to the right spot in the door jam/well. In 2006 GM included their own door bumpers for no added charge!

Both my C5 and 6 rear hatch closed with a nice push for momentum if the windows and doors were closed.

Good luck with yours. My own fingers are crossed for late Nov/early Dec.

Thanks, just got word mine should be ready Thursday evening to go get it :D
Good Luck with yours too :thumbs: Exciting times with these new cars :)

IF you haven't already, disconnect the battery for a bit, then do the reindexing procedure as described in the OM. My windows index fine, and clear the seal without any problem.

I disconnected the battery and re-indexed the windows. they index properly. The door is still hard to close. So my routine is to enter the car and push the start button without my foot on the clutch which moves the seat and gives me power to open the window before closing the door and then starting the car.
I'd rather get used to this proceedure than have to slam the door so hard as to possibly break something in the door over time.
To me it isn't much different than having to learn to press the brake and pull up on the parking brake switch, rather than just pulling up on a mechanical parking brake.

Haven't had any problems with mine, but I leave the targa top off 99% of the time, so no chance of any air resistance.

Seems to only be a 2016 issue and the indexing seems to be working normally on my car. It just does not come down far enough to clear the seal when trying to close the door. I believe the distance that the window comes down when the door is opened is controlled by the software, something that you and I have no control of. We can only set the top of the window closing by indexing, not how far it lowers when opening the door.

I'm kind of curious if maybe they changed the size of the driver door window seal on the 2016 models. If it's larger (taller), that might explain why the window does not go down far enough to clear the seal compared to previous years.

I'm having the same hard-closing issue for both front doors on my 2016 Z06 coupe.

70 posts about closing the door? Please tell me this isn't real........

Picked up my 2016 just over 2 weeks ago and the doors were a bit hard to close at first try, but never had to slam them.
They certainly don't close as easily as the C6 did ...
But now they close fine just letting the door swing closed with a light push.
The driver door closes fine now and passenger side takes a bit more effort but it also hasn't been used as much yet.
Just my experience so far :cheers:

Page 46 (in the PDF manual found online)

On Page 46 for 2016 owners:

Window Indexing and
Express-Up Reset
Window indexing may be required if
the vehicle battery has been
recharged or disconnected, or is not
working. Express-up and theconvertible top will not function until
the windows are reset. After battery
power is restored, a message
displays in the Driver Information
Center. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) 0 114.
Once power is restored:
1. Close the doors.
2. Start the vehicle.
3. Hold the window switch up to
the fully closed position.

Funny, posts after this still don't say if the doors in a 2016 close easier with the windows down!
The doors in my 2014 have never been hard to close, where my hatch will not latch no matter how hard it's slammed without a door or window open. After two years the tightly sealed car makes me keep a door open when closing the hatch. In fact I can close it standing on the side with an open door and shut it with one finger (which I do often.) it always closes and latches. I have even misadjusted the hatch rubber stops to see if I could get it to latch, no help. Proves it is the compressed air creating that issue. Is it the rubber stops or the door seals etc that are making it hard to close the 2016's doors? Easy for someone who has hard closing doors to open a window and report.

Forgot I posted that question and looks like I can answer my own Question now :lol:
I've since bought a 2016, and with a door or window open, the doors and Hatch close with no effort at all :yesnod:
Since the 2016 has the Auto pull down for the Hatch,.. with the doors / window Closed, I just pull the Hatch down, then push on it with my finger and it will Auto close nicely.
Otherwise I do have to swing it down Hard in order to get it to catch the Latch and Auto close.
In fact when a door or window is open, the Auto pull down for the Hatch does Not even activate , .. the Hatch just closes as if there's no Auto pull down :cheers:

Indexing on my 2016 coupe works fine also.

Thanks. Having spent two years with the hatch issue and it having nothing to do with the hatch rubber stops, looks like the doors are the same! Letting the air have a place to escape not door stop adjustments is what's needed. Perhaps the door seals will become more compliment, but after two years that didn't help my hatch latching!