You might think that you know a lot about your car, and for the most part, that might be true. But do you know the name of car door parts? Well, you should, and this guide will help you learn what they are.
Car door part names are easier to remember when you separate them into internal and external door parts. Internal door parts include the door panel, handle, door lock, and the window regulator, including its motor and switch. Exterior car door parts include the handle, hinge, side view mirror, seals, and edge guards.
That might sound like many different parts, but each has a specific function, making it easier to remember.
Let’s look at these parts a little closer.
What Are the Interior Parts of a Car Door?
Let’s start this guide off by looking at interior car door parts and their functions:
1. Interior Door Panel
Your car door separates your car's interior from the exterior environment.
The door isn't just one solid piece, but instead, each car door also has both an interior and exterior panel. The interior door panel separates you and your passengers from the components inside the car door.
Those components include the window regulator and more.
2. Interior Door Handle
The interior side of each car door also has a handle. Pulling on this handle will disengage the door lock that keeps it shut, allowing you to open it to exit the vehicle.
All doors have an interior and exterior door handle. They both connect to each other and the door lock and perform the same purpose.
3. Door Lock (and Child Lock)
Each door comes with an individual door lock that you can engage in while inside the car. When engaged, the door lock will prevent you or anyone else from opening the door. So, pulling the door handle mentioned earlier won't work if you've engaged the door lock.
Besides that, the two rear doors on a standard passenger vehicle also come with a child lock. This feature prevents children from accidentally opening the car door from the inside.
However, even when the child lock is engaged, you can still open the door from the outside.
The switch for the child lock isn’t at the same place as that for the door lock. Instead, the child lock switch is on the edge of the door, so you can only access it when the door is open.
4. Window Regulator and Motor
The car doors on a standard passenger vehicle each have a window that you can slide up and down via a window regulator.
Most (if not all) modern vehicles have a motor that moves the regulator with ease. These are known as 'power windows' and require minimal physical effort for you to operate.
The window regulator and motor are kept out of sight within the door panel. You won’t see them unless you remove the interior door panel to access those parts.
5. Window Switch or Crank
Whether your window has a motor or not, you’ll need a way to control the regulator that moves it up and down. That’s where the window switch or crank comes in.
As you saw earlier, most cars have power windows, which is why the window switch is a standard feature on car door interiors.
However, you'll still find older and classical vehicles with a crank instead. You can use these by turning them manually in one direction to lower the window and the other to raise it.
6. Speakers
The inside of your car doors also house speakers connected to the in-car entertainment or infotainment system. Some cars have more than others, but most will have at least one speaker inside each front door.
7. Wiring and Other Electrical Parts
As you've seen above, there are several electrical parts in your car door's interior. So, hidden behind the interior door panel are plenty of wiring and other electrical parts that keep those components powered and connected to the rest of the vehicle.
What Are the Exterior Parts of a Car Door?
Now that we’ve seen what’s on the interior, it’s time to look at the parts of a car door exterior:
1. Exterior Door Handle
Firstly, think back to the interior door handle. There's a corresponding door handle on the door's exterior, which also has the same function.
The exterior handle allows you to open the car door from the outside so you can enter the vehicle.
2. Side View Mirror
Each front car door also has a side-view mirror mounted on the exterior. These allow the driver to see the car's sides and blind spots while driving, significantly when changing lanes.
3. Door Hinge and Pillar
Car doors must open smoothly for your convenience and close firmly for your safety. Those actions are possible thanks to how the door mounts onto the car through a door hinge and pillar.
The hinge is where the door mounts onto the car’s frame. More specifically, each car door mounts to a pillar, which is a part of that frame.
4. Door Seals
Car doors seal air, noise, and water outside of the vehicle. Still, those three things can make their way into the car through regular gaps between the door and the car frame.
That’s where door seals come into play.
These are typically made from flexible materials, such as rubber, which reduce the amount of air, noise, and water that can get into the car.
5. Edge Guards or Moulding
Whenever someone opens a car door, they risk hitting it against a wall, another car, or other hard objects that can cause nasty scratches and dents.
Thankfully, car doors come standard with edge guards, moulding, or both.
These exterior parts of your car door are ‘sacrificial’ in the sense that they absorb the impact or damage so that your car door doesn’t have to.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are a few more questions and answers to help you understand your car doors better:
What Is a Car Door Checker?
Some car doors feature a component called a car door checker. This part controls how fast you open or close a door. In other words, the car door checker prevents you from slamming the car door. Besides that, it also stops you from opening the door too fast and potentially hitting the door against something.
What Is a Door Shell Replacement?
The shell of a car door is a combination of the outer skin and the door frame. While other door parts can be assembled later, a replacement brings you the door shell as one pre-assembled product.
What Is the Piece Called at the Bottom of a Car Door?
The piece underneath the car door is called a ‘rocker panel’. The stamped metal piece is a part of your car’s frame, and you’ll find it sitting directly under the door when it’s shut.
Shopping for car door parts can be pretty challenging. Take all the fuss out by browsing CarPart AU for what you need.
By Ray Hasbollah