A gust tore the door check strap on my Transit - what should be replaced?

On a commercial van, the door check strap is effectively a service item. A tall side profile gives the wind enough leverage to fling a door fully open, snapping the strap and, in a severe case, distorting the bodywork near the hinges. Inspect three things after such an incident. Replace the strap itself because it is not repairable; examine its fixing points in both the door and pillar, reinforcing any torn mounting so that the new strap is not pulled out; and check the hinges for play created by the sudden load. Owners of early Transit Customs should also know that 2012-2013 vans originally had longer check straps. Following a series of doors being pulled beyond their stops, Ford installed shorter straps during warranty repairs. This reduces opening width by a few centimetres but makes the door safer in windy conditions.