Inanimate objects have a life of their own in my stories sometimes, just to make them appear as if they're responsible for their actions, or lack of them..
I think I can understand the 2 imperfective verbs conveying a completed action, in that the doors had already tried (but failed) to close. It's a moot point as to whether that was actually the meaning I was looking for when I wrote it originally; I think it wasn't clear either way in my head (typical English lack of concern for whether something is finished or not..!)