Friday, September 30, 2005 - 08:34 pm, by: Roger Costello(Roger)
Today as we were getting ready to go my daughter (7) leapt out of the Soarer and ran off to help her mum pick up papers blown out of her hands by a very strong gust of wind. The same gust of wind blew the passenger door hard open and appears to have bent the door/hinge/body. I did not know anything was wrong until the door made a gigantic bang when she closed it as the edge of the door clipped the front quarter panel. The door, closed is recessed about 3mm at the shutline near the hinge. I don't think it will open again without bending the bodywork(tried, but no way). The only visible damage is missing paint where the two edges clipped when it was closed. Has anyone else had this happen? Did it damage your Door/Hinge/Body or all three?
Spoke to my panel beater who owes me a 2K favour and he said they are booked out all through October. He suggested they can try packing it out with washers this Tuesday and fix it properly in November. I can get a hinge the right color from a wrecker. Any suggestions at all appreciated!
Friday, September 30, 2005 - 08:58 pm, by: Avin Luther(Lex_luther)
my car spent 5 weeks at the panel beaters and i think they left the door open for a whiel and bent the hinge slightly, it now ever so faintly clips the front quarter and has removed the paint over time. I have heard other people close the door over a phone book behind the hinge, and this stretches it back into shape.
Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 12:13 am, by: Roger Costello(Roger)
Avin
Thanks very much, the phone book suggestion worked perfectly. I used it on both the top and bottom sections of the hinge. The door is useable again and aside from paint chipped off in a couple of spots its looking good. I'll check the hinge out in the morning and swap it if its bent. This forum is invaluable, tomorrow's my birthday and I can enjoy it without worrying about fixing my car.
Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 02:15 am, by: Roger Costello(Roger)
Avin
Thanks for that, my 21st? I wish, its my 48th, My car is only 14 though. I still feel young except first thing in the morning! How have the PCV valve and Techron worked out for you?
Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 07:46 am, by: Mike Triggs(Mikeandimah)
The same thing happened to my mother/stepfather in a Fairlane, $1500 damage. Soarer hinges look tough, but as Roger found they are complicated so a small amount out of whack translates to movement elsewhere.
Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 10:38 pm, by: Roger Costello(Roger)
Rob
What worked for me was as follows. I couldn't open the door at all so I put an old wooden school ruler into the shut line and levered the door edge over the quarter panel as the door opened. Once open I started by putting a 5cm thick yellow pages spine first into the top hinge with the door almost closed. You can do this by reaching down from outside the car and closing the door enough to clamp the book in the hinge. Make sure you put it above the wiring cover and jammed as far into the hinge as you can. I then pushed on the door at the handle end. You don't have to push that hard, if you listen carefully you can hear the frame pop out. I would do it gently at first and work up gradually checking how much it has moved each time.
Once the gap at the front was right I moved to the bottom hinge and repeated the process as the lower part of the door was still recessed about 2mm from the quarter panel. The door was then not aligned with the latch properly and I spent about an hour fruitlessly trying to adjust the position by loosening the hinge bolts and repositioning the door.
What worked finally was with the hinge bolts fully tightened using the jack under the handle end of the partly open door with a phone book on top to stop scratching. I jacked it up a bit removed the jack and checked the alignment jacked it a few mm more etc. until it was perfect. Aside from the paint it now closes better than before. Be cautious when using the phone book as you can move the door too much the other way and have to bend it back again. Hope this helps!
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