Door Alignment/Dropped

[jam1991]

Weird problem, for some reason the driver's side door on my 197 has dropped slightly, meaning when that when I close the door the lock is out of line and slighty catches, have to shut harder than normal to pop into place. checked the lock and catch and all are fixed, hinges all seem fine.

pictures below, any advice/ ideas - and who if anyone would be best to sort this problem? car is out of warranty.

The panel sits flush when closed like its not out of line when shut, so surely can't be that bad to fix....anyone?

 

[Paul]

It will most likely be one of the two hinges at the front which has moved slightly. As for fixing it I aren't too sure of the best way. Just a guess but loosen off the two bolts on the hinges, lift the door back up 1/4 inch and then re-tighten.

Im sure someone knows if there is a better/proper way of doing this.

 

[such]

Put the window down and with the door almost closed, as in pic 2, see if you can lift the door up by pushing on the underside of the window frame. If the door moves up, would suggest the hinge bolts are loose on the 'A' pillar and not the door. These can be tightened by removing the trim panels and getting in through the panel. Alternatively, but less likely, the hinge pins may have gone (hed this happen in a Capri i owned. Most of you on here will have to look these cars up in a history book). Any decent garage or body shop should be able to sort this whether its loose bolts or hinge pins.

 

[jas1]

a good bodyshop technique that usually works, called brute force, get hold of the door on the bottom edge and a few sharp lifts usually does the trick.
if you can feel a little bit of slack when lifting the door the hinges are possibly worn

 

[RalphyBMW]

To adjust the rear alignment of the door, you have to remove the wing, which means removing the bumper and headlight - sounds like fun!

 

[gaz]

If its just how it shuts, ie looks out of alignment when shut (like mine did) all you need to do is adjust the strike pin. Slacken off the torx bit, and the pin can be adjusted to suit. Should take ten mins.

 

[jam1991]

If its just how it shuts, ie looks out of alignment when shut (like mine did) all you need to do is adjust the strike pin. Slacken off the torx bit, and the pin can be adjusted to suit. Should take ten mins.

Its fine when it's shut, it's like if you shut it slowly the catch hits the lock and when you close it hard, it hits it and pops up over the lock, perfectly lined up when closed.

 

[Ed...]

Definately sounds like the hinge has come loose. I would deffo take it to a ren garage

 

[RichW]

Sounds like it needs the hinges slackening and the door slightly lifting, unless you try the brute force method as mentioned above - probably what the garage did to fix my door!

 

[J's RS]

i had the same issue... wind caught my door and flung it open EASY fix...

losen the hinges infront somewhat...

get someone to lift the door at the 'rear' as far up as possible.

tighten again... voila!!!

happy fixing!!!
2 months ago and still happy

 

[jam1991]

i had the same issue... wind caught my door and flung it open EASY fix...

losen the hinges infront somewhat...

get someone to lift the door at the 'rear' as far up as possible.

tighten again... voila!!!

happy fixing!!!
2 months ago and still happy

cheers mate,
loosen which hinge mate? top or bottom or both?

 

[jas1]

i wouldnt loosen both hinges if your not sure what your doing, doors can be pain to set up!
if its dropped you could try loosening the top hinge, you'll need someone to lift the door while you nip one of the bolts up, then try the door again.

 

[daz]

I have the door adjustment guide, if you need it PM me.

 

[J's RS]

both up front.

it really isnt a train smash that everyone is making it out to be now... :?

before losening then... TEST...

open door and see if you can lift it...

you will have a little play... Im sure of it...

mine is aligned fine... took 2mins to sort out with some help

 

[Donna]

I just handed mines back to the garage as when i bought my car one of the body shop guys told me that it was a common fault as the doors were too heavy or some thing.

 

[daz]

I have sent you the file Jam.

 

[ken182]

didi you ever get this sorted?

my drivers side door does the same - looks fine when closed but when you do close it, it takes a bit more of a shove compared to the passenger side and i notice the latch is slightly lower than the strike pin.

if the strike pin is adjusted to suit that would lower the door in the closed position though wouldnt it?

 

[jam1991]

didi you ever get this sorted?

my drivers side door does the same - looks fine when closed but when you do close it, it takes a bit more of a shove compared to the passenger side and i notice the latch is slightly lower than the strike pin.

if the strike pin is adjusted to suit that would lower the door in the closed position though wouldnt it?

I havent tried yet mate, will let you know when I do.

Hoping that when I loosen the bolts, I can just adjust the height and re-tighten as advised.

 

[jam1991]

Tried this afternoon with my dad ... no sucess - unable to access with socket set so using a 13 spanner. Loosened as advised and once lifting the door and re-tightening the door just remains in the same dropped position.

Any other ideas?
What is this strike pin?

 

[ken182]

the strike pin is the hook which is on the door jamb which the door closes onto.

maybe you need to lift a bit more then retighten?