Automotive Repair

[Karl Valten]

Heyo asking for help from of the more knowledgeable people about fixing my car. Due to getting a fight with a steel pillar and losing I now have to repair my driver's side door on my vehicle.

Since I really do not feel like paying more than the car is actually worth by taking it to a body shop, I'm going to fix the sucker myself. I already have the contact info for a good deal of salvage/junk yards in my area (Minneapolis). I just need a little assistance on the parts.

I'm driving a 1995 Dodge Stratus and yes I do own the Chilton repair manual for 1995-1998 models of vehicle. What I know I have to replace are the door and the hinges as well (probably). So here are my questions:

What model years have a very good chance of match the 1995?
The Chrysler Cirrus and Sebring and nearly identical to the Stratus, will doors from these vehicles match the Stratus?
Repair manual states that the retaining clips on the door hinge pins aren't reusable once removed. Where the heck do I get replacements and how many do I need, just the two?
Any suggestions for where else I should be looking for parts?
What tools should I have on hand?
How many hours do you estimate that it will take to do the actual door/hinge swap?



Thanks for the help

[Morgan Evanar]

Pics please. Seriously, it will help. Mark knows a lot more about body work than I do.

[Darth Turbogeek]

1) Any covered by the manual. Doors almost never change.
2) Post pictures and it'll make it easier to judge
3) If you have to break the clips, then yes you will need to go to a Autozone or whatever you have and order them. Should be dirt cheap
4) As long as you get the entire door assembly and glass, nothing else requied
5) Ratchet, sockets of the correct size. Maybe a spanner of the correct size
6) Depends. Me, 10 minutes if that. You? Bit longer.

It would also help to post damage pics so we can judge what else is required.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Pics please. Seriously, it will help. Mark knows a lot more about body work than I do.

Yeah, I've destroyed enough of it over the years to certainly know a thing or two about repalcing and repairs....

[Karl Valten]

I'll get pics up asap. Don't have my camera at hand, but hopefully in the morning.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

I say you go the Tommy Boy route and just replace the door completely with a kiddie doorgaurd :)

[Xavier Synik]

psh... keep the door, replace the car...

[Pierce Tondry]

I say you go the Tommy Boy route and just replace the door completely with a kiddie doorgaurd :)

omg

did you watch my present to you?

wellllllll?

[Karl Valten]

Sorry it took long on the pictures, here are a few. Problems are that the hinges are a bit out of alignment and the bottom of the door is crumpled/warped to heck. IE the door is incapable of closing and is being held shut with rope.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a105/Hockeyman506/Car/Picture001.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a105/Hockeyman506/Car/Picture002.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a105/Hockeyman506/Car/Picture003.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a105/Hockeyman506/Car/Picture004.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a105/Hockeyman506/Car/Picture005.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a105/Hockeyman506/Car/Picture007.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a105/Hockeyman506/Car/Picture008.jpg

[Karl Valten]

So still not quite sure on if I can just use a mallet/hammer/etc to knock the hinges back in place, but I did find a few doors.

One of them actually matches the color decently, but is missing pretty much everything except for the window. I'd have to transplant everything from the busted door to the other.

I did find another door in prime condition, however the color is 100% off and the hinges are absent (that and they are asking $150 for it). I'm thinking that this one is the route to go, but I still have 1-3 more salvage yards to check.

Thoughts?

[Darth Turbogeek]

Okay, door is rooted and so are the hinges. You will need to remove the door and hinge as one but you have a few things to do first.

Those wires are going to be a bit of an issue and need to be disconencted first. IF they did this sanely, there will be plugs just inside either the door or the frame you can disconnect. Most likely frame. If it's not sane, the inner door skin has to come off.

The small bar that is not a hinge needs to be removed first from the door.

When you are undoing the hinges, support the door with a solid box - it's going to be a heavy cuss.

Now, when you are puttng the door back on, you will notice the bolt holes wont line up. This is so you can adjust the door's hang so it closes properly. I think once you have the door in place and the bolts there too, you'll see what I mean.

[Karl Valten]

Okay, door is rooted and so are the hinges. You will need to remove the door and hinge as one but you have a few things to do first.

Those wires are going to be a bit of an issue and need to be disconencted first. IF they did this sanely, there will be plugs just inside either the door or the frame you can disconnect. Most likely frame. If it's not sane, the inner door skin has to come off.

Already checked, its just a plug that disconnects.


The small bar that is not a hinge needs to be removed first from the door.

Excellent, was wondering about that.


When you are undoing the hinges, support the door with a solid box - it's going to be a heavy cuss.

I have a lackey and several boxes at my disposal.


Now, when you are puttng the door back on, you will notice the bolt holes wont line up. This is so you can adjust the door's hang so it closes properly. I think once you have the door in place and the bolts there too, you'll see what I mean.

Alrighty, sounds good. I'm assuming I should just say screw it and replace the whole deal?

In anycase I found a door that matches the color code at a salvage yard for $60. Problem is its only the shell (not even windows, mirror, door latch, or anything really) so I'm going to gutting the crumbled one and transplanting everything into the intact one if it comes down to a full replacement.

I'm guessing I'll be taking a saturday and a case of beer to fix it. I think I have all the tools I need.

P.S. Anything I should keep in mind gutting out a door and moving stuff over other than keep pen and paper on hand and not being an idiot?

[Karl Valten]

Door has been removed, gutted, parts swapped, and put back on the car. Only took the better part of a morning to go and get the door and get everything swapped out.

Only thing left is to tweak the alignment on the hinges, I'm not quite getting a flush seal.

Thanks for the help. :)