94 Caravan driver-side door problem

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J.B. Bobbitt - 13 Feb 2005 23:09 GMT

Hi all;

I don;t know how, but my wife managed to really screw up the driver-side
door. I'm guessing she let it fall open in a big wind or backed into a pole
while rolling backwards. She denies any knowledge, of course.....

Anyway, the sheet metal of the door is actually torn a bit where the hinges
are welded on (upper and lower), and the door doesn't align right anymore.
I can get it closed with a lot of force.

Is this something that can be welded or otherwised fixed? Or is a trip to a
junkyard/parts dealer in order?

Any ideas appreciated.

As always, thanks a heap,
-jbb

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Chas Stokes - 14 Feb 2005 13:18 GMT

> Is this something that can be welded or otherwised fixed? Or is a trip to a
> junkyard/parts dealer in order?

From my own personal experience with a very similar situation (which of
course was not owned up to) my door on my 90 was damaged in a very
similar fashion.

I found it much cheaper to just replace the door than to mess with
having the old one fixed. Especially considering the age of the
vehicle.

It is much easier if you doors are not power but still cheaper in the
long run.

I personally didn't care that my van was like 5 different colors. :)

That is also another consideration if you can't find one the same color.

Chas

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maxpower - 14 Feb 2005 20:32 GMT

> Hi all;
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> My wife did the same thing, I let it go untill I sold it, what will happen

is the door will start to sag and then the striker/latch will get destroyed,
there are no junk yard parts to fix your problem, A new set of hindges
(cause im sure yours are sprung) and a body shop to install them, cause i
think they are welded on. And then fix the body where the crack is forming.
Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

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Vash the Stampede - 17 Feb 2005 03:56 GMT

> Hi all;
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> As always, thanks a heap,
> -jbb

This seems to be a fairly common problem; I have had 2 of them do this!

If you know someone with a MIG welder, jack the door up and have him weld
it. It'll cost about $35-50 to do this and is easier than hanging a new
door.

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Gene Poon - 17 Feb 2005 08:00 GMT

>>Hi all;
>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>>Is this something that can be welded or otherwised fixed? Or is a trip to a
>>junkyard/parts dealer in order?

Elderly woman who used to work for me had a Plymouth Reliant. She used
the door to support her as she got in/out of the car. Oh, yes...she
weighed about 300 lbs. Finally the inevitable happened: she tore the
top hinge off the door jamb. The dealer said it would cost $300. A
body shop said $70/hour, minimum labor 2 hrs. I said to go to a shop
belonging to a friend of mine, who made leaf springs and welded up
trailer frames. $35, a welding torch and a can of PlastiKote spray
lacquer to touch up the welded hinge, and it looked and worked like new
again. She wasn't enough of a cheapskate to get the $30 special low
price...omitting the $5 for the PlastiKote spray lacquer.

-GP

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J.B. Bobbitt - 17 Feb 2005 04:00 GMT

Thanks for the ideas. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do yet.

-jbb

> Hi all;
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> As always, thanks a heap,
> -jbb

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