Doors sprung in high wind

[The Proton]

Hi All,

Greetings from a TLC newbie.

Took my new (94, locked) TLC on its first expedition a few weeks ago, and came up with an issue I wanted to ask about. Before going I added BFG M/T's and Hanna sliders. Love the sliders, had I left the running boards I would have had a problem...

I attached a few introductory picts of the TLC in action, and sitting on my street afterwards. I left it like that for a few days so there would be no doubts about it not being a mall SUV with my anti-SUV neighbors. Note on the uphill shot as always the photos do not do the angle justice, and also that the dust is ahead of me, due to a high tailwind, mere seconds before I spring the doors .

It was VERY windy in the desert, and after the very tough but successful hillclimb, my passenger and I both opened the doors to jump out and revel in our victory. Sadly the wind caught both doors and opened them way to far. Since then the doors make a loud banging noise when being opened/shut, and the drivers door does not seal as well. Any techniques recommended to get them back into place? Is there an internal part that might be broken causing the noise? At least there is no visible damage to them.

Overall I was very impressed with the vehicle. The only other issues I noticed were slow windows and cruise control failures, both of which I have found answers to elsewhere on the forum. Both self corrected once we got back to warmer weather anyway.

Thanks,

The Proton.

 

[OZCAL]

I don't know what to do about the doors, but welcome

Nice pics. A smart person should be along to help you daylight US time. I'm in Australia, sorry, and so far my door hinges are intact.

David

 

[MaddBaggins]

Welcome to the land of wonder Proton! I don't know what to do about the doors, sorry. What desert are you in? Those pics make me think Cali. Any way good to have you on board, and I always leave mine fairly dirty as well. It lets everyone know that you don't sip latte on your way to Macy's.

 

[LX_TREME]

Im sorry about your doors problem , ill passed on this one maybe
others can help and solve'em for you.Oh crap almost forgot again...Welcome

 

[Gold Finger]

Hi,
Have you had a look at the hinge mechanism, it may be that it has shifted? Before you adjust any component such as hinges or door striker draw a line around them so that you can adjust it in small amounts and return back if it is wrong. Look very closely as you open them and try to discover what exactly is catching; it may be the door restraint arm. I have no personal experience with this particular problem on an 80 but have on other cars. It may need lubricating, to investigate what is happening here you may need to remove the door panel and then watch how things relate as you open and close the doors

If not the restraint arm does with the doors closed do they line up with the body panels? If not then they can be loosened and moved small amounts at the hinges and the striker.

By the way I would not leave mud on your vehicle indefinatly as it never drys out and may cause rust and it may be causing some problems with the smooth running of you door mechanisms.

 

[OZCAL]

Welcome to the land of wonder Proton! I don't know what to do about the doors, sorry. What desert are you in? Those pics make me think Cali. Any way good to have you on board, and I always leave mine fairly dirty as well. It lets everyone know that you don't sip latte on your way to Macy's.

Excuse me, we drink tea at Macys now.

 

[MaddBaggins]

But are you sippin it with your pinky out and your cell phone to your ear?

 

[Kalawang]

Hi,
Have you had a look at the hinge mechanism, it may be that it has shifted? Before you adjust any component such as hinges or door striker draw a line around them so that you can adjust it in small amounts and return back if it is wrong. Look very closely as you open them and try to discover what exactly is catching; it may be the door restraint arm. I have no personal experience with this particular problem on an 80 but have on other cars. It may need lubricating, to investigate what is happening here you may need to remove the door panel and then watch how things relate as you open and close the doors

If not the restraint arm does with the doors closed do they line up with the body panels? If not then they can be loosened and moved small amounts at the hinges and the striker.

By the way I would not leave mud on your vehicle indefinatly as it never drys out and may cause rust and it may be causing some problems with the smooth running of you door mechanisms.

I agree in general with Gold Finger. I just want to add that you can use carbon paper or some such to find the areas that hit and scrape. Not much different from what a dentist does.


Kalawang

 

[The Proton]

Welcome to the land of wonder Proton! I don't know what to do about the doors, sorry. What desert are you in? Those pics make me think Cali. Any way good to have you on board, and I always leave mine fairly dirty as well. It lets everyone know that you don't sip latte on your way to Macy's.

We were in the high Nevada desert around Hawthorne. We went from Fallon to Hawthorne, then Hawthorne to Bridgeport, CA., all off pavement. Nevada is a great state as you can drive for hundreds of miles off road without a fence or another human being.

And BTW, I never drink a latte while driving, I need my hands free to look up numbers in my laptop so I can call them on my cell

 

[OZCAL]

We were in the high Nevada desert around Hawthorne. We went from Fallon to Hawthorne, then Hawthorne to Bridgeport, CA., all off pavement. Nevada is a great state as you can drive for hundreds of miles off road without a fence or another human being.

And BTW, I never drink a latte while driving, I need my hands free to look up numbers in my laptop so I can call them on my cell

Bridgeport and its surrounds are beautiful. Driving to Reno from LA in the late summer, can't wait to get off road somewhere along the 395.

David

 

[Arleaux]

Welcome.

When is the popping sound made?
When the doors are starting to close, or almost fully closed.

 

[The Proton]

Welcome.

When is the popping sound made?
When the doors are starting to close, or almost fully closed.

The popping noise happens at about 3/4's opening and closing. The door seal is OK on the passanger side, but on the driver side upper rear corner of the window frame is not closing properly, it seems as though this corner is open a bit even when the door is closed.

 

[Arleaux]

I would have to agree w/ Goldfinger.

I would also inspect the metal around the hinges to verify that it has not contorted in any way.

 

[Rich]

Body shop it.

 

[BOUNDER]

But are you sippin it with your pinky out and your cell phone to your ear?

hands-free Blue-tooth headset for the cell phone - operates in 4 continents and Pier One parking lot. Geeeeez, I thought EVERYONE knew that