A few days ago i was backing my car out of the garage. I left my door open just a little bit but enough to where i knew it wouldn't hit, well when i put it in reverse it jerked back and the door swung open and hit the garage door. I guess i should have let the RPMs come down before shifting into reverse! How do i go about fixing the door latch? Here's a pic of the damaged one and then one of the other door that is fine.

 

the good side:

 

It doesnt look too bad. Does it not work now at all?

 

The door just wont close all the way. Its not latching. The latch is pushed in too far. I tried pulling it out but its not working and im afraid its going to make things worse.

 

pull and hold the door handle open and try to line up the angled pointy piece to stick strait out...if u dont understand just let me know. i think thats what appears to be wrong, and its easy to fix. but if that doesnt work then sorry

 

i had helped a friend with a similar prob, we took the inside door panel off and loosened the bolts for the lock mechanism and took a pry/crow bar and moved it back out, it fixed it better than it was, door didnt sit right, but it closed and lached

***BEWARE -- WATCH YOUR WINDOW OR IT JUST GETS MORE EXPENSIVE!!!***

 

project 86 TA - what I would probably do is remove the latch (only 3 torx screws) and reach in the door (after removing the door panel) and gently bang out the dents to line everything back up. But as 91Camaro mentioned, watch out for the glass, put the window all the up!

Once doing that I would put the latch back in and try what these guys suggested. If it doesn't close right after that, just grab another one from the wreckers for cheep.

good luck!

 

well i have tried to get it but now i think the latch is fixed but the door was pushed in about 1/2'' so the latch only hits the *** on the bar thing. Could this be fixed by taking the door off or should i take my friend up on his offer and just take his door of his '87 T/A. The only thing i dont like is that his door is a light blue with silver trim to where mine is dark blue with the silver trim and i cant afford a paint job right now. Any ideas? Also what is the easiest way to remove the door? Thanks.

 

i ha dthis prob after i fixed a smashed fender on my 85 cutlass, the door needs to be taken off and have shims put in between the hinge and the body, it is time consuming before you can get it right, but you are able to keep the same car door and paint, but you will need to get like 2 other guys to hold the door when you take it off, there is no need to unhock any wires cause you only need the door like a 1/2 and inch away, but this time make sure your window is rolled down and you dont drop the door or yank on it and pull the wires out

 

91CamaroRS305:

So i just get a few people to hold the door just a few inches away and then i put shims between the hinge and body? What should i use as a shim? Wouldn't it just be better to bend the hinge back out or get new hinges? Thanks.

 

You have probably just slid the door foward on the car and just need to readjust the door by sliding the hinges back lookat the hinge bolts and you may be able to see the mark wher the bolts used to be try to line things uo and start frome there.

 

you should be able to get shims at your local parts store, or you can remove them and bend them or replace them, but you will need a couple of hands to position the door on something so it doesnt move around or do like biff85ta said

 

I think just take the screws out of the hinge and re bend again. may not need to pull the panel even... You have adjusted the striker too ?

 

Well after messing with it for a few more hours and finding no one to help me, i decided im taking it to a good shop close by. Thanks for all the help anyways everyone!