Opened rear passenger door too far
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, MD
Opened rear passenger door too far
OK, this is my wife's fault!! She told me to pull forward, so she could get in the car. It was too close to the curb. The back door was opened, but I didn't know it was stuck on the grass of the curb, so when I pulled forward, only about 1 foot really, the door caught on the grass, and the Earth won the battle. The rear door got stuck in the dirt as I pulled ahead, causing the rear door to open too far. I heard a metal groaning noise. I stopped the car, got out and looked at the door. It caused the outside panel to buckle in two places. I was able to close the door by lifting it a bit, but now it will only open about 2 inches. So, I screwed it up pretty bad.
OK, now, my questions.
1: Can I fix this myself? My coworker, who is a bit of a mechanic, said he knocked the door off of his Camaro years ago by kinda doing the same thing, moving while the door was open and getting the door caught on something. All he did was replace the hinges on the car frame and put the door back on. Can I do that with the RX8 back door?
2: If I can do that, where do I get the hinges?
3: Is the outter skin on that door replaceable? And if so, where do I get the parts?
I'm trying to see if its cheaper to do it myself a bit and have a body shop match the paint later, or should I take it to the Mazda body shop and get them to fix it?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
John
OK, now, my questions.
1: Can I fix this myself? My coworker, who is a bit of a mechanic, said he knocked the door off of his Camaro years ago by kinda doing the same thing, moving while the door was open and getting the door caught on something. All he did was replace the hinges on the car frame and put the door back on. Can I do that with the RX8 back door?
2: If I can do that, where do I get the hinges?
3: Is the outter skin on that door replaceable? And if so, where do I get the parts?
I'm trying to see if its cheaper to do it myself a bit and have a body shop match the paint later, or should I take it to the Mazda body shop and get them to fix it?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
John
I zoom therefore I am.
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 12
From: San Jose, CA
You need to take it to a shop.
You've bent the door panel, most likely bent the hinge plates too. If you're lucky you didnt do any damage to the door sil, or it's small enough that it can be put back into place.
find a good shop/ call your insurance.
You've bent the door panel, most likely bent the hinge plates too. If you're lucky you didnt do any damage to the door sil, or it's small enough that it can be put back into place.
find a good shop/ call your insurance.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, MD
OK, I have a $1000 deductible on my insurance. If you were to do a quick and dirty estimate, do you think its cheaper or around the same as my deductible. I'd rather not use my insurance, since I was recently in an accident. Although the other driver was at fault and they have accepted responsibility, you know insurance companies. They may think I'm a risk because I've had 2 claims within 6 months and jack my sh** up.
I think there is a guy on here in the for sale forum selling the rear doors. Depending on what color your car is, this could help out.
OK, this is my wife's fault!! She told me to pull forward, so she could get in the car. It was too close to the curb. The back door was opened, but I didn't know it was stuck on the grass of the curb, so when I pulled forward, only about 1 foot really, the door caught on the grass, and the Earth won the battle. The rear door got stuck in the dirt as I pulled ahead, causing the rear door to open too far. I heard a metal groaning noise. I stopped the car, got out and looked at the door. It caused the outside panel to buckle in two places. I was able to close the door by lifting it a bit, but now it will only open about 2 inches. So, I screwed it up pretty bad.
OK, now, my questions.
1: Can I fix this myself? My coworker, who is a bit of a mechanic, said he knocked the door off of his Camaro years ago by kinda doing the same thing, moving while the door was open and getting the door caught on something. All he did was replace the hinges on the car frame and put the door back on. Can I do that with the RX8 back door?
2: If I can do that, where do I get the hinges?
3: Is the outter skin on that door replaceable? And if so, where do I get the parts?
I'm trying to see if its cheaper to do it myself a bit and have a body shop match the paint later, or should I take it to the Mazda body shop and get them to fix it?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
John
OK, now, my questions.
1: Can I fix this myself? My coworker, who is a bit of a mechanic, said he knocked the door off of his Camaro years ago by kinda doing the same thing, moving while the door was open and getting the door caught on something. All he did was replace the hinges on the car frame and put the door back on. Can I do that with the RX8 back door?
2: If I can do that, where do I get the hinges?
3: Is the outter skin on that door replaceable? And if so, where do I get the parts?
I'm trying to see if its cheaper to do it myself a bit and have a body shop match the paint later, or should I take it to the Mazda body shop and get them to fix it?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
John
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