Stopping doors wobbling

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 8:17 pm

My doors wobble in and out so much that the interior lights come on even over cats' eyes.

Is this normal?

Is there any adjustment possible to stop it?

If there's no adjustment, is there an easy way I can stop the door switches operating?

kazama · Postby **kazama** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 8:27 pm

are the bolts and hinges tight?

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:39 pm

Crapweasel · Postby **Crapweasel** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:58 pm

davekmoore wrote:My doors wobble in and out so much that the interior lights come on even over cats' eyes.

Is this normal?
No.

Is there any adjustment possible to stop it?
Yes - check the door catch on the body, unscrew the torx bolts slightly, and move towards the interior, using a rubber mallet.
(This one)

If there's no adjustment, is there an easy way I can stop the door switches operating?
Yes, slide your interior light switch to the OFF position. I did this for three years, and it's really not a problem once you get used to it.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:19 pm

Crapweasel wrote:
davekmoore wrote:My doors wobble in and out so much that the interior lights come on even over cats' eyes.

Is this normal?
No.

Is there any adjustment possible to stop it?
Yes - check the door catch on the body, unscrew the torx bolts slightly, and move towards the interior, using a rubber mallet.

Thanks for the suggestion. Did that. No adjustment was possible.

[i]If there's no adjustment, is there an easy way I can stop the door switches operating?
Yes, slide your interior light switch to the OFF position. I did this for three years, and it's really not a problem once you get used to it.[/quote]
Did that. Dome light is then disabled but all the LEDs still come on.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:33 pm

Could try loosening the screws in the door that hold the catch and shift this as well. I found even small adjustments to the aforementioned locator and the door latch made a difference in my car.

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davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:05 am

KevGoat wrote:Could try loosening the screws in the door that hold the catch and shift this as well. I found even small adjustments to the aforementioned locator and the door latch made a difference in my car.

Moved the U shaped locator on the body the total amount it would move - maybe 1mm.

Tried the screws in the door. Loosening all three enabled the bottom only of the creamy/yellowy block to be moved further outboard inside the door which should have made a difference.

The door can still be moved inward 5mm just by leaning on it.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:22 am

I wonder if the latch inside the door is extending fully, or been damaged ?

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davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:25 am

If so, it would be on both doors.

Will investigate when fitting the new window runners. These should also stop some of the rattling from the windows.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:31 am

Ah sorry ... thought just one door. Getting late for this ol guy ...

Strange that both doors are like this though.

Edit: might add that my NB's doors shake within their frames (probably all convertibles do) but not enough to trigger the lights.

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davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:49 am

Both doors are flush with the front wings but 2mm out from the rear wings when closed and can be pushed in 5mm at the back against the rubbers by leaning on them.

They've always been like this. It's just recently they've started to annoy me. Maybe it's because I'm nearing another landmark birthday.

Perhaps I could just have them properly welded shut and that would avoid the need for frog arms or door braces?

Crapweasel · Postby **Crapweasel** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 1:11 am

Just had a thought - the door stop below the catch is also adjustable - have you tried them? (I'm guessing yes - presenting a real head scratcher...)

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 1:35 am

Cor blimey! Would you Adam and Eve it?

I'd previously tried to move these in and out.

Your highlighting them made me revisit them. They have an elongated hole in the up/down plane, which, it turns out, affects how the door shuts. My driver's door is now on the upward limit of adjustment and opens and closes normally with about 2mm of push-in against the rubbers. The passenger door has further adjustment possible and has no movement against the rubbers but is nearly impossible to open.

Somewhere between those two is the perfect solution. I'll drive over some speed humps tomorrow and see how it settles. It'll also be interesting to see what happens to the doors after the suspension has been realigned.

Thank you!

PS When these both reach the end of the possible adjustment will this be another example of planned obsolescence?