I fixed my door!

[Plague Boy]

I posted before about my '92 Sentra having a saggy driver's door.
the lower hinge is worn out so the door "clunks" when opened or
closed.

I've debated fixing it, but I put a lot of time into fixing
other stuff on the car when I got it, and had lots of problems
with bolts snapping off, even though I am very careful in working
on it- 176K and 17 years in the Rust Belt tend to make fasteners
rather fragile.

So, I let it be. In the past month, however, it has developed a
new trick- the door doesn't shut all the way, if you don't notice
it, it leaves the warning light on the dash on and runs the
battery down. The first time, I was parked on a hill and bump
started the car. I then put a spare battery and jumper cables in
the trunk. After I figured out what must have happened, I then
turned the dome light switch back on and made a two part check
getting out of the car- 1. door is fully shut. 2. visual check
that the dome light is not on.

Still, this seems rather tedious, and having a dead battery
always happens at the worst time. I had been debating ordering a
new hinge from Courtesy Nissan, along with a few other parts, but
had put it off.

I then realized that my registration was due the end of this
month- about $60.00, non-refundable. My inspection was also up
next month.

So, I got the car inspected, which it passed with no surprises.
So, door or no door, I can drive the car for another year, so the
registration is worthwhile. I then went out to spray the hinge
bolts and fender bolts with Liquid Wrench to let them start
loosening up for a week or so until the parts were ordered and
delivered. I then thought to try loosening the bolts holding the
hinge to the door, because they are accessible (the hinge to body
bolts require the fender to be removed). They loosened without
much more than loosen-spray-tighten-spray-loosen more-remove.
Surprise!

It then occurred to me that placing some washers under the hinge
would take up the "slop" and perhaps fix the problem. Half-assed,
yes, but worth a try on a car on its last legs.

Half an hour with a hydraulic jack, assorted washers, wrenches,
screwdrivers and other implements of destruction later, the door
was fixed. It opens and shuts like a dream. I wish I had fixed it
two years ago when I got it.

I'm still in shock. Anyhow, I hope this story helps somebody
with the same problem.
--
PB
"I suspect you're an arrogant little pissant who grew up in the
Red Bull generation." - CJW

[Louis]

I traded the upper passenger hinge of my 92 SE-R with the lower
(sagging) drivers side hinge. Works like a charm

[Plague Boy]

Louis wrote:
> Plague Boy wrote:
<snip>

>> I'm still in shock. Anyhow, I hope this story helps somebody with
>> the same problem.
>
> I traded the upper passenger hinge of my 92 SE-R with the lower
> (sagging) drivers side hinge. Works like a charm

I considered this. Although not a true "fix" in some regards (you
just wind up with a different saggy door) I could have lived
with it because I don't use the passenger door that ofter. The
main drawback was the labor involved vs. the cost of the hinge
($40.00).

Could you describe how you switched hinges? Did you have to
remove the fenders? The doors?

Thanks!

[Louis]

Plague Boy wrote:
> Louis wrote:
>> Plague Boy wrote:
> <snip>
>
>>> I'm still in shock. Anyhow, I hope this story helps somebody with
>>> the same problem.
>>
>> I traded the upper passenger hinge of my 92 SE-R with the lower
>> (sagging) drivers side hinge. Works like a charm
>
> I considered this. Although not a true "fix" in some regards (you just
> wind up with a different saggy door) I could have lived with it because
> I don't use the passenger door that ofter. The main drawback was the
> labor involved vs. the cost of the hinge ($40.00).
>
> Could you describe how you switched hinges? Did you have to remove
> the fenders? The doors?
>
> Thanks!

I had ordered the hinge from a Nissan dealership, but they sent the
wrong one...So I decided to just switch them instead of waiting another
3 weeks for them to get the right part. I removed the fender (not all
the way, about 7 screws) it took about 1 hour. The passenger door does
not sag since the sagging hinge is on top now, instead of the bottom on
the drivers side door.

[Plague Boy]

Louis wrote:

> I had ordered the hinge from a Nissan dealership, but they sent the
> wrong one...So I decided to just switch them instead of waiting another
> 3 weeks for them to get the right part. I removed the fender (not all
> the way, about 7 screws) it took about 1 hour. The passenger door does
> not sag since the sagging hinge is on top now, instead of the bottom on
> the drivers side door.

Duh! That's right, the passenger door wouldn't sag. Well, I hope
mine is fixed now; I think the car is only good for another year
or so. The pieces falling off of it have grown larger in the past
few months <g>.

My local dealership was no help. I can't remember if they
couldn't get the hinge, insisted I had to buy both, or couldn't
guarantee the hinge would fit.