17 replies to this topic

[johnboy_78]

Hi Guys I'm new to the forum and in the process of trying to hunt me out a VX220 as my new car. Went to see one last night and loved the car, but there were one or two wee things that I would have to fix to be happy with it if I bought it. Firstly it will need 4 new tyres very soon, which I gather will cost about £450 fitted. But the other thing is that the driver's door is sagging at the back (it looks like it needs the hinges adjusted), and as a result it doesn't close smoothly and there is a gap where the window meets the door seal at the top. I have read about adjusting the window to stop leaks, but can't find anything on sorting a saggy door. Any tips on how easy/expensive this sort of repair would be would be great, as I don't want to get stuck with a huge bill shortly after buying. Many thanks in advance. Cheers, John

[Ratspants]

Tyres prices vary depending on how far you are prepared to go to get the correct ones but £450 is a fair estimate. I'd be tempted to get the money off and sort it yourself rather than have the current owner slap some cheap/wrong tyres on the rear (fronts are unique to the VX). Slick rears in the wet are pretty hairy. Droopy door sounds like hinges, I think these are adjustable (Jase_MK?) but I think you need to take the front clam off to get to them. Ben

[JimH]

The doors should not sag. If you look at them the hinge arrangement is very, very butch and the door itself is just a fibreglass cover bolted onto a stout ali extrusion which runs from hinge to lock (look in the thread on suicide doors and you'll see a picture of the extrusion). From memory the pin for the hinge is about 7/8" diameter. I find it hard to believe that one would ever wear out. If the door is not fitting correctly then I would suspect that someone or something has been buggering about with it. They are easy to adjust but you may want to ask some questions about its recent history.

[AWLangdon]

Whilst it could well be a hinge issue, check also that the bonding between the outer shell and the rest of the door has not failed. This happened to me and it led to the rear of the door shearing away from the main part due to the excess stress on the 3 screw mounts: the door shell had to be lifeted up whenever I opened and closed it. I did get it 'fixed' under warranty but there was a good case I think for a new door. Worth checking the screws at the back of the door just in case! Wayne

[BARDS]

Whilst it could well be a hinge issue, check also that the bonding between the outer shell and the rest of the door has not failed.

This happened to me and it led to the rear of the door shearing away from the main part due to the excess stress on the 3 screw mounts: the door shell had to be lifeted up whenever I opened and closed it.

I did get it 'fixed' under warranty but there was a good case I think for a new door.

Worth checking the screws at the back of the door just in case!

Wayne

ive got a new vxt only a couple of weeks old have noticed my drivers door has dropped slightly you can hear it when closing the door think ill take it back to the dealer just hope its not going to be in there for days Geoff.

[Mick43]

my drivers door has dropped slightly... but enough for it not to close nice and smooth (as it should do)... I've now purchased new hinge (from breakers) and should fit soon... I'll take some pictures that could be of use if you have to replace...

[johnboy_78]

Mick How much did the hinge cost? I'll need to have a closer look at the car in better light, as it was dark by the time i returned from the test drive last night! Cheers, John

[danyeates]

My door was loose and moved up and down, which initially felt like the hinge was loose or had sagged, which of course it can't really due to the sheer size of it! Turned out the arm that runs inside the door was loose where it bolts to the outer shell of the door. The bolts are visible when you open the door and on the catch end, or the end nearest the rear of the car. Tightened these and it's now fine!

[RichH]

I don't mean to drag this too far off topic, but in mine I find that the passenger door doesn't stay open on my VX (i.e. when you push it open to get out, it closes back on you again making it even more difficult to get out). I'm not sure if its the hinge though as the door itself opens and closes smoothly. It just doesn't stay open. Any ideas? RichH

[pugwhizz]

i'd be interested to know if you can adjust the hinges as although my door catches now line up, the door still sits a bit to lower at the rear. if you could loosen the hinges where they bolt on to the car and adjust them slightly (as you can on a 'normal' car) then you could line the doors up perfectly....

[danyeates]

You may need a new spring catch thing, can't remember the technical name, but it's a small black metal thing that bolts onto the outside of the hinge. It bends around the hinge and keeps the door open. The ends can sometimes snap off. The early VX220's had all metal one but these were replaced with plastic coated ones. You might be able to see it with the door open, but I think you have to take the clam off to change it. Mine had snapped!

[Mick43]

I managed to get a hinge (which includes the crash protecton in the door) for £50 !!! Mine is def hinge... you can move door up and down, only a little, and see the wear/movement in the bush...

[johnboy_78]

Cheers guys. I'll have a really good look when i go back for a second examination. Seeing Lazy Donkey's car tomorrow and he said he'd had a similar problem with his. I also noticed (but forgot to say!)that the boltts around the petrol cap on the car had all rusted. Is it possible to remove these and replace them with shiny new ones? Ta John

[Dr Delboy]

The drivers door was dropped on my old NA (you had to lift the whole door up to shut it) and it was a 5 minute job to fix with a 2nd pair of hands: 10mm socket spanner and loosen the 4 bolts holding hinge and door to body, have a 2nd person raise the door as far as it will go (or as far as needed) , tighten bolts and job's done. You may have to lrepeat procedure to fine tune. Also close the door slowly and carefully after adjusting height and check to see the back edge of the door doesn't foul the bodywork.

[pugwhizz]

The drivers door was dropped on my old NA (you had to lift the whole door up to shut it)
and it was a 5 minute job to fix with a 2nd pair of hands:

10mm socket spanner and loosen the 4 bolts holding hinge and door to body, have a 2nd person raise the door as far as it will go (or as far as needed) , tighten bolts and job's done. You may have to lrepeat procedure to fine tune. Also close the door slowly and carefully after adjusting height and check to see the back edge of the door doesn't foul the bodywork.

i was hoping someone would say this...

thats my saturday morning job anyway...

[Fredrik Silfverforsen]

Did you fix it easy then???

[ChrisS1]

Holy thread resurrection Batman

[smiley]

When you click on someones profile, you can see when they were last online here.

 

Hint..... almost 7 years ago.