someone messed with my driver's side door...

[Hugh]

I was away for 2 weeks and I live in Seattle. I came back and it looks like someone tried to get into my car by prying outward between the driver's side window and door. So now the ouuter door skin is a bit bowed out and there is about a 1/2 inch gap between the doorskin and the window. you can see right down into the door. The window is not broken or cracked.

In addition, it looks like they bent the top edge of the door vent window frame out as there is a bout a 1/2 inch of the chrome sticking out.

The upshot is a driver's side footwell full of water (Seattle). there is no dent or creasing or crack in the paint...what might be the best way to fix this without damaging the door any further? Just give it a big solid push?

Any advice would be appreciated...Thanks!

[Durango_Dave]

Same thing happened to me one time, only I was out in the woods and my car was parked at the trailhead. Mine wasn't as bowed out either, maybe 1/8" - 1/4". If I recall correctly, I lowered the window and took off the chrome trim at the top of the door. Working carefully from the outside edges of the door toward the middle, I was able to pry the outside of the door back in by using two of the tools shown below with one side of the clamp on the inside of the door and the other on the edge where the chrome strip was removed. You could also put a strip of wood along this edge where the chrome strip goes to more evenly apply pressure to the door. (Warning - your results may vary greatly!) Good luck!

[Hugh]

thanks very much! that seems like a good idea and I will try it this weekend. (And then wet-vac out the floor pan, take out the carpet and padding etc...sigh.)

-Hugh

[Guest Anonymous]

yeah, sorry bout that bit, the same happened to me except there was no damage.

[wohleb]

Beautiful car, sad to hear the news. I think I've seen you car around Seattle. Have you heard of many other attempts to break into 2002's?

I've always worried about this. Up until recently ours had such a bad paint job and lousey seats that no one would mess with it.

[Mike Self]

Vent window frames are adjustable in three planes: up and down, fore and aft, and in and out at the top.

Remove the door upholstery to gain access to the mounting bolts, loosen them and try to adjust the vent window frame so it makes proper contact with the door gasket again. If you run out of adjustment before this happens, you have two opotions: try and bend the vent window frame (it's aluminum and can be bent) or get another from a parts car.

If you decide to try bending it, adjust the frame so it's as far out (away from the gasket) as it'll go and tighten the bolts; lower the main glass and open the vent window. Then push inwards on the top (point of the triangle) of the vent window frame until it gets close to touching the gasket. Finally use the adjustment to get it just right.

If that doesn't work out, just get another vent window assy...should be easy to find.

good luck, and sorry your car got damaged

mike

[Hugh]

thanks Mike! I will do that for sure! I think that is actually where the water is getting intot he car. The water coming along the window should just be going into the door itself. (My inner door panel is waterlogged too...bummer.)