Driver's door too high

[ZilogJones]

I was getting a lot of wind noise from the driver's door, I had searched threads about the door seals and stuff before but everything seemed ok until I looked again recently - the door seems to be sitting a bit higher than the others and is leaving a noticeable gap between the upper seals when closed.

Can the hinges be adjusted or something? How could this have happened? I've seen doors drop down over time which is understandable but this is going in the wrong direction...

[lozz]

Hi mate,
does the door close ok, ?

Idont think they adjustable,
was the car like this when you bought it?

Got anypics ?

sorry for the questions, but it might help people to give you an idea of how to guide you on sorting it,

regards lozz

[steve_earwig]

There's nothing about adjusting the door on Service Box There must be some adjustment, but I've no idea if you can move the hinges about or you need a big bar to bend the hinges (like the BX). Also, is it at the front or the back of the door or both? If at the back you could see if the striker plate moves. Hold on, I remember doing this on my D8...

[lozz]

there might be room for slight adjustment,
but it wouid only be cms ithink

perhaps wing wouid have to come off for that or bend a spanner,

see pic of door hinge,

door hinge 406.jpg

[ZilogJones]

Thanks for the replies.

The door closes fine. I guess it was like this when I bought it (in March), wind noise was always a problem with it. It seems to be at an even height along the door, as it doesn't line up right with the rear door and what I think the cause of the wind noise is that it doesn't sit on the A-pillar seals properly (compared to the other side). Sorry no pics - weather has been terrible the last few days

The Haynes manual says "slight adjustment" can be made by slackening the hinge retaining bolts and "repositioning" the door and or hinge. It's probably only off by 1 cm so maybe that'll be enough? Doesn't say anything about the wing...

[FarmerPug]

i dont know about the hinges but when i got my car and i had wind noise the front door didnt quite line up flush with the back the strike plate can wear a bit so the door isnt held as tight i replaced it for a new one but there is room
for adjustment to compensate for wear in the pin

[ZilogJones]

You replaced the strike plate? Hmm, might check that out too, thanks.

[ZilogJones]

Finally got the camera out, here's what's going on:





And the passenger door for comparison:


Could worn rubber be contributing to this problem as well?

[rwb]

That looks similar to my green hole:



I thought the red hole was letting water in, but I now think this is wrong and that the problem is the top of the door not sealing tightly enough against the rubber.

I had to get the passenger door bent back into shape after one of my neighbours hit it and left it. It was bent out at the top. The guy who did it commented that 406 doors are very pliable and that it is common for them to need adjusting, especially if people have been leaning on them.

[ZilogJones]

Yours looks pretty flush against the A-pillar though, as opposed to mine, and that seems to be where the wind is getting in. I haven't had any problems with water getting in.

I had noticed your thread before, so was able to rule out that gap at the corner of the windscreen. Thanks

I mentioned this door issue to a mechanic but he said it's a lot of hassle refitting the door and might not improve things or even make things worse. Would I be better off taking it to a panel beater? Might take a look at the strike plate myself first though.

[rwb]

I just had a thought: if the door has somehow got mounted too high then it will also be too high at the bottom of the door. If, however, the bottom of the door is where it should be then it just needs bending in a bit at the top.

[lozz]

The door looks like its been bent back,

previous owner- locked keys in / scrote broke in perhaps ?

[scotty73]

I'm with lozz looks like some little sh*t has had a go at it... I think i see a scuff mark on the door? it looks like it does need bending in a bit more but firstly undo the screws to the hinge on the middle pillar that catches the door they do move in slightly then tighten screws back up it may help a bit mine did.... dont just undo then tighten mind push the hinge at the same time

[ZilogJones]

The door doesn't line up properly at the bottom either, can't remember if it's off by the same amount (didn't think of taking pictures further down). I'll see if I get anywhere adjusting the striker, then maybe try and find some decent panel beater around here (want to get some dents and scratches sorted out too).

[lozz]

Whats the Gap like, inbetween the wing and the door,?