[DML] Re: Doors not working properly

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Short answer: No (or at least I wouldn't recommend it, especially for
someone new to the car).

The doors have two components that work together: Gas struts and
cyrogenically treated torsion bars. Torsion bars alone can not open
the doors, but they do assume the bulk of the load. If a new set of
struts has not resolved your problem, you need to have the torsion
bars adjusted.

BTW: The doors do not come off the vehicle for such an adjustment.

Adjusting torsion bars is not a procedure for the novice. It also is
not a procedure for a single mechanic working alone. Two people are
needed: One to pre-stress the torsion bar, and one to remove/reattach
its holding bracket. You also need a jig to hold the socket wrench in
place. And of course a very long handle/cheater bar.

If you live near an owner's club, you may be able to get your torsion
bars adjusted at a tech event. Of course membership in the club (and
attendant participation in club life) are usually required.

Words of caution: 
1) It is possible to break your back window when the torsion bar
brackets are unbolted from the vehicle. Experienced adjusters
frequently re-check the socket wrench to ensure it remains firmly
seated in the torsion bar.
2) There's a big metal plate across the top of the car that's integral
for proper door operation. Incorrectly torquing the torsion bars can
rip this plate loose from the fiberglass underbody. 

It appears you are new to DeLorean ownership. Welcome aboard. The car
isn't perfect, but it's far from a mechanical disaster either. As with
all quarter century old used cars, a recently purchased DeLorean will
have teething pains and adjustment issues. The trick is not only to
survive this shake down period, but to learn as much as you can in the
process. That knowledge will serve you well for years to come. It also
will allow you, as a veteran owner, to eventually help other new
owners in the future.

Always remember: The fundamental joy of DeLorean ownership isn't the
car -- it's the people you meet via the car. 

If it occasionally appears that some of us on the List are too
opinionated for our own good, that's probably because we ARE too
opinionated for our own good. Oh well, the world isn't perfect. It is
mesmerizing to watch owners who have sparred on the List interact in
person as if coarse words had never been typed in the first place.
I've been subject to the spell myself.

BTW: What is your location? If you are anywhere within driving
distance of Gettysburg PA, I highly recommend attending DCS'08. If you
don't think your DeLorean is ready for travel, just come in another
vehicle. Not only will there be comraderie out the wazoo, but the
wealth of knowledge gathered in one place will be impossible to
replicate until 2010.

Bill Robertson
#5939

>--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "daviddelorean" <daviddelorean@...>
wrote:
>
> I visited some DMC owners recently and some repair shops. One thing I 
> noticed on the cars that are in very good shape is that the doors as 
> light as a feather. I could lift the handle with my pinky finger and 
> whoooooooooooosh with no effort at all the doors shot up.
> 
> My car isn't in that great of shape, and my doors weigh a ton. The 
> passenger side door is very heavy but does pop up when open. The driver 
> door weighs a ton, and needs help opening all the way. The hydrolic 
> struts are brand new.  Some of the shop owners told me that my doors 
> need to be "set" and I got quotes of $2,500 - $3,500 to take the doors 
> off and fix them. That seems like a lot of money. Is there any other 
> way I can fix the doors myself?
>




To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx

For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com

To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    mailto:dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/