Expert: William Forster - 9/16/2008

Question
My moms 92 Lumina APV has both driver side and passenger side outer door handles broken.  We ordered the handles and are gonna try install them ourselves.  Any advice on issue's we may encounter.  Do we need special tools to do this? Another problem we have is that the drivers side door latch peg (attached to the outer door opening)was bent. In our attempt to take a crowbar and bend it back...it busted loose. It is unable to support the door latch. Do you know if the door peg is bolted in or would this repair require a weld job.  Any info. or advise is much appreciated.  I am trying to help my 70 year old mom and she drives this van WITH THE DOOR OPEN! Thanks

Answer
The striker needs welded, the door handles are difficult to install. I really recommend you have it professionally installed and repaired. letting her drive this another moment in this condition is absolute foolishness, and the minor cost of repair of this doesn't justify letting this continue. Bill