Expert: Dan Gardener - 2/9/2011

Question
QUESTION: have a 2006 jetta tdi 4 door. the car was hit on drivers side. Purchased original doors and have rehung the rear door, but the front left door seems to drop after opening from a closed position - do you think it is not tight enough or the hinges are off? any help will be genuinely appreciated

ANSWER: Hello Tom

OK, so it sounds like the back door is good ( opens, closes, does not drop). Now, if the front door, hinge side gaps are good, then you need to adjust the post striker. Hold the door handle and slowly close the door to see where it is hanging up and adjust the striker accordingly.
Let me know how this works for you
Dan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ill try the striker - thanks dan. Have another question for you. When you pull out a bumper to let a trunk lid fall - how far should you pull being the lid is about one inch in from the latch lock? Do you need to use a professional machine or is there a tool that can be purchased - I dont want to go the chain wrapped around a tree route - but cannot afford a small fortune for a pro right now? Any advice? Thank You

Answer
Hello Tom

OK, I'm trying to visualize this damage. Is the rear bumper hit in the center? Is this related to the left side impact?
Let me assume it is a separate incident. The bumper was hit and now the body side latch is 1 inch in from the trunk lock and they do not line up. If this is correct it is the end panel that needs to be pulled professionally . It has to be done in such a way so the person doing the pull can actually see what is going on and 'over pull' enough to allow for spring back. Then will the lock and latch line up.
Hope this helps

Dan