04 Explorer front passenger door seems to stick out a bit causing a problem | Ford Explorer Forums

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04 Explorer front passenger door seems to stick out a bit causing a problem

Stimpy911

Member
Joined
October 3, 2013
Messages
33
Reaction score
1
City, State
Michigan
Year, Model & Trim Level
2004 Ford Explorer XLT
I have been getting an air leak in my front passenger door. I notice that the door seems to stick out farther on the top than my drivers side door. My drivers side front door is flush and in line with the back door when you look at it. My passenger side front door seems to stick out a little compared to the back door and I believe that is what is causing the noise.

Any idea how to address this problem?
 



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Sounds like someone bent the door frame, probably trying to break in. You would have to get it bent back.
 






Check to make sure that all the bolts are tight on the hinges. Does the door creek or rub on any part when it closes/opens? Is it a smooth shut/open?
 






I can think of only three likely scenarios that would cause this:

1) An accident to the front passenger side carried force through the body and bent/shifted the door/door-frame. This happened to me. I had a small whistling air leak from the top where the weatherstripping failed to seal firmly. I also got water leaks in the car wash, and sometimes a drip in heavy rain.

2) As mentioned, someone may have tried to break in, and pulled the upper door away from the car.

3) The alignment bolts are off, for one reason or another.


My recommendation (aside from having a shop professionally align it - obviously the more accurate solution) is to first check those bolt alignments and see if you can tweak it yourself. Be humble while doing this and don't loosen too many things or you'll misalign it worse than it is now. Be patient and go slow.

My second is what I did. Crude, but got the job done. Grab a giant 2x4, two rags, and roll down the window. Hop on top of the roof (gently, spread your weight out), and slip the wood through the window from outside to in. Place the rags where the wood makes any contact. Get some good leverage, and bend that baby back a sixteenth of an inch incrementally. Stop, remove wood, check, repeat.

I have an unnoticeable depression where I placed the wood and rag. The door closes just fine now, and the weatherstripping seals. I'm not unhappy with what I chose.

This is only worthy for small deviations, and adjust it little by little. Take your time, and be patient.




-Dubya
 






The door seems to open and close normally. The weather stripping looks pretty good. I will take a picture today and update the thread.

Thanks for the replies. I love this site!
 






My door also opened and closed, and otherwise functioned normally when i had the tiny gap. Pictures are great.
 






With the door in the opened position, prop it open. A 2x4 will do. Place 2x4 at bottom of door and B pillar. Lower the door glass. Stand on the door sill and you can pull the upper corner of the door inwards. As stated by Mr. Dubya, slowly and a little at a time.

You can realign the door by loosening the bolts on the lower door side of the hinge and move the door outwards, this will cause the top of door ( B pillar end) to move inwards. Tighten bolts and recheck door. Before doing anything look at the mounting bolts of the door hinges and the fender and see if the factory paint has been brokened. This will help you determine if vehicle has been in an accidenr and door has been adjusted.
 






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