Saturday, December 1, 2007

New Feature For BodyShopZone.com

BodyShopZone.com has launched this blog so we can create a forum for our web site visitors to talk about auto body repairs: from collision damage, old car restoration and rust repairs, down to the smallest mechanical repairs.

We are especially interested in hearing about any problems you are having with insurance claims or collision repair shops.

Visit www.bodyshopzone.com and this blog often to see what's happening.

Bruce W. Maki, Editor
Jim Wilk, Associate Editor and Michigan Licensed Auto Body Technician


36 comments:

420 racing and drift subaru fun show said...

very good subaru stuff great pictures !! very nice work with the deer repair looks just like new. quality work.

Mark said...

The door hinge repair was JUST what I was looking for. Photography was good too. I've seen the tools used and own most but the forked prybar has me scratching my noggin. I'll wander over to my local tool supply and pick one up. The door spring compressor is key here as well. I'll want one of those as well. I've been working/tinkering on everything that moves (and a lot that doesn't) since 1970 and I'll never have everything I need.
Anyway, thanks for the all the info. It'll go a lot smoother with much less swearing. 8-D

cwmacphail said...

The article "Removing Door Panels On A 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan" was really well done and very useful. Thank you!!!!! You might add that the instructions also apply to 1996-2000 except that there are 2 screws down low. The snap clips were tight. I would not have had the confidence to bully them without your excellent article. As an alternative to disconnecting the wiring from the window switches, you can unscrew the switches and pass them through the opening...especially if you want to operate the switches while troubleshooting. Thank you again!!!

Unknown said...

This article on how to remove the door panel on the Dodge was great! Excellent photos, commentary, etc!
I look forward to visiting the site for other information as needed to take care of other minor issues as they occur!
Again, super article!

JH said...

I found the article on replacing the front fender of a Dodge Stratus to be a helpful guide when I replaced a dented front fender on our 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan. At least it got me to look in roughly the right places and the right order for taking things apart. Thanks for the helpful article!
If you are interested, I took pictures of the process (the photos aren't quite as good as your article) that show each bolt location as I took it off - similar to the article layout. There are of course some differences, which took a litle time to figure out on my own, but could save someone else time.

Kenevil said...

Hi Jim,
Thanks for the help. I just replaced the right side mirror on my 2004 Chevy Silverado and your instructions were very helpful. However, on the small panel that holds the switches there is a screw in the front portion that is only accessible after removing the panel. I thought is was a snap fastener and ended up breaking mine by prying too hard. A little JB weld and it should be ok but you may want to modify your instructions to include this important part so no one else has the same problem. Thanks again for the article.

Ken

Unknown said...

I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice. I have a 97 GMC CK pickup. I replaced the inner door handle and the outside handle and lock. It opened and closed 2 times and the it would not open. I did not put the panel back on and I removed the steel plate that covers the door. I have pushed and pulled the rods on the door latch, but cannot get the door open. Any ideas?
Thank You
Mike

RITYARD said...

Thanks so much for your help. I only had to change a tail light on a 2006 Ford F150 pickup, but you had great step by step instructions and photographs! The most information I found anywhere on the web!

Unknown said...

A million thanks for sharing your information. The pictures were so helpful. You saved me money!

Unknown said...

Thanks of the plastic bumper / trim repair tutorial. It was hard to find a good one.

Darien said...

You helpd me save perhaps $200 on my window winder for a Chevy Equinox 2005 where the window was jamming.. Your photo's and instructions are excellent. I was able to open the panel and made a simple fix.
Thank you for saving me money and time.
Darien

Anonymous said...

I spent a good deal of research (looking around) and finally landed on your site. Thank you for a great pictorial and step by step information on window motor repair and replace. You helped with the switch replacement on driver front and the motor repair on the passenger rear 2001 Suburban. You are now bookmarked.
Thanks again.

Unknown said...

Your information was exactly what I needed... and photos, too. You are truly the man. Thank you for sharing.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the info on the door hinge replacement. Knowledge is power and thanks for taking the time to provide the knowledge.

Take care,
Eric

Unknown said...

I wanted to replace a tail light cover on a 2004 XC90 Volvo. The mechanics told me it was too complicated and that they charge a minimum of $150/hr. I found this outrageous and decided to google how to do it myself and found your site. It was so easy and uncomplicated that I did the job myself in under 20 minutes and I'm a chick! I now wonder about the outrageous prices being charged for such simple jobs.
Thank you for the helpful site.

Free Guy said...

Jim
Just wanted to thank you for getting me through changing the brake lights on my Volvo xc90 - without your pics I would have wasted a whole day. I think I was able to change both in under 30 minutes - keep up the great stuff.

Unknown said...

Thank you for the pictures on the F150 taillight replacement. I read 5 descriptions, and after seeing the pix, it snapped to me where the 2 screws were.

Unknown said...

I looked high and low for a more permanent fix for my Wrangler. This guy has a really cool greaseable pin kit for the Jeep doors and tailgate and a bunch of other vehicles. They have work out so good form me its unbelieveable. Where the heck has this guy been? I don't know if he has a website, but his email is kenspragg@rogers.com I found out about him from my Jeep club.

Unknown said...

Thank you for your easy instructions on changing a headlight! Your clear photos and simple instructions made this single mom feel like she can do anything!

KFS

Pete said...

THANK YOU for building a great site with simple straightforward instructions and _real_ pictures. I saved about $250 repairing my power door (motor arm popped out of the track). Wouldn't have been able to do it without your instructions on removing the door interior panel.

Anonymous said...

your site is very well done and very helpful.
thank you.

Unknown said...

Just wanted to thank you - this site and the pictures and explanations are excellent. Saved me a lot of time and money. :)

Unknown said...

Just wanted to say thank you the pictures and explanations are excellent! saved me a lot of time and money :)

Bob said...

Thank you for the 2002 grand caravan pictorial. Showing how to remove the passenger door so that i could figure out why it wouldn't close was paramount to my success. People like you should be Thanked! Hey, great idea! THANK YOU!

Bob

Melodie said...

on the 2005 chevy trailblazer where did you get the replacement piece that you broke off the inside of the door around the door handle? I done the same thing and I can't seem to find the replacement pieces anywhere. Please email me (( melodie mixon @ yahoo . com )) *without spaces*

Ralph S said...

Thanks very much for the excellent instructions for removing door panels. So far I have used your instructions for replacing a power window kit and for access to replace a speaker. Your instructions removed all the mystery and frustration that used to be part of interior work.

Unknown said...

Thanks for your detailed instructions! I just used your pictures to help me replace a side view mirror on my 2007 Subaru Outback Sport. Awesome!

Al Dog said...

Jim,
Thanks for the tutorial on replacing the Grand Cherokee hinge pins. Most blogs and articles said they were "unserviceable". Armed with a collection of the "wrong" tools, the driver's side door took nearly two hours. With die grinder in hand, the passenger side took only 45 minutes. My son's doors now open and close silently, and like new!

Sandie said...

Thanks for the Ford Freestar door panel removal steps. You showed me what I missed. Love the pics, I'm a visual person & the written word wouldn't have been enough. THANKS!

jafco said...

Gentlemen: I followed your instructions for:

Replacing Hinge Pins On A Chevy Blazer,
GMC Jimmy,
Chevy S10 or
GMC Sonoma
(Covers Model Years 1994 to 2004)

and I have to hand it to you. This was incredibly easy to do because your instructions - enhanced by photographs of each step - were so comprehensive. One step - replacing the door spring - would be almost impossible without the car door spring compression tool. I called a parts store, asked for it by name; yes they had it for $14.95. I went to the shop and there it was, recognizable to me because of the photo, ready to go. Back to the garage - bingo, job done in 5 minutes!

It's like having a new truck; it is 10 to 20 db quieter because wind isn't roaring around the gap between the door and the body. Thank you very much. This is a great service you provide.

Raz said...

Thanks for your help and concise instructions. I was able to replace the drivers mirror on my '04 highlander and put the interior sections back with no extra parts leftover! Thanks again for taking the time!!!

ratszj said...

Wow what a great site. especially for the 1997 ZJ (Grand Cherokee.) Thanks for posting such insightive and detailed work.

RohrK said...

To Jim Wilk:

Thank you for giving me the confidence to undertake repairing the sagging driver door and damaged latch area on my '95 Jeep.  The Jeep is back in business, with new hinge pins and a patched-up latch area.

Your detailed instructions were wonderful!  Thank you for taking the time to take all the photos, to write the instructions, and to post them for the benefit of total strangers.  Now, four and a-half years after you posted the article, my Jeep and feel like we've found a new friend!

One issue for anyone working on a '95:  The wiring-harness connection is secured with a Torx screw in the center of the bundle.  That took a few minutes to figure out.

I was able to perform the pin grinding and cutting with a Dremel tool, using a flex shaft attachment as needed.  Also, having a vise helped with getting the old bushings out and the new ones in.  At this time, I haven't had anything welded.  Do you think the head-down hinge pin will loosen over time?

Thanks again!

K. L. ROHR

SDFan1980 said...

Jim, on the GM Door Detent roller, how did you drive the pin into the pin assembly? I just tried with a ball peen hammer (flat side) and failed. That little pin just would not go, and now I've actually damaged it and need to get a whole new set.

Tano Alejandro said...

Just read the Cherokee door hinge repair/replacement article. Great writing, excellent pictures and directions. Thank you so much for this! Never thought of using large flat washers like that. Will be fixing my door this weekend! Thanks again so much!!!

Unknown said...

On your tailgate repair for GM trucks. The holding clip goes into the hole first then the rod is inserted into the clip. Once the rod is in the clip hole the clip is secured to the rod.
Other then that, a good article.