OT: Solution to door problem

Mr. Pockets · #1 10-21-2002, 02:53 PM

A friend of mine in NH has an early 90s Accord sedan. Several months ago, the driver's door lock jammed and the door refused to open. The dealer told him that they'd have to remove both front seats, the center console and the interior door trim to get to the problem. This was to the tune of $500, and if I remember correctly, they didn't promise that they wouldn't destroy the door in the process.

For several months, my friend used the passenger door, crawling over the center console, to enter his car. Finally, he had had enough. Whether this was his idea or somebody else's, I didn't ask.

http://www.3dluvr.com/rt/photos/cutopen.jpg

A new door cost him $200. "I figured, if I was buying a new door, it didn't really matter what I did to the old one to get it off. Plus, this way I got to use power tools."

There ought to be an award for something like this...

Landshark · #2 10-21-2002, 03:47 PM

you gotta love the Sawzall!!! can't wait to chop up my rusty steel shed with it next spring!

Beav · #3 10-21-2002, 04:06 PM

Jumpin' Jaheesus! hahahahahahahahaha.... if I couldn't open a jammed door (as a professional, mind you) without assuring no damage would be done to it I'd be flippin' burgers for a living.

Jammed doors, missing keys, etc. were almost hourly scenarios years ago when I worked at Hertz. A lot of people thought they could avoid returning the car to the lot if they locked the keys in the trunk, broke them off in a lock, etc., almost always in a no-parking zone at the airport terminal. We'd retrieve the car and charge them for the fine plus a 'handling' fee.

The story they gave your buddy was just a 'blow him out of the shop with a big story' so nobody had to do something a little 'difficult'. Then again, if they didn't want to do it I wouldn't want them to - who knows what they'd screw up to inflate the bill. I would guess about 2 hours labor plus parts should have covered the repair. Taking the seats out makes it easier and inflates the bill but I've never had to resort to that.

Mr. Pockets · #4 10-21-2002, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beav
The story they gave your buddy was just a 'blow him out of the shop with a big story' so nobody had to do something a little 'difficult'. Then again, if they didn't want to do it I wouldn't want them to - who knows what they'd screw up to inflate the bill. I would guess about 2 hours labor plus parts should have covered the repair. Taking the seats out makes it easier and inflates the bill but I've never had to resort to that.

I sorta figured. But then, he did it himself for less money anyway. Sure, it ws destructive, but I think that made the $200 an entertainment expense.

#5 10-21-2002, 05:24 PM

HAHAHA WOW! That's Great.

Mike