door problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Lufkin Texas
door problem
i have a 2007 black coupe and live in texas
when the car is hot from sitting outside and i go to open the door the door scrapes the side fender leaving sretches on it
its like the door and side fender expand in the heat and scrape each other
does anyone have this problem or even know what imtalking about and what i can do to fix it
when the car is hot from sitting outside and i go to open the door the door scrapes the side fender leaving sretches on it
its like the door and side fender expand in the heat and scrape each other
does anyone have this problem or even know what imtalking about and what i can do to fix it
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,373
Likes: 6
From: Chatsworth California
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 1
From: Southlake Texas
This is not uncommon in Texas and you need to adjust the gap between the door and front fender (the panels do expand with heat). 
There have been a number of posts on summer heat and panel alignment like the one below:
There have been a number of posts on summer heat and panel alignment like the one below:
A couple weeks back I went to open my door to get in my '06 and noticed I couldn't open the door more than a couple of inches. It looked as if it was catching on the front fender. I pulled the door length wise towards the back of the car (I couldn't tell if this actually shifted the position or not), closed it and it opened fine. I looked for damage but didn't see any so I forgot about it. The incident hasn't repeated since. Jump ahead to today when I was getting out of my car. For some reason, after I closed the door, my eyes focused on the area between the door and fender and I noticed the paint is slightly rubbed off of a small 1/4" spot. I started playing with the door, comparing it to the passenger's side, and I'm reasonably sure that the clearance when the driver's side door is opened/closed is too small. Even if it isn't completely catching as it did a few weeks back, it must be rubbing. Is this a published/common issue? Any thoughts on if this will be covered under warranty??
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 5
From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
yes, it's a quasi-known issue.
yes, the body panels will expand (from the heat), closing the gap just enough to cause the door to 'catch' the fender panel.
i have experienced the issue, and it's not side specific (it can and will happen to either side, until fixed). i have also heard (from a 'vette tech' at the service center) that someone 'shattered' the drivers fender when her door struck and she was trying to get out.
there are a couple of small metric (10mm?) bolts on the bottom side if the fender panel, if you loosen them a bit you can press up on the bottom of the fender, causing the fender panel to 'bow' just enough and the door will clear.
if you get enterprising, you can add a couple of 'double stick spacers' (behind the fenders at/near where it rubs). the double-stick spacers should be positioned so they hold the fender in place (pulled in towards the frame) and keep the fender from 'expanding outward/closing the gap'.
btw: as far as i know, there isn't an 'official tsb' about this. the repair via gm is an 'out-of-pocket' expense and doesn't really address the issue. rumor is, the replacement fender had to be paid for by the customer, gm didn't cover it.
yes, the body panels will expand (from the heat), closing the gap just enough to cause the door to 'catch' the fender panel.
i have experienced the issue, and it's not side specific (it can and will happen to either side, until fixed). i have also heard (from a 'vette tech' at the service center) that someone 'shattered' the drivers fender when her door struck and she was trying to get out.
there are a couple of small metric (10mm?) bolts on the bottom side if the fender panel, if you loosen them a bit you can press up on the bottom of the fender, causing the fender panel to 'bow' just enough and the door will clear.
if you get enterprising, you can add a couple of 'double stick spacers' (behind the fenders at/near where it rubs). the double-stick spacers should be positioned so they hold the fender in place (pulled in towards the frame) and keep the fender from 'expanding outward/closing the gap'.
btw: as far as i know, there isn't an 'official tsb' about this. the repair via gm is an 'out-of-pocket' expense and doesn't really address the issue. rumor is, the replacement fender had to be paid for by the customer, gm didn't cover it.
