I need to adjust the passenger door striker, the door is sitting to far in towards the rear (I tried 2 doors and both didn't line up, so it's not the door). Problem is, I cannot get the damn screws out. Is there another way to do this that I'm just overlooking? Or do I just have to try harder? Thought I'd ask before I round anything off.

 

wd-40 and an impact screwdriver... if that doesn't work, go get one of those stripped screw remover bits that they have on TV, and pull it out that way, then replace the bolts... Hopefully this works...

Jeff

 

Those screws were a bitch when I adjusted them. I think I just got my biggest dam screwdriver and and really monkeyed the thing. Once you break them free they're all right

 

did you make sure and have someone push the door towrds the front of the car when you tightened the bolts? there is usually enough play to fix these problems with messing with the striker.

 

Yeah, I really tried everything except moving the striker. Besides, it looks like someone has moved it towards the center of the car before as the faded paint line is slightly off. I'm about to go try it again, wish me luck.

 

just use the bfh. it made my camry door fit. whistled going down the highway but it fit.

 

What's the bfh?

 

Had to do mine also. Ended up using an impact screwdriver. The kind you hit with a hammer to loosen bolts. Worked great! Mike

 

big f'ing hammer

 

That's what I figured it meant.
Got em. Switched from the 14v battery drill (which torqued out) to the electric drill Between that and penetrating oil, it only took a second. Gotta love line voltage.

 

Next time if a screw is stuck like that, try breaking it free (after lubing the hell out of it) by tightning a little until it moves, then it should unscrew no prob.

 

redwood. not sure if your problem is like mine.. my door seems to fit alright, but there is a bit of a gap on the front end (up around the window area... it is enough to be an annoyance because wind seeps there there, and it sounds ilke i am always driving with my windows cracked open.. the noise makes it hard to talk.

 

Definately a different problem. Everything lines up great on mine, the door just closes a little too far.
I'd recommend enlisting some slacker friend to hold the door while you adjust the hinge bolts. If you really don't want to take off the fender and door, at least make sure everything you can reach is tightened.
Or do what we did in my old auto body class, stick a floor jack under the door and bend it to the desired location (ahhh, the miracle of working on old buicks).
Um, don't really do that.

 

i think what my problem may be is that that side may be a little bent...
when i get my body work done, i will probably have them straighten out the door at the same time