Cannot Reattach Door

[Heimkehr]

Hopefully you can see the reception inside the panel that receives the bolt has come loose. I can't tighten or loosen the bolt anymore. So the door check arm is actually attached to the bolt still. Permanently, until I get this bolt free.

Mm. I can't say for sure, but possibly the bolt is cross-threaded. Or, the loose piece prevents proper threading/unthreading.

As a first step, is there an adjacent plastic panel that could be pried back, or removed, to provide access to the loose/moving piece?

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[Bobby Hank]

Body shop work looks like.

 

[RussDawgIX]

Mm. I can't say for sure, but possibly the bolt is cross-threaded. Or, the loose piece prevents proper threading/unthreading.

As a first step, is there an adjacent plastic panel that could be pried back, or removed, to provide access to the loose/moving piece?

So, it's the loose piece preventing threading/unthreading. I've checked the plastic panels and from what I can tell, this spot is unreachable.

 

[Heimkehr]

So, it's the loose piece preventing threading/unthreading.

Maybe not. If you're willing to experiment, have a helper hold the door open in such a manner that it provides as much pressure on the door check arm bolt as you're willing to tolerate. This should in turn hold the loose piece against the door jamb with similar force. At that point, you could attempt to loosen/remove the bolt, hoping that the force on the check arm holds the loose piece in place as the bolt is turned counterclockwise.

Just a thought.

 

[GtX]

Maybe not. If you're willing to experiment, have a helper hold the door open in such a manner that it provides as much pressure on the door check arm bolt as you're willing to tolerate. This should in turn hold the loose piece against the door jamb with similar force. At that point, you could attempt to loosen/remove the bolt, hoping that the force on the check arm holds the loose piece in place as the bolt is turned counterclockwise.

Just a thought.

My thought too.
Push door out. Hard.
Burp impact gun.

Edited to add, with the gun in reverse.

 

[Opus]

So the threading on the inside of the B-pillar has separated from the pillar itself. You could try a little JBWeld on a toothpick. Put a few dabs onto the exposed edge of the thread and use the arm to pull it back against the B-pillar while it dries. It might give you enough tension to at least back the bolt out. Whether it works or not, though, you're likely looking at a fix from a body shop.

 

[Canes_JL]

Well that’s definitely a new one.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Looks like the welded nut broke off on the inside. Body shop or a real Jeep shop can fix it.

 

[RussDawgIX]

Thanks everyone. I tried loctite metal. Going to try some jbweld next. But yeah I guess a body shop will be my next stop.

 

[JL ME]

I thought about that too, but was concerned about the arm scratching the paint on opening and closing the door.
Either way, I'm going to very careful with that bolt/arm from now on.

I push the arm inside the door when I'm not attaching it. And use I piece of wire to pull it out when I need it for the winter months.

Warrantee would be my first move on this. If they say no just cut the bolt off and push the hinge in the door and live with it.. The door won't stop when opening it with no hinge, but you can still use the door and take it off when you want. Like I said earlier I don't use the hinge all summer nor do I plug in the door wiring harness all summer. I just keep it pushed in the door and door wiring tucked in to the cargo net..

 

[TheNewGuy]

So, it's the loose piece preventing threading/unthreading. I've checked the plastic panels and from what I can tell, this spot is unreachable.

If you can get the bolt out by one of the methods suggested (maybe cut it?), can you use one of these to replace the lost nut? I'm thinking this is tge way a body shop might fix it.

 

[richk225]

I was not able to get the video to play, but would it be possible to use a small C clamp to draw the bracket up against inside of the door and hold it in place?

 

[mwilk012]

Tear the door apart and fix it?

 

[20JUR]

An easier way is to loop a shoe string through the hinge bolt hole and the metal tether bracket and open the door.

that's what I do with a small piece of paracord

 

[five9dak]

Now that you have the video. Show it to your service advisor.

Suggest you will now cut the bolt off, push the check in, and drop the vehicle off for them to fix under warranty, as the B pillar weld nut has failed. See if they agree.

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