Mike, Interesting information about the importance of door guides. Would a DeLorean with a VIN 06467 manufactured in November, 1981, likely have those door guides? Can anyone explain how can I check to see if my car has them? Does anyone have pictures of what they look like? Many thanks for the help. Joe Thome VIN 06467 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Substelny" <msubstel@xxxx> To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2001 9:33 AM Subject: Re: [DML] Trapped in a DeLorean? > When I first got my DeLorean I was trapped inside many times, and it had NOTHING > to do with the lock mechanism. It had to do with the fact that my doors often > closed out of alignment, making them jammed. They appeared to be closed > normally, but the latches were nowhere near the locking pins. Instead, the body > of the door was mashed between the front and rear locking pins. > > When this happens it is very difficult to get out. Disconnecting the battery > does no good. The door handles and lock rockers have no effect. Only brute > force (or possibly a fast drive on a bumpy road) will get the door open. This > may take many strong men. At the same time, a door closed in this manner might > spring open at any moment, usually when you are cruising at 70 mph on the > freeway. This is a very frightening experience! > > The original design of the gullwing doors was such that all DeLorean doors would > jam shut in this manner. It was very dangerous. > > This was an awful problem for DMC. They solved it, though, when they invented > the door guides. All later DeLorean had door guides installed at the factory. > Earlier DeLoreans (like mine) can be easily retrofitted with proper door guides. > > Because I had so many frightening experiences with my guideless doors, I look > for door guides on the cars at DeLorean events. I am happy to report that today > almost all DeLoreans have been fitted with proper door guides, but there are > still a few without them. > > I did not appreciate it at the time, but when my DeLorean had no door guides it > was a death trap. Now that I have door guides my doors are safe and reliable. > > If you are not sure whether your doors have guides or not, call your DMC parts > supplier or show up at any event with other DeLoreans and inspect their door > latch areas. > > - Mike Substelny > VIN 01280, 8 years > > > > Before posting messages or replies, see the posting policy rules at: > www.dmcnews.com/Admin/rules.html > > To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: > moderator@xxxx > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >