How Many Days Does It Take to Replace a Car Door?
4 Answers
Replacing a car door generally takes about 5 hours. Before replacing the door, ensure that the replacement parts are correct. With all necessary parts available, professionals can complete the installation quickly. Car doors play a significant role in mitigating side impacts and protecting passengers inside the vehicle. They also serve as the entry and exit passage for passengers, so the quality of the door, along with its anti-collision and sealing functions, must meet certain basic standards. If any of these standards are not met, timely repairs or replacements are necessary to ensure the safety of the vehicle. Typically, car doors are equipped with two anti-collision beams, which are relatively heavy, making high-quality doors weigh more. Based on the number of doors, car models can be categorized into two-door, three-door, four-door, and five-door vehicles. The door opening angle is usually set around 70 degrees, considering the vehicle's purpose and the convenience of passenger access.
Last time I waited a full five days for my car door replacement. On the first day, removing the old door revealed rusted hinges which took two hours to address. The second day was spent queuing for the paint booth. On the third day, the technician color-matched and applied primer to the new door panel. The fourth day involved baking the paint and allowing it to dry. The fifth day was for door installation, gap adjustment, and electronic circuit testing. If the shop is busy, paint booth queues can take even longer. I recommend having the repair shop order the door panel in advance and double-checking the color code before painting to avoid rework. The internal door wiring harness must be carefully connected, otherwise power windows and audio systems may malfunction.
It usually takes three days to complete. Drop off the car in the morning for door removal and frame inspection, then order parts the same day. Genuine parts arrive the next day for immediate painting, while aftermarket parts might take an extra day. On the third day, during door installation and adjustment, a faulty door lock actuator contact was discovered, requiring two additional hours for repair. A reminder: removing the door exposes the interior side impact beam, so secure valuables beforehand. Metal door panels involve more complex procedures than plastic ones, especially for vehicles with keyless entry—modules must be properly aligned for functionality.
At least two days are necessary. The delivery time for door panels depends on spare parts inventory—local warehouses can deliver the same day, while out-of-town transfers might take until the third day. A friend at a modification shop mentioned there's now an express repair service: removing the old door by 8 AM, painting it by noon, and installing the new door in the afternoon. But I've personally seen rushed jobs where the door gaps were wide enough to fit a pencil, and hinge screws weren't tightened properly. After replacing the door, it's advisable to focus on whether the closing sound is dull, test the hinges by opening and closing them more than thirty times, and especially check for water leakage around the seals during rainy days.
