Need XJ help, NYC/Northern NJ
 

I purchased my 95 2 door in Oct 2012. Had 84,000 when I bought her for $2,500. I take public transportation to work (live in NYC) and only use her on the weekends so current mileage is 86K. Great Jeep and I love it, especially with all the snow we've been getting this year. I've done what work I can do, new exhaust, new headlights, new tires and wheels, and paid for the work I can't tackle myself - brakes and some minor engine work. I'd like to do more work myself but without a garage and gear at my disposal my hands are kind of tied.

Last fall as I was opening the pax door, the hinge broke and the door practically came off in my hands. I was able to move the door back into position and close it. It's been closed since, jammed and won't open. I know XJ's can have problems with the door hinge and it's not that uncommon to have to reweld and/or replace the hinge.

I took it to a body shop and they said it would be $500 to get the door free and gave me an estimate of another $400-500 to weld a new hinge. Total cost would likely be $1,000 and maybe more if they needed to do more work. I can't justify spending $1,000+ to fix a door on a Jeep I paid $2,500 for especially when I've already put another $1,500 on brakes and other necessary repairs.

What are my options here? I know this Jeep will last for another 100-150K miles if I play my cards right. If anyone knows a place in NJ or NY that I can get this job done cheaper please let me know. Ideally, if someone has done this repair themselves and has the knowledge and equipment to help me out I'm willing to talk prices...appreciate the help.

Weld it shut... The General Lee was badass with mom functioning doors, so what makes an XJ any different?

*DISCLAIMER* I'm kidding, that would outrageous. I have no idea what you should do, but if it helps, my pax for catch fell off into the fender yesterday...

Take it to another body shop.
One that doesn't try to rip people off.

Take it another shop and ask them to break down the estimate in man hours and any materials used. That seems high to me. I've never had the need for a body man in Queens so I cant recommend any one.

You can probably get the door open yourself with a little prying !

It's not just getting the door open, it's rewelding the hinge when I do.

Got in touch with Goonies Garage in Long Island, they seemed really cool and quoted a more reasonable price. Thinking about leaving it with them for a week and maybe getting some additional work done…OME 2.5" lift if I can find a reasonable price.

My whole door broke off and had to be rewelded and wired... came out to 400$ at a local shop. Door shuts better than it did coming off the lot at Chrysler

Problem Solved - heard some good things about Goonies Garage in Patchogue, Long Island. John fixed the door for me with a new hinge welded to the frame. total cost $200. Now the GF will go places with me again, HA! Thanks for the help.