You're ready to leave for vacation. The van is washed, fueled and running like a dream, the hand controls are tuned and the lift works great. But you can't get into your van because the door openers just died. You have just found out that the best engineered lift in the world is worthless if the power door operators fail.

The truth is that most disabled motorists spend a lot of time and energy picking out the right van and lift, then buy their door operators as an afterthought.

You can find products to operate the doors on most full-sized vans and many minivans, including Chrysler's Caravan and Voyager, Chevrolet's Venture and Astro, and Ford's Windstar and Aerostar. Sliding door operators generally have a motor attached to the doorway and a chain, cable or toothed linear gear to open and close the door. Swing door operators usually have motors mounted in the door, on the floor or on the lift to activate extension arms that open and retract the doors. One exception is Braun's linear actuator swing door operators that open the doors almost flat against the side of the van to allow clearance for a swing-out lift. Another is a hydraulically powered hatch-back door operator for the Dodge Caravan made by Med-Net for its Kneel-Car.

Reliable operation of door openers begins with a good installation. The doors should close smoothly and completely, and they should look like they are closed. Otherwise, it is likely that someone will eventually pull or push the door to check its closure and damage the door operator inside.

It is important for the installer to align all brackets for the door and motor properly and--especially for sliding door operators with a chain drive--make sure the chain doesn't bind. If it does, it will lose its strength over a period of months and eventually break. Once the door operator is in place, the control circuits--which include microswitches to activate or interlock functions with the lift--require very exact installation and thorough testing.

Consumers can help themselves by becoming familiar with the mechanics of the door operators and reading the owner's manual. Find the location of any microswitches before taking possession of the equipment and learn what happens when they're out of adjustment.

Almost every current production power door operator has a back-up provision for manual operation of the doors. Make sure you know how to use it. Most back-ups are either a simple handle or a pull-pin that releases the door.

Because of prolonged exposure to the elements, doors and door operators require more maintenance than lifts or hand controls. This is particularly true for the hinges on swing doors and the roller mechanisms on sliding doors. Both require periodic lubrication and should be put on your van's maintenance list just like oil changes and chassis lubrication.

Continuous problems with a power door operator usually indicate that the door has dropped out of alignment for one reason or another. Depending on the damage and type of door, it can be a quick adjustment or require a body shop to align and repaint the hinge area. It is important to do the job thoroughly because nothing can cause more frustration than repeated door operator problems.

Power door operator designs have become more reliable over the years, but they still require maintenance. If consumers will take the time to educate themselves on proper care and use, they can minimize problems.

Question: I'm a quad looking for second hand vans. Can you point me to an email list or web page address?

Wheels: Disabled Dealer magazine lists used mobility equipment and is currently published in Florida and California, with more regional publications to come. One caveat: Remember that beauty, or in this case price, is in the eye of the beholder. The magazine does give you a useful basis for comparing prices of used adapted motor vehicles. Contact Disabled Dealer by email at disdeal@aol.com or by phone at 800/555-4036.

Do you have an automotive question? A suggestion? Karl Beck welcomes your emails at kvmbeck@aol.com