Tailgate Door Handle replacement

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d4rren

New Member
Posts
22
On one of thise really cold mornings I went to open the tailgate to let the mutt in but I only pressed the fob once so the door was still locked and lo and behold the fecking handle mor or less fell off.
I did a patch up job to hold it in place,thinking a new replacement wouldnt be too dear.
FFS!!!!!
£95 plus P+P for a new 1
Mine`s a 2002 and the dealer says that they changed in 2001.
This RR handle looks similar except for the number plate holder.Range Rover Tailgate Handle Genuine New CXB000270PMA on eBay (end time 06-Feb-10 10:54:30 GMT)

Anybody had a similar experience and recommend a repalcement that doesn`t cost 100 notes?

2002 Freelander TD4

Thanks
 
Same happened to me! Seems a ton is about the going rate, and there are not many second hand kicking around.
 
Hi there,

Yes I've had exactly the same thing happen on my freelander. I've tried super gluing it back together but that didnt work.
One tip, try the local scrapyard. I have but too late, the 2 cars there had already had these parts robbed. Oh and now my door wont open even with a bxxxxxxd handle. So everything has to go in the back doors even the animal feed.
Post here let me know how you get on.

Tracy.
 
Your dealer is talking out his arse, a freelander 1 tailgate handle is a freelander 1 tailgate handle, they come in two variations, black and grey.

£95 + p+p fooking hell... £65 + VAT from armstrong massey is what it cost us. DO NOT let them charge you for a lock barrel, they are held in by a plastic clip and are a straight swap.
Go to a different dealer, walk up to the parts counter and ask for a rear tailgate handle assembly for a freelander 1 in (either black or grey depending) without the lock barrel, and when they give you the price ask them if theres any trade discount possible?
 
Hi, anyone got any ideas on where I can get a new tailgate handle for my td4 2002 .
also is there anywhere i can access idiot proof [lol] fitting instructions
any help would be much appreciated. ta ..
 
the reason superglue doesn't hold it is due to it's lack of strength. To glue them back together you need to do a 2 stage repair. First rough the surfaces with fine grade sandpaper until they are a nice matt finish. Then glue them with the superglue and allow to dry fully, would give it an hour somewhere warm.

Then go over the surface of the repairs with araldite, a nice thick coat extending well over the cracks and beyond to sound plastic.

The superglue provides a quick fix whereby the bits are held together, then the araldite which takes longer to dry will provide the strength.

good luck, but this really does work. I backed into a post in mine and broke the tailgate handle. swallowed my pride and spent 10 mins picking up all the bits, and then took it home and fixed it like this. That was 3 years ago and no problems yet.
 
Erm....

Do you guys know if it's made off therrmal formed plastic? if it is, it might be possible 'weld' the thing together :)

Motorcycles have polyprop body panels, they get broken when idiots fall off them, they can be welded back toegether with a high power soldering iron and a bit of extra plastic of the same type :)

By thermal formed I mean a plastic that can be remelted, like Polyproylene, or ETFE etc....
 
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the reason superglue doesn't hold it is due to it's lack of strength. To glue them back together you need to do a 2 stage repair. First rough the surfaces with fine grade sandpaper until they are a nice matt finish. Then glue them with the superglue and allow to dry fully, would give it an hour somewhere warm.

Then go over the surface of the repairs with araldite, a nice thick coat extending well over the cracks and beyond to sound plastic.

The superglue provides a quick fix whereby the bits are held together, then the araldite which takes longer to dry will provide the strength.

good luck, but this really does work. I backed into a post in mine and broke the tailgate handle. swallowed my pride and spent 10 mins picking up all the bits, and then took it home and fixed it like this. That was 3 years ago and no problems yet.
 
the reason superglue doesn't hold it is due to it's lack of strength. To glue them back together you need to do a 2 stage repair. First rough the surfaces with fine grade sandpaper until they are a nice matt finish. Then glue them with the superglue and allow to dry fully, would give it an hour somewhere warm.

Then go over the surface of the repairs with araldite, a nice thick coat extending well over the cracks and beyond to sound plastic.

The superglue provides a quick fix whereby the bits are held together, then the araldite which takes longer to dry will provide the strength.

good luck, but this really does work. I backed into a post in mine and broke the tailgate handle. swallowed my pride and spent 10 mins picking up all the bits, and then took it home and fixed it like this. That was 3 years ago and no problems yet.

Here is the photo my wife sent me this morning of ours. Until I look tonight I assume I can just add the glue Araldite straight between where it looks like the seal is on the bodyof the boot then just offer the plastic
boot.jpg
tailgate handle back up?
 
I fixed mine together with epoxy resin,still holding after two months.
Here is the photo my wife sent me this morning of ours. Until I look tonight I assume I can just add the glue Araldite straight between where it looks like the seal is on the body of the boot then just offer the plastic
boot-jpg.134265
tailgate handle back up?
 
Here is the photo my wife sent me this morning of ours. Until I look tonight I assume I can just add the glue Araldite straight between where it looks like the seal is on the body of the boot then just offer the plastic
boot-jpg.134265
tailgate handle back up?

It's much better to replace the handle. If you glue it and it then fails, replacement is going to take the paint off. It is possible to bodge a repair, but it's not the best way to do it.
 
Super Glue and Araldite works as posted, Google Plastex, bit pricey but lasts ages, I use it for all plastic broken bits. The posts do go brittle, so plenty of Araldite to reinforce the posts.
I have seen them for £120+, yeh right, when I get my 3rd set of teeth. Few used on eBay £40 - £50, but no point in just sticking it on, may be just as old and brittle as your broken one, and fitting does not fracture the posts, If you get a used one, spend a bit of time cleaning and reinforcing the posts before fitting.
weet, it is an easy job,
1/ Tape paintwork around door card
2/If you are bothered about scratching the paintwork, mask it.
3/Remove the 4 screws under the pocket
4/Lever the door card out from each side starting at the bottom (3 clips each side).
5/Lift door card away from the bottom, and unhook from the top pulling it from under the window seal.
Peel the membrane away with your fingers avoiding tearing.
6/Unscrew the door handle, if broken you may need someone the other side with mole grips etc.
a few pics I sorted












I have done several door/loadspace mods including
Xenon LED loadspace lighting.
Door LED lights connected to the interior light system, for when the door is open at night and the wheel covers the O/S R sidelight.
Aux/Charging socket under the rubbish load space light.
Manual unlock cable at the top of the actuator, if the actuator fails just have to pull on the cable.







PS. it may be easier to take the window seal off to pop the door card back on.
A screw at each end, then lever it up from the inside, bit like a door seal.
there are ways to fool the FL into thinking the door is shut so you can open the window, such as using a screwdriver to lock the door mechanism.
Be warned, messing with the window operation while the door is open, and forgetting to put the door back to unlocked and open state before you shut it is on your own head.



 
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It's much better to replace the handle. If you glue it and it then fails, replacement is going to take the paint off. It is possible to bodge a repair, but it's not the best way to do it.
Do you know if there is a difference between the tailgate handles from the early mk1 or the facelift 2004 which mine is, looking on ebay at the moment?
 
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Thanks for your prompt response. Think I will order new and fit at the weekend when I have light -not been able to take a look as too dark when I get home since the wife sent the photo :)

Looking at the picture. Your handle has broken where they all do, where the captive bolts mount to it. So a replacement is the best way to fix the problem for good. ;)
 
Thanks for your prompt response. Think I will order new and fit at the weekend when I have light -not been able to take a look as too dark when I get home since the wife sent the photo :)
You can see how its done while you wait for the replacment
 
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