smokejack · Dec 11, 2010

hi,

wondering if anyone out there can advise. I've got a Freelander TD4 and the back plastic casing that covers the handle on the back door has come away. The problem appears to be the small plastic hole that one of the bolts is screwed into has broken.

I need two things;

How easy is it to take the casing off? I'm assuming I have to remove the entire back door panel (and how easy is that to do without damaging it!!)

does anyone know where I might pick up a second hand one (new ones cost £100). I've tried a few scrap yards near me but no joy.

appreciate any help.

Thanks

Jack

Hippo · Dec 11, 2010

Plastic handle is unbolted from the inside. To get to it, open the tailgate, undo the 4 screws underneath on the lower edge, pull the bottom of the inner plastic away from the bottom of the tailgate, then unhook from the top, then carefully peel away the stick on covering so you can put it back afterwards - top rhs section only. You now have access to remove the handle.

Hippo · Dec 11, 2010

ebay for the handles

smokejack · Dec 13, 2010

Hippo said:
Plastic handle is unbolted from the inside. To get to it, open the tailgate, undo the 4 screws underneath on the lower edge, pull the bottom of the inner plastic away from the bottom of the tailgate, then unhook from the top, then carefully peel away the stick on covering so you can put it back afterwards - top rhs section only. You now have access to remove the handle.

Thanks Hippo very kind of you to respond. I shall give it a (tentative) go using all the principles of Heath Robinson and Frank Crawford!

Cheers

Jack

Optimus Prime · Dec 13, 2010

the handles themselves are repairable, just takes a bit of time and patience.

you need both superglue and araldite.glue the parts together with the superglue, which will give a quick grab, but no strength. once this has dried, go over the top of all the cracks with the araldite. works best if you rough the surfaces up first with a bit of emery cloth or similar.

good luck

smokejack · Dec 13, 2010

Optimus Prime said:
the handles themselves are repairable, just takes a bit of time and patience.

you need both superglue and araldite.glue the parts together with the superglue, which will give a quick grab, but no strength. once this has dried, go over the top of all the cracks with the araldite. works best if you rough the surfaces up first with a bit of emery cloth or similar.

good luck

Hi Optimus P

thanks for tip and forgive my stupidity here but when you say glue the parts together do you mean glueing the plastic case case to the rubber seal and bodywork? I have taken the panel off and unpeeled top RH of internal cover and the nut/bolt that's causing the problem is on far right just behind the two electric clips for window. I'm assuming that if I try and put something in the hole on the external side of this bolt (where the plastic casing has broken giving the external bolt nothing to grab on to) and then tighten internal bolt this will pull the casing back to the bodywork?

As I'm sure you've gathered I'm a danger to soicety when faced with mechanical things!

Appreciate any advice.

Jack

Optimus Prime · Dec 13, 2010

reet, bit more with you now, thought the whole handle was broken, like can happen if you reverse into a concrete column in an underground car park if none of the overhead lights are working. (apparently, never done this meself, honest)

you need to find a small nut that is the right thread size for the fixing bolt, then araldite this into position on the handle. this is best done by removing the whole handle (3 bolts) and taking it inside where it's warm.

screw the bolt into the nut a few turns before you glue it, this will keep the threads clear for when you refit it.

wait for it to totally cure before refitting.

smokejack · Dec 13, 2010

Optimus Prime said:
reet, bit more with you now, thought the whole handle was broken, like can happen if you reverse into a concrete column in an underground car park if none of the overhead lights are working. (apparently, never done this meself, honest)

you need to find a small nut that is the right thread size for the fixing bolt, then araldite this into position on the handle. this is best done by removing the whole handle (3 bolts) and taking it inside where it's warm.

screw the bolt into the nut a few turns before you glue it, this will keep the threads clear for when you refit it.

wait for it to totally cure before refitting.

That's great advice OP I shall give this a go tomorrow and hopefully sort the problem. Thank you kindly for assistance.

Jack

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