Hi all,

 

I am a newbie here and have a really weird situation.

 

My OH had a new tailgate fitted to her VW Polo a while back:

 

Info from sticker in owners manual:

VW Polo GP Sport 1.6 105ps 9N3 3C4

Polo A04

77 4V M5F

BTS     JHL

LC9Z  UD

 

We recently noticed the fit of the tailgate was off, the gaps were miles out. We were opening up the tailgate and noticed that the DS strut was wobbling a quite a bit, as we were closing the tailgate we heard something fall down within the inner trim. We now have the bolt the strut fits onto sitting in the passenger door.

Would I be right in assuming the following:

 

I can access where the bolt fits into, by removing the rear C pillar trim;

 

I may be able to find whatever fell off, a nut I think , by using an extendable magnet, sliding it into the bottom where of the C Pillar trim is. I don’t want to remove the rear seat belt as I would need to refit it using the correct torque settings and don’t have a torque wrench. If I have to I wil and get the settings done in June when MOT is due, no one uses the rear seat.

 

If I cannot find the bolt that has fallen into the rear trim, does anyone know what size the nut is and would I be able to get one from anywhere?

Hopefully I have explained things adequately. I will also attach a picture of the whole lot. I’ll just have to learn how to upload pics!

Your advice welcomed with thanks.

 

 

Welcome to the forum.

As there hasn't been a definitive answer to your question, maybe the following will be of some help.

First of all, take great care when opening the tailgate with even just one strut disconnected - the weight of the tailgate can be deceptive when you are unaware of the support being removed.

It is a long while since I changed a tailgate strut, but seem to remember that the bolt(s) to which you refer, screw into captive nuts (nuts that are fixed to the bodywork)

Never having had to access these captive nuts, I would imagine that you are correct in thinking that they would be located behind the inner trim.

You may be lucky enough to retrieve the nut in the way that you describe, but if not, I suggest that you take the bolt to a hardware shop, engineers merchant or even somewhere like B&Q and purchase a new nut (possibly in packs with screws or bolts).

I would suggest that you re-use the existing bolt rather than one from the pack, as you would then know that the (original) bolt is of the correct tensile strength, whereas the new ones, if purchased from the likes of B&Q, may be of lower grade steel.

Was the new tailgate fitted due to accident damage? if so, that may account for the uneven gaps around it.

If you attempt to adjust the tailgate to obtain a better fit, it would be safer to ask someone to support it whilst you make the adjustments, rather than support it on prop's.

 

I hope that you find at least some points of help in this.

 

Regards

As above the ball joint bolt should go into a captive but in the body if you look at this https://volkswagen.7zap.com/en/rdw/polo+derby+vento-ind/po/2007-461/8/827-827020/#25 you'll see they don't list the but as its part of the bodyshell

Caretaker 

 

Thanks.

 

We only open the tailgate when there are two people to lift, usually there are three of us on places two wooden struts unto the boot to hold the tailgate up. it is heavy!

 

I have just got an M8 bolt, so may not bother trying to find the old one. I will be using the original bolt.

 

I recall hearing something fall into the C Pillar when it worked loose. When weather is better I will attempt to remove or loosen C Pillar trime and try to fit the bolt in from behind the pillar and screw bolt in.

 

The tailgate is new and was fitted by the insurance garage, but the messed up on the gaps

 

Your input and advice really appreciated.

 

Thank You

Nige 8021

 

Thanks for that picture, it is really useful.

 

I have just got an M8 nut for 10p, just in case.

 

What is puzzling me is this: I heard something fall down the C Pillar, any guess what it might have been? Do the captive nuts ever come off?

 

you wouldn't happen to have a diagram of the drivers side door with electric windows by any chance? ours is dented from being attacked by a Land rover Defender 110, I have fitted an electric mirror, and removed the door card, but would like to see what is behind the window regular etc. I might be able to bump out the dent myself.  I am looking at getting another door, I've seen a complete door with everything and the rifgt paint code for £30.00 delivered, guy is holding it for me. Might just swop the doors over. 

 

Thank you very much for you input.

 

https://volkswagen.7zap.com/en/rdw/polo+derby+vento-ind/po/2007-461/8/837-837060/

Nige,

 

Thanks, I managed to work out that all the various diagrams are on that link you sent me.. DUH!!

 

I checked out the rear pillar, and it seems the captive nut has sheared off.

 

Much obliged.

In that case you could replace the captive nut with a "rivnut" they work a bit like a pop rivet and you wouldn't have to get behind the trim to fit it

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RIVNUTS-NUTSERTS-RIVET-NUTS-STEEL-ALUMINIUM-OR-STAINLESS-M3-M4-M5-M6-M8-M10-M12/361388153801?hash=item5424699bc9:m:mmbqNhMqoBEOifh0cxwNRCg

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/86x-M3-M8-Threaded-Nut-Rivet-Insert-Tool-Riveter-Rivnut-Nutsert-Riveting-Kit-Set/292141266783?epid=25002602315&hash=item4404f9f75f:g:PFoAAOSwsXFZNZoI

had similar problems when i worked at a bodyshop , rivnuts arent strong enough and pull out

 

chances are you will need someone to carefully cut out the area and weld a plate with a nut on it back in , then repaint it to look nice 

Nige,

 

I think a friend of mine has one of those rivnut guns, I'll give him a call and see if he can sort this out for me.

 

Thanks for the link'

Steve

EEk, that would be too much to do. I could always superglue the bolt back in, or fill the hole with epoxy putty and thread the bold into that.

 

Thanks for the input

 

you would wasting your time ,,glue wont hold it the struts are under extreme force , after all it its ripped off the factory welded part

Edited 2 May, 20188 yr by steveo3002

I'm with Steveo on that!

Unless you have her very well insured, it isn't worth the risk of the tailgate collapsing on her.

There are many times when a bodger repair just isn't good enough - and this is one of 'em.

 

Regards