Loose Plastic Rear Wheel Arch Rav4 Xt3 2004

[grahammichael]

After some kind person scraped my rear wheel arch in a car park and then drove away,I have noticed that it no longer fits tightly up to the main body of the car.It is only slightly loose and not noticeable unless you press it gently into the body.Before I panic and take it to a body repair shop and have to pay loads of money to them,are there any suggestions from the knowledgeable members of this forum about what novice steps I can take to try to tighten the wheel arch up again.I am a 68 year old pensioner so stripping wheel arches down and scrambling about underneath the car is a no no.Any suggestions will be gratefully received,also if anybody has had a similar repair done by a body repair shop,what sort of cost can I expect?

Regards

[anchorman]

Avoid messing with it unless it is driving you mad. They are stuck on and don't really re-stick very well. The official method would be fit new and then paint but you might find a local shop that will have a go. You can always call in and ask

[bothwell_buyer]

The ballpark price for a bodyshop to paint a panel/muck about with it is around £100. Prices vary. In the current weather, I'd live with it and see the winter out before doing anything.

[grahammichael]

anchorman and bothwell buyer,thanks for your speedy reply.You both offer sound advice and I agree it might be better to wait until the winter is over.Do you think things might get worse if water is getting down the back of the wheel arch which could cause more of the adhesive to weaken? I assume that because the wheel arch is plastic there should not be a problem with corrosion?

Regards

[daibando]

has any one any idea what kind od adesive is used to secure the wheel arch?

[anchorman]

Not sure of the actual grade but it the peel off paper high tac stuff. They are only designed for single use but modern body shops have some really high tech adhesives so I personally would not be worried about going now. They deal with repairs all year round but equally they can probably prep and prime it after it has been left - its up to you but you will do no harm in asking their advice.

body moulding.pdf

[shcm]

We actually stick something with tape to the outside of one of our ECUs. It probably would not see the same amount of crud as a wheel arch, but it is amazing stuff. Google for EHB tape and the likes of "3M" (Anchs - it is certainly better stuff we use compared to that front RAV guard I saw recently).

[IanXT4]

A few years ago my car was in for a service at Toyota, when a grease monkey drove it into a post damaging the near side rear wheel arch extension.

A new extension was ordered that came pre-painted and was stuck on. I seem to remember the adhesion of the glue was not that great until I spilt a little petrol when refilling and it seem to activate the glue and it stuck solid.

If all you are worried about is it being loose, you could try dribbling a very small amount of petrol along the gap wait a little and then press hard. Note you try this at your own risk there is always the possibility it will dissolve the remaining glue. Also remember Petrol is extremely flammable.

Bear in mind that nothing sticks when it is cold and damp so you first need to gently warm and dry everything, either in a garage or with a hair drier. Remembering that hair driers and petrol fumes do not mix. (at least not in this life)

[grahammichael]

Thanks for all the advice. Still undecided which way to go with this.Might just call into a body repair shop and see what they think before I try to do a clumsy repair myself and possibly make matters worse and finish up costing me more money