2 replies to this topic

[philmartin]

The chrome is peeling off on the chrome strip fitted to the tailgate handle.Is it possible to replace this..I also need to replace the microswitch on the tailgate release as it only seems to work on the right hand side of the rubber cover..the release button was very sensitive on my last mk3 estate so that is how I want this one to be.

[raynkar]

The chrome is peeling off on the chrome strip fitted to the tailgate handle.Is it possible to replace this..I also need to replace the microswitch on the tailgate release as it only seems to work on the right hand side of the rubber cover..the release button was very sensitive on my last mk3 estate so that is how I want this one to be.

Depending on what colour your estate is it might just be easier and cheaper to replace the entire handle.

[dojj]

yes, the chrome bit is removable, it's just clipped on

 

as for the boot button, it means a strip out of the handle to change, i should have taken pics as i did this only yesterday to change the number plate light loom as it had got trapped when i pulled it

 

if you are still looking months and months later then this is how you do it

 

inside the pull down handles there is a screw per side, unscrew this

 

then you (don't have to but it is much easier to do it this way than fiddle with the big cover) have to remove the center brake light, 2 screws, and then pull the plastic window surrounds off, they are clipped into place and require "force"

 

you can now apply lots of pulling pressure to the edges of the big black cover, it's got 10 or 12 different push fit metal clips and, if you are unlucky, one of them will snap as you pull it off

 

you also have to prise the boot closed rubber holes on either side over the stops

 

at this point it's best practice to remove the number plate light screws and unplug the wiring from the bck of them, they will need careful prising out as the rubber is very stick so as to not let water into the boot lid

 

once everything is out you can then see the 4 10mm nuts that hold the panel in place

 

the inner 2 nuts have metal panels on them for the wiring and as you look upwards to them the center right nut is fouled by the wiper motor bracket

 

you can undo this though but it's very very fiddly

 

pull the number plate loom out of the way now and unplug the switch

 

now the panel simply pops out

 

swap stuff over and refit, making sure that those screws in the grab handles are fully aligned up, the spring clips need careful and forceful banging back into place so make sure you line things up, this is why you have to remove the surround panels otherwise it becomes a bit of a contortion to get things back into place again, yo can do it, but it's more hassle than it's worth