Aaah Geeez! Need some gluing advice...

[Knottscott]

Right after work last night I was trying to help my lab partner open his frozen car door.....I ended up pulling the handle off from his '99 Camry LE!

I need some advice....the part that came off is a plastic flap that looks like it was glued to a steel handle. Can anyone recommend the best glue for mating these two parts back together?

[gsmittle]

You might try checking here:

http://www.thistothat.com/

g.

[cabinetman]

Right after work last night I was trying to help my lab partner open his frozen car door.....I ended up pulling the handle off from his '99 Camry LE!

I need some advice....the part that came off is a plastic flap that looks like it was glued to a steel handle. Can anyone recommend the best glue for mating these two parts back together?

I'd make a go of it with a two part epoxy.
.

[Bruce Cohen]

If I was you, I'd call up the nearest GM Dealership's part dept and ask them what they use to as an adhesive for this. Chances are that GM has a part # for this product which you can purchase from them. Or try a "friendly" (if such an animal exists) body shop, they may be nice enough to sell you a small amount of the adhesive. And of cause, there's always the local Autozone or similar auto parts superstore.

Bruce

[Knottscott]

Thanks for the suggestions gang. We're gonna need a break in the temperature before we can try anything, but I'll call around and see if any of the "experts" have some tips.

[rnelson0]

I don't have any suggestions, but I imagine a picture of your face would have been worth a few thousand words

[cgallery]

I'd use automotive weatherstripping adhesive, which is a sort of rubber cement that I was advices to use to hold my bandsaw tires to the aluminum wheels. It is affectionately knows as "elephant snot" in the trades, and you'll see why once you use some.

It holds great. Comes in a toothpaste-type (squeeze) tube. You can get it at automotive stores for just a few bucks.

[BadeMillsap]

See the Toyota Commercial link ....

"Bugger"

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=36994

[eezlock]

glueing advice ..........

Dustmite, hate to tell you this, but most likely you are just wasting your time trying to glue this together in extreme cold weather. Best solution to repair this is....replace the handle assembly, cheaper and better in the long run!

Go to your local auto parts store they may have the replacement handle assembly in stock...if not...it is, off to the dealer or salvage yard! I have removed, repaired, enough of those type handles when I did automotive
lock work, they are not too difficult. After removing the inner door panel,
paper or fiber weather shield, the handle assembly is fairly easy to remove with a ratchet, socket extension and a 10mm socket. Hope this helps....eezlock

[Knottscott]

I got a better look at it in the sunlight yesterday, and was pleased to see that both parts that need to be attached are plastic, not plastic to metal as I initially thought. Why would a car manufacturer use plastic exterior handles?! Anyway, I'm hoping it'll increase the odds of it holding.....nothing to lose really...it'd be hard to break it more. I picked up some two part epoxy that claims to be for "plastic" - ABS, fiberglass, ceramic, pvc, etc. We'll see....

[Tom Slick]

If that doesn't work try some ABS pipe cement. The handle is more then likely ABS plastic.