Old Library

--This is pretty easy work, but I thought I would spell it out so people
know exactly what to expect.  This is for my 1995 Canadian spec gti-vr6 with
105,000 kilometres on the odometer.  YMMV--

Over the weekend I decided to reseal the license plate holder, because it
was leaking really badly.  First, let me congratulate the Volkswagen
engineers on a really inspired piece of half-assed design work.  I can see
these leaks as an increasingly common problem with cars that reach the
60,000 mile or greater point.  Basically, the seal gets dissolved by road
salt and chemicals, and allows water and salt to get into the hatch.  This
caused, in my case, only the failure of one of the license plate bulb
sockets, but it was well on the way to corroding the locking cylinder, and
the wiper motor also had a nice layer of salt crusted on it.

The plastic license plate holder of which we speak is attached by 7-9 bolts
(I say 7-9 because some of the slots were not used on my car).

To access the bolts, you will need to take off the interior trim piece (This
is held on with one screw in the handle, and about 8 clips.  Just unscrew
and pull and it will come off.)  The bolts attach to flat headed screws that
slot into the holder.  It is hard to explain.  The screws themselves have a
1 cm square, thin flat head that slides into a plastic slot on the holder.
The bolts attach to these screws.  You will need an 8mm socket with an
extension to remove them.  Two (there are spots for three) bolts hold the
locking cylinder to the plate holder.  These need to be removed as well.
You do not need to touch the wiper motor or its bracket.  You do not need to
remove the license plate itself.

You also need to take the license plate light bulb holders out.  These are
covered by two plastic lenses (two screws each).  Remove the lenses and pop
the black plastic bulb holders out.  Unplug them.

The fun part comes when you realize that all but two of the plastic slots
that the bolts attach to are broken.  I tried recreating the slots with
epoxy, with mixed results.  You will next need to remove what remains of the
black silicone seal.  Just pull the main excess off, and remove the residue
with bug and tar remover.

You might want to get the touch-up paint out now.  The license plate holder
rubs on the metal of the trunk and wore through the paint in each of the
four corners: an excellent place for rust to start.

I applied a new seal of silicone in the handy groove on the license plate
holder and reattached everything.  I haven't done a leak test yet, but
nothing could be worse than what it was like before.

--I recommend popping the interior trim panel off and checking for leaks for
even moderately used cars.  FYI, a new license plate holder (with brand new
plastic slots for breaking) was quoted at a dealer for $50 plus $50 for
painting.  The light bulb holder was $13.  A new locking cylinder (just the
part) is about $80.  I didn't ask about a new wiper motor.  All prices in
Canadian dollars.--

Mark L.



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