Passenger front fender liner is loose again

[CoriBug]

Before I drove to Texas for the Round Up in April, I noticed the passenger front fender was loose. I had the dealer check Daisy over, top off all fluids, etc, about a week before the trip and then I noticed the liner was loose the day before we left. On our way home from Texas, I noticed a whole section of the liner was gone - a piece about 8x10, maybe a little smaller, in front of the tire. I had the dealer check it out at the next oil change, about 2 months later and they said I needed a new passenger side fender liner. The right side under engine cover - center pan - had a few broken clips at front, but was ok. I knew there was something loose under there since I ran over something(forget what it was)a couple months after I got her and I heard it scrape the skid plate. ouch!

Anyway, the screws supposed to hold the liner in place are loose again and the fender liner moves around like it did before. Is this the dealer's fault and why does it come loose? I haven't ran over anything else!

Cori

This is the only thing I've paid for out of pocket for repairs and it cost $130. Is that an ok price from the dealer? I don't want to do it again!!

[SilverSportNOLA]

Are you talking about the fender liner, the one that is bolted in along the perimeter of the wheel opening and going around the tire with about 15 screws, or the engine sheild, which is behind the wheel.

If it is the engine sheild, they do fit loosely, mine have been broken for years and are only worse now with the 1.5" suspension drop and post Katrina increase in road debris. Mine keep breaking the area around the screw near the lower control arm towards the back. That is the only screw, other than the ones that attach it to the splash sheild, that holds it in, other than that, there are some strange fasteners on the frame rail that hold that part in, ECSTuning sells them. If they reused them, that could be a reason for it to get loose again.

[CoriBug]

It is the fender liner. When the small piece came off, metal was exposed. I'll take a pic tomorrow so you know exactly what I mean. Thanks for your input.

Cori

[SilverSportNOLA]

Metal like a radiator ... the area in front of the tire is the intercooler ... could see that happening if you got really curb happy.

[CoriBug]

I've bumped a few curbs, but not too bad. Oh well!! I'll just make sure that the dealer actually gets it on really good and then check it often. I'd like to get a dieselgeek skidplate someday....

Cori

[SilverSportNOLA]

Thought you were gonna have pix today. Like I hinted to ... there are not too many screws in the area of the intercooler ... and I could see a curb breaking it there. Now if it is loose around the fender lip, that is either a poor job, or a broken tab that it bolts to on the fender. I believe one of my fenders to not be OEM VW part ... the tabs on that one have broken off rather easily when installing the inner fender on that side.

[CoriBug]

Ok I have pictures now. I noticed there is only one screw that seems to hold the liner in place, like you said. Thanks for your advice!!

[SilverSportNOLA]

Haven't removed mine in a few weeks ... but I think there are at least 8 screws that hold it in. One is up near the strut, 4 or 5 around the fender lip, and a few along the frame rail and a few along the firewall. That area in front the tire looks normal though ... it is a bit loose there due to the InterCooler (the thing the liner is hiding in your last pic) and no screw locations.

[noR]

A LITTLE loose is acceptable. If it can possibly touch your tire or get w/in 1/2" of your tire, there's a problem.

I'd check the dealership's work by pulling the wheel off and looking at all the screw positions, making sure things are tight. Some of the backings may be loose or missing.

I can totally understand/believe a dealership left out clips that were originally there.