I still have my outback, but I also now have a CRX. The CRX is in great shape (Grandma car) but it has a big broken rear plastic panel in the driver side rear of the car which rattles. I know glue is worthless. Has anyone tried plastic welding these panels. (Subaru, Honda, Ford its all the same plastic)

Hey Nip!

I don’t recommend listening to me with body work but I’ve done it to bumper covers on Toyota’s and Subarus.  Take spare bumper scrap or ive even used zip ties as “soldering wire”.  Get a soldering iron or other heat device and locally melt the pieces together using the scrap as additional filler. 

Thats what I was thinking. Its the only rattle in the car but its also hard to find. I am watching ebay as I would just rather replace it as the crack is in a high stress area.

Edited September 24, 20187 yr by nipper

Even used panels are broken in the same place

oh yeah that might be trickier.  if you're going to replace it, and it's just dangling all wonky would it hurt to try a repair of some sort? 

be good to find out why they stress and crack there - door seems likely?  anyway to remedy that?  or passengers or seat belt....?

 

Edited September 26, 20187 yr by idosubaru

I may try to fix it and eventually replace the panel. There are some multi part epoxies that are supposedly good for it. Its broken by the seat belt.

18 hours ago, nipper said:

I may try to fix it and eventually replace the panel. There are some multi part epoxies that are supposedly good for it. Its broken by the seat belt.

Might be able to reinforce the backside with some 1/4" or finer mesh screen then apply your bonding epoxy. Use some clips to hold everything in place then bond it. 

https://www.amazon.com/J-B-Weld-50139-Plastic-Adhesive/dp/B01IBOK7FE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1538053852&sr=8-3&keywords=jb+weld+for+plastic

CRXs aren't that hard to find, I would just hold out for a used replacement panel...

10 hours ago, carfreak85 said:

CRXs aren't that hard to find, I would just hold out for a used replacement panel...

Looks to be a common problem on those CRXs:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/88-91-HONDA-CRX-Si-Driver-Left-Rear-Interior-Trim-Side-Panel-sms/132781334941?hash=item1eea62619d:g:pbIAAOSwDYBbnCcH

$125! Ouch!

Im watching that one too but that is cracked as well at the same spot

Well goes to show how much I know about Hondas these days...

Found a much more reasonable on, no damage on ebay