Broken kitchen table - help!

[Renaissance-Man]

Hi folks,

Hoping someone can assist. Day one of a two week trip in Wales and the kitchen table has broken. Not sure how but I had it attached to the rear seat head rest and was chopping some veg when I heard a crack and the table became detached from the rail at the front end.

On closer inspection it seems the wholly inadequate plastic bracket which attaches the table to the kitchen as failed. Is this part available does anyone know?

I have tried fixing it but with limited tools the table is unusable. I am thinking a trip to a hardware store to get some strong glue as a temporary fix but suggestions welcome.

 

[Trudi]

Hi folks,

Hoping someone can assist. Day one of a two week trip in Wales and the kitchen table has broken. Not sure how but I had it attached to the rear seat head rest and was chopping some veg when I heard a crack and the table became detached from the rail at the front end.

On closer inspection it seems the wholly inadequate plastic bracket which attaches the table to the kitchen as failed. Is this part available does anyone know?

I have tried fixing it but with limited tools the table is unusable. I am thinking a trip to a hardware store to get some strong glue as a temporary fix but suggestions welcome.

View attachment 95508View attachment 95509View attachment 95510

Check the floor between the bench seat and cupboard for the missing screw. Mine came out and I thought it was broken but the screw had come out and was hiding. Had to get it from the boot end.

 

[Renaissance-Man]

Check the floor between the bench seat and cupboard for the missing screw. Mine came out and I thought it was broken but the screw had come out and was hiding. Had to get it from the boot end.

Thanks for your reply. I have the screw but if you look at the pictures the actual plastic retainer is broken. I have refitted it but the table slips out of the housing as the plastic bit in the kitchen slider has snapped.

 

[Renaissance-Man]

Update - just spoken to our dealer and they reckon that the whole table needs replacing for the sake of a 5p bit of plastic. Totally bonkers!
It’s a warranty repair but in the future it won’t be and then it will cost me £350 odd for a replacement.
Also, VW won’t diagnose and book in the van on the basis of my pictures but need to see it meaning an hour round trip to get diagnosed what I already know.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Also, VW won’t diagnose and book in the van on the basis of my pictures but need to see it meaning an hour round trip to get diagnosed what I already know.

Makes no sense, especiallly when dealers like to send out a video of your van of the van on the ramps whilst being serviced pointing out any issues; But then expect you to do take a double round trip (1 to diagnose + 1 to fix), rather than just allowing you to send a video clip of the issue. Not great given current diesel prices + not very green in terms of emissions especially for a company that likes to promote its green credentials.

 

[Renaissance-Man]

My view exactly. I am feeling the urge to write a complaint letter to VW for all the good it will do.

 

[GrahamB]

My view exactly. I am feeling the urge to write a complaint letter to VW for all the good it will do.

Update - just spoken to our dealer and they reckon that the whole table needs replacing for the sake of a 5p bit of plastic. Totally bonkers!
It’s a warranty repair but in the future it won’t be and then it will cost me £350 odd for a replacement.
Also, VW won’t diagnose and book in the van on the basis of my pictures but need to see it meaning an hour round trip to get diagnosed what I already know.

I cannot believe the plastic runner can’t be replaced - it must happen all the time. I would ask the parts department to do a search for the part number. I had the bolt and retaining thread insert come apart and it went back together ok, so assuming the sliding piece can be refitted easily its probably a simple DIY job if you can get hold of the part.

 

[GrahamB]

PS as I thought, some threads on here suggest it is possible to get the sliding hinge part. I searched ‘sliding table’ and a few threads came up. So I personally would try and get the part and fix it myself to save the trips to the dealer, who doesn't sound like they know what they are on about.

 

[Benh76]

Think yourself lucky you don't have to deal with Listers Van Centre in Coventry, I asked them about looking at my sliding kitchen door (common issue of the latch not working) and I was told September at the earliest !

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Think yourself lucky you don't have to deal with Listers Van Centre in Coventry, I asked them about looking at my sliding kitchen door (common issue of the latch not working) and I was told September at the earliest !

Keep it all dated and in writing so you have a history, in case the issue gets fixed and then reoccurs.

Have seen a few posts recently where people have been told by dealers that breakages etc are time barred / outside of warranty, unless they can prove that the issue was initially reported before the warranty expired; Hopefully you won't have to drive to the dealer in September for them to take a look at the issue, and then be asked to book another appointment a few months later to get the work done!

 

[Renaissance-Man]

PS as I thought, some threads on here suggest it is possible to get the sliding hinge part. I searched ‘sliding table’ and a few threads came up. So I personally would try and get the part and fix it myself to save the trips to the dealer, who doesn't sound like they know what they are on about.

Thanks for this. I shall do a detailed search when I get some Wi-Fi. There has to be a solution other than a table replacement. I have the screw and the table is I damaged other than the simple plastic runner. Why they didn’t manufacture it from aluminum is beyond me!

 

[Elly Swanson]

My view exactly. I am feeling the urge to write a complaint letter to VW for all the good it will do.

Will probably do no good at all, VW are so arrogant!

Thanks for this. I shall do a detailed search when I get some Wi-Fi. There has to be a solution other than a table replacement. I have the screw and the table is I damaged other than the simple plastic runner. Why they didn’t manufacture it from aluminum is beyond me!

If it’s plastic could a 3d printer, like @Bigted, make one for you?

 

[Renaissance-Man]

Will probably do no good at all, VW are so arrogant!

If it’s plastic could a 3d printer, like @Bigted, make one for you?

Never considered that. Quite possibly. I shall try and locate an original first and go from there.

 

[dspuk]

Hi folks,

Hoping someone can assist. Day one of a two week trip in Wales and the kitchen table has broken. Not sure how but I had it attached to the rear seat head rest and was chopping some veg when I heard a crack and the table became detached from the rail at the front end.

On closer inspection it seems the wholly inadequate plastic bracket which attaches the table to the kitchen as failed. Is this part available does anyone know?

I have tried fixing it but with limited tools the table is unusable. I am thinking a trip to a hardware store to get some strong glue as a temporary fix but suggestions welcome.

View attachment 95508View attachment 95509View attachment 95510

It's not going to help you today but the parts kit is quite cheap and available here. Campervanbits OOS atm.

One would imagine the easiest short term solution is to leave it folded away for now and use the outside table inside?

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/product/audi-7h7098520a-1-set-attachment-parts/mpn/7h7098520a

 

[SteveSumnerSupercali]

Hi folks,

Hoping someone can assist. Day one of a two week trip in Wales and the kitchen table has broken. Not sure how but I had it attached to the rear seat head rest and was chopping some veg when I heard a crack and the table became detached from the rail at the front end.

On closer inspection it seems the wholly inadequate plastic bracket which attaches the table to the kitchen as failed. Is this part available does anyone know?

I have tried fixing it but with limited tools the table is unusable. I am thinking a trip to a hardware store to get some strong glue as a temporary fix but suggestions welcome.

View attachment 95508View attachment 95509View attachment 95510

Thank you for posting this. If the gap allows it, maybe you could superglue a washer over the existing hole in the plastic to make retention possible again? I am going to inspect my table to see if there’s any wear and if I feel it necessary and possible I will glue some thin stainless steel washers to mine.

 

[BeeBee]

Hi folks,

Hoping someone can assist. Day one of a two week trip in Wales and the kitchen table has broken. Not sure how but I had it attached to the rear seat head rest and was chopping some veg when I heard a crack and the table became detached from the rail at the front end.

On closer inspection it seems the wholly inadequate plastic bracket which attaches the table to the kitchen as failed. Is this part available does anyone know?

I have tried fixing it but with limited tools the table is unusable. I am thinking a trip to a hardware store to get some strong glue as a temporary fix but suggestions welcome.

View attachment 95508View attachment 95509View attachment 95510

Can’t quite get my head around where you had the table supported, but looks like a fairly straightforward slider fix !

 

[Tactical]

Can’t quite get my head around where you had the table supported

It was like this @BeeBee.



Your van should have come with a strap that clips under the table to allow this.

See https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/product/original-replacement-vw-t5-california-internal-table-strap

 

[BeeBee]

Now that we didn’t know, there are various straps that we have considered “what are those for”.A couple we know are for ‘pop top’ if it fails and some others. It’s almost impossible on handover to cover every aspect of the van and this forum helps greatly, I’ll check that out. Hope you get your slider fixed..

 

[Renaissance-Man]

Update for anyone interested. SMG - my nearest commercial dealer - finally got hold of a repair pack from VW. The first pack arrived with them with bits missing so it took another week. Cost me £50 and some fiddling to sort but the table is all fixed. I could have got it done under warranty but by the time I drove it there and collected it, that would have cost me the equivalent in diesel!
The table kit came with the spares to fix the folding leg too so I have those for future accidents. Picture attached.

 

[ArunAlec]

Update for anyone interested. SMG - my nearest commercial dealer - finally got hold of a repair pack from VW. The first pack arrived with them with bits missing so it took another week. Cost me £50 and some fiddling to sort but the table is all fixed. I could have got it done under warranty but by the time I drove it there and collected it, that would have cost me the equivalent in diesel!
The table kit came with the spares to fixView attachment 96967 the folding leg too so I have those for future accidents. Picture attached.

Why can’t VW dealers think outside the box? They could easily have been a bit flexible and sorted this as a warranty job.

 

[Renaissance-Man]

Why can’t VW dealers think outside the box? They could easily have been a bit flexible and sorted this as a warranty job.

I know. I believe the warranty job was still a replacement table which is mad. Anyway, it’s fixed and I know how to do it for next time!