Fridge Stay

leightonjthomas · Jul 10, 2015

We're in Germany at the moment and the fridge is working perfectly except for the fact that the screw that holds the stay to the lid has come off.
A minor problem, but annoying nevertheless because it is difficult enough to move food in and out without the added burden of having to hold the lid up by hand.
The screw is a flathead and is so close to the wardrobe that it seems impossible to get it back in. Does the whole lid need to be removed or is there an easier way?

philrich99 · Jul 10, 2015

Hi, we had the same problem, couldn't see how to get to it so got the dealer to fix it under warranty.

leightonjthomas · Jul 11, 2015

Cheers. I thought I might be missing a quick fix.
I'll sort it when we get home.
Leighton

SimplyDubs · Jul 11, 2015

Had same issue a few years ago... Took fridge lid off to access the "top" end of the strut.

Less than 10 minutes to sort.

daz60 · Jul 11, 2015

yes, I took the lid off to, simple to do, good look

leightonjthomas · Jul 11, 2015

Cheers guys. If I can put my hands on the right tools I'll give it a go.

pjm-84 · Sep 4, 2016

Have the same problem so was just checking before taking the fridge lid off that there was no stupid VAG "detailing" (shims)

Open_road! · Sep 4, 2016

Have just had the same issue and this week had mine replaced under warranty- with this.....

pjm-84 · Sep 4, 2016

Can't face going to the dealer again.

bigmac77 · Sep 4, 2016

You only need an Allen key and a screwdriver then as simplydubs said its less than 10 mins to sort out.

Open_road! · Sep 5, 2016

pjm-84 said:
Can't face going to the dealer again.

I can't agree more! I just stored up a whole load of niggles over a six month period!!

pjm-84 · Sep 5, 2016

Will do it tonight and apply a bit of loctite

pjm-84 · Sep 5, 2016

Well I wish I didn't start. VAG through and through.

Damaged thread on insert (male thread should be stronger allowing the bolt to be sacrificial in this instance ) so 15mins trying to restart a tread . Got close before the bolt snapped, soft.

So fine put the lid back on and one hinge bolt will not do up*. Undo bolts and check. Redo and now two bolts don't do up. Machine bolts into thin gauge extruded aluminium (about 1 female thread pitch and soft material = rubbish).One or two hit applications depending on how well it was done at the factory.

Will put some micro inserts in.

I wonder if this is a cause of hinge failure i.e only held on one bolt.

bigmac77 · Sep 5, 2016

pjm-84 said:
Well I wish I didn't start. VAG through and through.

Damaged thread on insert (male thread should be stronger allowing the bolt to be sacrificial in this instance ) so 15mins trying to restart a tread . Got close before the bolt snapped, soft.

So fine put the lid back on and one hinge bolt will not do up*. Undo bolts and check. Redo and now two bolts don't do up. Machine bolts into thin gauge extruded aluminium (about 1 female thread pitch and soft material = rubbish).One or two hit applications depending on how well it was done at the factory.

Will put some micro inserts in.

I wonder if this is a cause of hinge failure i.e only held on one bolt.

I feel complicit in this disaster, sorry. It really was a 10 min job on my vehicle.

pjm-84 · Sep 5, 2016

Being VAG I had an inkling of trouble before I started. I was hoping it was just a bolt that fell out and having checked the male thread before starting assumed all was okay for refitting :headbang

All fixable but preference would be do it right first time around. (Crumbs I was detailing out bi-metallic corrosion in construction in the late 80s)

Max Scarletto · Jun 18, 2017

Had the same problem and have fixed thanks to this thread. Seemed a little trivial to take back to dealer...
For info the hinges are a 3mm hex head and 2.5mm for the hex bolt holding the hinge on. Watch out for the washer on the hinge assembly- it could easily drop down the gap between fridge and cupboard.
I applied a bit of loctite to each bolt upon re-assembly.