Automotive Plastics: 2004 Chevy silverado rear door panel, door panel crack polypropylene hot melt glue

Question

door panel I have a 2004 chevy silverado and the rear door panel is cracked, I coach baseball and I figure it got closed an an equipment bag with a bat that caused this to happen, can I glue this? or how do I fix it?

Answer
Hi Mike, this panel seems to be made of polypropylene, a repairable plastic.To fix this crack you must take the panel off the door and then start welding with a 40 watts soldering iron in the back side. For reinforcement you may use small metal mesh inserted joining at both sides of the crack.Finally apply plenty of hot melt glue, avoiding excessive glue build up,rather apply 2 layers allowing to cool the first one. Avoid welding in the visible side for a good looking job. There is no glue for this polymer,which may be marked as >PP< somewhere in the back.Good luck...