Has this happened to anyone else?

When I went to remove the plastic screws underneath the front fender to install the strakes - two screws were "stripped" ...

I can't even give them the half turn needed to pop them out ...

Any suggestions?

Jeremy

 

Jeremy,

Yea I've read the half turn thing before. But I beleive they really need a quarter turn. The "thread" which isn't a thread at all is in quarters and you need to rotate the screw so it's between the quarters. At least that's the way i remember it. Try the ones lowest in the well on the seperate black pieces that's about 4 inches long. That's the one I remember coming out the easiest. Once you get one out you'll have a better idea. I recall having to apply preasure from behind while rotating the screw. Just take extra care to prevent scratching.

Good luck.

 

I was glad I had not cut my fingernails when playing with those screws... one or two of them were a bit difficult to pop out. Two were difficult to put back, until I realized that you just can't ram them in like real screws. The tips need to be carefully centered when reinserting them.

Try to get either your nail or something as strong and thin between the rim of the screw and the casing so you can pull and turn the screw with the other hand at the same time. I agree with WHealy... they are not "threaded" in the conventional sense. They are just plastic pieces that pop in and pop out. They're more like clips that pop when turned.

I understand that if you can't get the screw to pop, your project is a non-starter, but check out my thread and look closely at the photos. It may help --

Aluminum Strakes (Air Outlet Garnish) Installation Photos

I'd get you some better photos of the screws, but I just realized that I can't pop the screws on my car right now either... I'm flooded and can't move the wheels to get access to them.