Ok...I'm almost embarassed to ask this, but, after struggling for about 1/2hr here goes.

I want to remove the side panels of carpeting inside the trunk....there are fasteners that appear to have phillips screws. Is there a trick to removing these fasteners....turning them doesn't do anything and I've tryed kinda prying them up while turning and that isn't working either. Before I break one of these, I wanted to see if there is a 'trick' in getting them out.

Thanks...and please be nice.

 

The fasteners are actually two pieces. Turn the inner piece counter-clockwise with a phillips screwdriver while holding the outer piece in place. This should allow the inner piece to pop out enough so you can pull it out of the outer piece with your fingers. Then, the outer piece should just pull/pry out.

 

well..........let me first say that I am not mechanically inept!, but, something is amiss here. I've tried this and all that happens is the inner 'screw' turns and never 'pops' out. I've tried a bunch on these and same for all. It shouldn't be this difficult! Any other idea's?

 

The ones that look like a phillips head screw actually unscrew on my 8. Just keep unscrewing it and it should come all the way out and then remove the outer piece.

 

OK...got them off. But...........there is definetely a problem with them. I used a small jewelers screwdriver to 'pry' up the center screw to a point where they did pop up a bit. Then, I pulled them off and took out the outer ring. Upon examination, the center phillips 'screw portion is very finely threaded but somehow, they weren't 'unscrewing'. Anyways, I was able to remove the panels.

THANKS.

 

I had the same problem with mine, but I just popped them out like you did if they didnt want to come out on their own. I never did get around to putting the stock carpet and panels back in so it looks really race like when I pop the trunk

Jamie

 

You might have stripped them somewhere along the way.

They are like removable drywall anchors. If you use your fingernail to hold down the outer part you use a philips head to back the center part out 1/4 turn (they do not screw). While you are holding the outer part and you turn the center part, DO NOT APPLY ANY PRESSURE TO THE SCREW DRIVER, ALLOW THE CENTER PART TO POP OUT. Once the center is popped out, you pull the entire anchor out.

If you were applying pressure to the screwdriver you not allowing the center to pop out and might have stripped it at that point. They are quite fragile if mis handled.

This is a key skill since you will find these all over.

 

I think a small spring around the post inside would have made these alot easier to get off/on. Once you turn it clockwise the spring would allow it to pop-out on it's own instead of having to pry them out. I think they could have been designed a little better. Just my .02 :D

 

Those exist. They're made of metal and you find them on access panels for computers, telco, other industrial gear.

Cars use the cheap plastic ones because they are cheap and the mfgs figure that once the car is built no one needs to get those panels off. At least not very often.

 

The fasteners for the bumper in the fender well seem to spring out when you turn them.