Trim questions

[techbota]

Hi! New to the site.

I just bought a 4 dr 02 se1 and I am happy to find this site:)

I already got that stupid turn signal noise fixed thanx to this site!

Although I have some other problems I need to fix.

First I need to fix one of my headlights but there is this black plastic piece that runs under the hood that covers that whole area to get to them. There are these like plastic pins holding it in place. How do I remove those pins without breaking them so I can get to my headlights?

Also the trim on the drivers door is comiong off. I think it was probably hit at one time.

How do I remove that whole trim so I can replace....Or should that be done by a body shop only?

I have done searches on both these subjects but cant find anything.

[nice96gt]

This may help you with the headlights. http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=101

Not sure about the trim though, sorry. I'm sure someone else will though.

[techbota]

Ya it didnt have the part on how to remove the pins that hold that black piece in....Although I just figured out how to do it. You lift the pins up....It looked like all one piece bt the pin actually moves up and down. They are just REAL hard to move. I think it requires a tool to do it properly. I wouldnt want to use pliers as that would muck them up.

Now hopefully I can get a answer on the trim coming off.

I was looking at it and I wonder what it would look like without the trim? Although the bumpers have that wavy look. If you changed the bumpers out it would look almost like a grand prix

[Dave C]

well, you got the headlights down... and I know what you mean about those pins. one of mine seriously takes me at least a half hour each time to get it pushed back down correctly.

as for removing the molding... GM did do that for the later years, so you can buy a bumper without the waves in them. my girlfriends moms car is like that and I think it looks MUCH better.

[glockyman]

If memory serves me right, the molding is simply held on by double-sided tape. Yes, dont you love GM engineering?

So yes, you should be able to just give it a good pull, and it'll come off. Be careful with the tape though, you can never be sure of the condition of the clear coat under there, and it would really suck to pull off paint with the molding.

Like dave said, you'll have to buy new front and back bumpers to convert the car to the no-wavy look, but the side panels won't need any replacement; the trim's actually in the sheet metal there.

[techbota]

AHHH that is why I seen the u shape grove in similar cars....Im guessing I should wait till I got money for a paint job before I start pulling!

[ga5speed02]

to remove them pin you can use a flathead screw driver or a door panel removing apulstry tool. they 5 to 8 dollars at your local auto store.

but to remove the pin you gently pry the top center part. NOT the part resting on the black peice. the middle will slide out and then the rest of the pin :)

here is the special tool. it goes around the top of the pin not the bottom :)

with out the door molding you car will look like mine. with that big groove in the door. im shaving it tho. but i have an SE with the 2.2 if that helps ya out :D

[techbota]

ya it doesnt look good on the 2 doors as the groove doesnt go to ne quarter panel....But I like the look on 4 doors it makes them look almost exactly like the aleros. Infact I bet some peices are interchangable between the two

[lowrider2962]

Originally posted by glockyman
If memory serves me right, the molding is simply held on by double-sided tape. Yes, dont you love GM engineering?

So yes, you should be able to just give it a good pull, and it'll come off. Be careful with the tape though, you can never be sure of the condition of the clear coat under there, and it would really suck to pull off paint with the molding.

Like dave said, you'll have to buy new front and back bumpers to convert the car to the no-wavy look, but the side panels won't need any replacement; the trim's actually in the sheet metal there.

ok so heres my problem. i bought a replacement trim piece from a salvage yard the other day and yes it is held on by double sticky tape. but its that foamy like tape. and when u pull on it the foam tears in half. so you have some of the tape on the door and some on the trim. how do i get that stuff off with out F***ing up the paint?

[glockyman]

OKay, I havent done this myself, so I'm theorizing here based on other projects Ive done.

There should be clear coat on the paint on at least the door, if not the back of the panel as well.

VERY carefully, use a flat razor to remove as much of the foam as possible. There will be a thin plastic layer (like Saranwrap thickness) between the foam and the glue, otherwise it wouldnt stick to the foam very well. See if you can scrape all of the foam off, leaving just the outermost plastic layer.

Then use Goo-gone, or bug/tar remover to try and take off the plastic and glue. If the back of the panel is clearcoated, try the method on that part first, since if it doesnt work, or you screw up, it wont show when you put things back on. If its not clearcoated, I wouldnt put any chemical on it, because honestly I dont know how well the paint would hold up against a destickifier.

I'm not sure where to get replacement tape. I guess just any old hardware store.

[sleeper_se]

i found its just like removing a nail they come out perfect if u just use the prying part of a hammer and then u can just pop them back on when u are done