annoying plastic screws

[adaly86]

Hey does anyone know how to remove the plastic screws which hold the plastic around the wheel arch of a 91 civic. Ive tried removing them but the plastic is just really worn so the grip is gone, same with the screw underneath the mudguards. Anyone know?

[turtlecrxsi]

You can just pop them out with a flathead screwdriver since they won't turn. Once you get them out you'll need to get new ones at the dealership. I'm missing a couple so I just creatively used zip ties to hold what is actually left of the plastic fender guard.

[maxassassin]

well like you said its plastic if there that bad jsut drill them out. or yo ucan pop them out with basic tools.

[Tony]

It would be better if you drill them out, because prying them out will usually end up bending the metal that its connected too. Those clips are a pain even when you can get grip on them because you can't put ANY pressure on them, otherwise they will stip the threads on them.

I wouldn't go to the dealership for the fasteners either, I would try and find a local bolt & screw shop and see if they can come up with anything, which you might end up with a box of them, but its better than paying what the dealership will want. I know I have called the dealership on some before and they wanted like $3 a fastener and i needed quite a few of them, I just ended up getting creative. Now I don't know how much a specialty shop like a bolt & screw place would charge if they have them, but it will probably be cheaper than the dealership.

[TheSilentChamber]

I wouldnt bother with either, just go to your local body supply house and will have them in hundreds of sizes and shapes.

[Tony]

Yea, that will work too....just as long as you know where the local body supply shop is.

[adaly86]

Thanks guys, I wasnt all that worried about getting them out it was finding them after which was the problem. Might just end up going to the dealer to get them since the car needs a major service anyway its been off the road for over a year and it still refuses to actually die!

[TheSilentChamber]

Originally Posted by Tony

Yea, that will work too....just as long as you know where the local body supply shop is.

Yellow pages are you friend.

[thedeadcivic]

lol... those screws are terrable. mine had a philips screw head, and when i used the screw driver on em it just totally ruined it. i didnt even press hard on it, and it wasnt in tight or anything... i could almost undo it by hand.
oh well, im sure i have metal screws that will fit without damaging anything.