I stripped two of my wheel well fasteners while trying to install some clear corners. Kinda pissed about it, as I was very gentle and had the proper phillips. First turn of the screwdriver and the cheap things just became mutilated.

The problem is, they stripped before popping, so I don't know how to get them off now. Any advice?

 

knife? blade ?

 

you mean the plastic push fasteners? might be able to manhandle it out with needle nose pliers

 

Or curved pliers

 

Haha, it took me a while to figure out how those stupid plastic fasteners worked. Take a screwdriver and pry it out.

 

Oh man tell me about it !! I hate these damn things !!! Your only option is to use a flat head screw driver and like levering it out. Its a pain in the asssss !!!!!!!!!!!! Use a towel so you dont scratch your paint !

 

I suppose you all know by now that these really only turn about 1/8 of a turn while having little or no pressure so the center can pop up, then it's a matter of pulling all of it out. Sometimes you can get an edge under the center pin as you lightly and slightly rotate it, to help the pin will pop up.
Then of course if you have to, you can pry the whole damn thing out if needed be.
Here's my favorite tool for this besides the phillips head if I get a stubborn one.

 

I think he's talking about:



The only thing I found was to pull the darn thing out.

 

^...........Yeah, those aren't really meant to be turned, but I don't have those in my wheel well, do you?

 

those are not the same ones used on the fender liners.

if anything, use a small screw driver set [flat head] and pry it out.

 

The plastic on those things isn't too strong... Just find a way to break the outer part so that the inner part will slip right out. Or just prying on the inner part will probably snap it off. The screwdriver thing should work fine, and it shouldn't be too hard to break the thing...

FYI... On Rotaryfx i think you can get two of those fasteners for $4

 

seems like a rip-off if its $2 each

 

Yeah, but even though it is about 4 times more than it probably should be, its still just $4 so I wouldn't have much problem paying it even if it is more than they are worth... Two little pieces of plastic isn't worth that much, but having 2 proper fasteners instead of two holes where they should be is definitely worth 4 bucks imo haha

 

If you try holding the external piece and then turn the interior Phillips head part it usually comes right out. Or just pry them out.

 

if your car is a couple of years old, chances are these things are probably weathered to ****, if it doesnt come out when you turn, pull it out with some pliers and buy some new ones

 

I'm going today to the dealership to buy some new fasteners. Then I'll try to pry the stripped ones out. Actually, I was thinking of drilling out the centre piece first, then prying out the outer piece.

I'm surprised the fastner screw didn't turn easily. My 8 is only a 2007 (Galaxy Grey), and didn't hit the road until spring 2008, and the fasteners look like new.

I'll sure be glad to get the clear corners on. I think the ambers on a Galaxy look like a red tie with a grey suit.

 

Those fasteners suck, they keep getting stuck and you need those curved pliers to make the job easy.
Rivets ftw! Drilling them out is also great fun

 

i think drilling them out is a bit overkill

theyre just plastic, can be done with small hand tools in a couple seconds.

 

Just pry them out with a flat head screwdriver. Dirt gets stuck on the side of the clip and that is when they get stuck tot he point where you strip the philips head.

 

I had a couple in the wheel well, as well as the trunk

 

Well, I managed to pry out the stripped fasteners with a butter knife and curved needle-nose pliers. Got some new fasteners from the dealership for 68 cents each. The fasteners on the other side of my car popped out just like they're supposed to.

However, half-way through the job I got a call from a client who needed to see me right away. My woman had our van and our Mazda 3 is in the shop, so, I had to drive around a couple of hours with one clear corner, and one amber corner...pretty embarassing.

 

Can't see both sides of the car at the same time. lol