Fitting new grill, can't remove old one!

[MxGaza33]

I received a black FK grill today and started removing the screws to take off the bumper when I came across a problem, 2 out of 3 torx screws located under the bonnet on the top of the grill wont come out. They just spin as whatever is on the other side is loose and no matter what angle I tried I cant get a pair of pliers in to try and stop the other side from spinning! Any ideas how I could get them out without damaging anything?

 

[ilim]

Use a small flat head screw to get under the torx screw and push it up slightly and unscrew at the same time. This might help???

 

[MTRL]

^ +1

 

[Sheikh]

Do the grills come off without the need for taking the bumper off?

 

[ilim]

Do the grills come off without the need for taking the bumper off?

NOPE.... Remember pal these cars are designed by a country that once ruled the whole of europe.....



Bumper needs to come off mate...

 

[MxGaza33]

Use a small flat head screw to get under the torx screw and push it up slightly and unscrew at the same time. This might help???

Just gave it a try, no joy. My guess is they must be pretty stuck as when I first had a go at loosening them they didn't budge until they went 'crack' which must have been the nut on the underside coming loose and just spinning. I would try drilling them out as a last resort but I cant imagine that would work anyway as it would just spin as soon as the drill caught hold! Anyone after an FK grill?

 

[Brodster]

Best bet is to try some Eezit. Squirt around the head of the bolt so it seeps down the shank and gets into the nut. Now this stuff will work if you leave it long enough as it works on capillary action. It will soak into the threads and loosen off what is making it stick.....as soon as you overcome stiction then all will be fine. See if you can get into the nut and soak that aswell. A pair of 90 degree long nosed pliers should be able to reach the nut to hold it BUT you must let the eezit do its stuff first.

 

[MxGaza33]

Eezit eh, cant say I've ever heard of the stuff. Can you buy it off the shelf from anywhere?

 

[Blackie]

NOPE.... Remember pal these cars are designed by a country that once ruled the whole of europe.....



Bumper needs to come off mate...

Yes it can be done without taking the bumper off

 

[MxGaza33]

Bumper or no bumper, those 3 torx screws need to come out

 

[Brodster]

Eezit is what we called it in the RAF......and its brilliant at what it does. I dunno if there's a trade name for it......will find out. Its very similar to WD40 which is a release agent and water repellant. Try WD40 first and I will do a few enquiries with still serving colleagues.

 

[Brodster]

Right here we go....straight off the press. Eezit is a WD40 based solution with graphite in it. Halfords penetrating oil with graphite is good. Don't know how much it is but it's worth a try. Failing that I wil see if I can acquire some this weekend as Im up in Elgin remapping a car.

 

[Brodster]

More info for you..........try Plusgas. This is apparently better than eezit and WD40 and is available in Halfords.

 

[MxGaza33]

Wow thanks for the info, will take a trip into halfords tomorrow and see what they've got and report back:thumbsup:

 

[ilim]

Do a Jeremy Clarckson with a hammer.... Problem solved

 

[MxGaza33]

Went into halfords yesterday, only thing I could find was some 3 in one penetrant spray but didn't help any! Had mole grips on the end of a pair of pliers to try and grip the other side but it still spins in the pliers Looks like the drilling them out is my only option, will just have to source some replacement screws.

 

[Brodster]

Nightmare buddy. Yeah I think the last resort is now to drill them out.....just knock the head off while holding the nut with a pair of pliers. That should do the trick.

 

[MxGaza33]

Well what a disaster, drilled the two screw heads off but they still wont come out?! Even after a good hammering! I went ahead with the grill swap anyway as I could atleast remove it now. Was a nightmare to get the old grill off, try'd to fit the FK grill but the clips were s**t so it wouldnt fit, ended up throwing it in the bin as it was terrible quality anyway and sticking the standard one back on. Guess thats what I get for not buying genuine parts. So anyway now I'm back where I started with 2 headless screws! *Sigh*

 

[Dean.no4]

Mine is the same i did mine the other week. just going to get some plastic dome caps to put over the holes so you dont see them