Rear Light Nut mangled!!

fps_cod · Mar 30, 2014

Hey everyone.

Went to take the rear light clusters off today, found that the securing bolt on each side was done up ridiculously tight!
Managed to get the N/S one off fine, but then when it came to the O/S one the 'head' has been mangled to death!

Is there any way to get this nut off now? I tried getting some grips around it but they just slipped off.

Any ideas?

LEE69 · Mar 30, 2014

Mine look like this

Tonka Toy · Mar 30, 2014

LEE69 said:
Mine look like this

View attachment 30426

...and mine do too.

I've had my rear lights out quite a bit recently and had no problems removing the black plastic securing nuts. Just a bit tricky getting them through the small access hole in the trim using clumsy finger-tips!! :sadlike:

kami136 · Mar 30, 2014

Take a torque wrench to it instead of a screwdriver. A million times easier mate

fps_cod · Mar 30, 2014

Yeah, the one I had out looked like that too. Just the one is stuck in there now as the 'head' of the nut is mangled

fps_cod · Mar 30, 2014

fps_cod said:
Yeah, the one I had out looked like that too. Just the one is stuck in there now as the 'head' of the nut is mangled

Ahh! YES.

I hadn't thought of that. Will give it a go! Thanks mate

Tonka Toy · Mar 30, 2014

kami136 said:
Take a torque wrench to it instead of a screwdriver. A million times easier mate

Indeed, a socket pushed tightly onto the head should do the job!!:thumbsup:

SmithyAG · Mar 30, 2014

13mm IIRC. 6 Sided socket will take it off best, as a 12 may be more prone to slip/deform the plastic if done up too tight.

Tonka Toy · Mar 30, 2014

SmithyAG said:
13mm IIRC. 6 Sided socket will take it off best, as a 12 may be more prone to slip/deform the plastic if done up too tight.

Good advice. I'll try a s 13mm socket next time but still you need to exercise care withdrawing the nut as it drops into a black hole if you get it wrong. I spoke to the guys at Audi Parts yesterday who told me they're always having customers come in to buy replacements after they drop it down behind the trim whilst removing rear lights to fit new bulbs.

The other folly is the round blanking cap that's supposed to clip back over the access hole. How on earth do you press those in without losing them forever down the back of the trim? The offside one on my car has a plastic retaining cable attached on the back so it can't be lost. Of course, that didn't stop me losing the nearside one and I found out you can't buy a single replacement as they come in a set of four small trim covers...., costing £26?????

SJ · Mar 30, 2014

Tonka Toy said:
Good advice. I'll try a s 13mm socket next time but still you need to exercise care withdrawing the nut as it drops into a black hole if you get it wrong. I spoke to the guys at Audi Parts yesterday who told me they're always having customers come in to buy replacements after they drop it down behind the trim whilst removing rear lights to fit new bulbs.

Stick a little bit of grease inside the socket first, it'll reduce the chances of losing the nut when it comes loose

Tonka Toy · Mar 30, 2014

SJ said:
Stick a little bit of grease inside the socket first, it'll reduce the chances of losing the nut when it comes loose

Ah-ha, that makes sense, thanks. A bit of tacky friction should keep it in place!:thumbsup:

SJ · Mar 30, 2014

Tonka Toy said:
The other folly is the round blanking cap that's supposed to clip back over the access hole. How on earth do you press those in without losing them forever down the back of the trim? The offside one on my car has a plastic retaining cable attached on the back so it can't be lost.

I hate pushing those back in! Thinking about it I'm sure the cable is the manual release for the filler flap so it's not even really there to help prevent you losing the offside cap either!

Tonka Toy · Mar 30, 2014

SJ said:
I hate pushing those back in! Thinking about it I'm sure the cable is the manual release for the filler flap so it's not even really there to help prevent you losing the offside cap either!

That's really interesting. I showed the man at Audi parts yesterday and he was puzzled why the offside blanking cap had the piece of wire attached. it is weird it's on one side only so it would make sense if it had another purpose. I now know where to go if the filler flap get's stuck and doesn't pop-out at the pump. Thanks.

As for the nearside blanking cap, it's gone now and I'm not paying £26 for another!!! :sadlike:

SJ · Mar 30, 2014

I'd imagine they're as good as free from a breakers yard

Tonka Toy · Mar 30, 2014

SJ said:
I'd imagine they're as good as free from a breakers yard

Yeah, a crafty saunter around a breaker's yard should do the trick!!:thumbsup:

SmithyAG · Mar 30, 2014

I didn't bother replacing my blanking caps. Found them again when I took the boot interior out to do my audio install and put them back in.

I then lost them again when replacing some bulbs and haven't bothered removing the trim to find them!

Tonka Toy · Mar 30, 2014

SmithyAG said:
I didn't bother replacing my blanking caps. Found them again when I took the boot interior out to do my audio install and put them back in.

I then lost them again when replacing some bulbs and haven't bothered removing the trim to find them!

Fair play to you!!!! :lmfao:

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Rear Light Nut mangled!!

fps_cod

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LEE69

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