Save them clips
Friday I removed the trunk lining on my TCH in order to install a backup proximity system. The lining is held on by about a dozen plastic clips that look like plastic roofing nails. Push them in and they're fine; pull them out and they're destroyed unless you're very very carful. Needless to say most of mine were destroyed. So I headed over to Sandy Springs Toyota and asked for the price on a dozen clips. The parts guy says they're $2.11 EACH list price!!! I told the parts guy that at that rate a TCH assembled from parts would cost about $800,000 to build. He laughed and said I was probably right. I needed them so I bought them. So I go home and check the price on a website called ToyotaDIY.com and find the price is $1.37 msrp. Apparantly this dealer's list price has nothing to do with msrp. Then I remembered that when I was looking to buy my TCH, this dealer wanted $3500.00 over msrp for the car in 2007. They also quoted me $650.00 for my 30,000 mile service 3 weeks ago. I should have known better.
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Re: Save them clips
A tip for removing those little clips: a piece of plastic zip-tie will fit nicely in the slot, giving enough grip to pull the center peg out far enough to pull the entire assembly loose.
I've been a communications technician for 32 years, so Zip-ties are always at hand. |
Re: Save them clips
Some clips can easily be pried out, and designed accordingly, with a lift point for screw driver. Some are diaboical: they pretty much have to be destroyed. Some have tricks as I learned the last couple of nights, wrestling with a wheel well liner:
One of the fasteners was for self-tapping screws: you could slip a slim screwdriver into the hole and depressing the springy inner clip, enough to allow it to come free. Another was "expansion anchor" type. With one of those I could get something behind to push the inner pin back out, freeing, but the other had poor rear-access: I couldn't do the same trick. Trying other things I almost accidentaly pushed the inner pin in further than flush, from the front, and that loosened it enough for removal. I agree, the prices are steep, but you only need a few. Something else to consider, especially with not so visible clips: consider an alternative, if it will work. Black nylon license plate nuts and bolts can replace some fasteners, if the diameter is ok and you have access to both sides. |
Re: Save them clips
I bought a bag of 10 clips for about $2 at Canadian Tire. Just go to an auto parts store with a sample and they will probably have it as well. It wasn't exactly the same but it fit very well. I called Toyota as well and got the extremely high price.
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Re: Save them clips
I don't understand. I added a spoiler to the trunk lid of my 2009 TCH and removed the clips from the trunk lid liner, and replaced them all without any issue. I just used a small flat screwdriver and gently pulled up on the center part... this comes out, allowing the outside part to be removed. Are we talking about the same clips??
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Re: Save them clips
Originally Posted by jbollt
(Post 212927)
I don't understand. I added a spoiler to the trunk lid of my 2009 TCH and removed the clips from the trunk lid liner, and replaced them all without any issue. I just used a small flat screwdriver and gently pulled up on the center part... this comes out, allowing the outside part to be removed. Are we talking about the same clips??
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Re: Save them clips
Originally Posted by jbollt
(Post 212927)
I don't understand. I added a spoiler to the trunk lid of my 2009 TCH and removed the clips from the trunk lid liner, and replaced them all without any issue. I just used a small flat screwdriver and gently pulled up on the center part... this comes out, allowing the outside part to be removed. Are we talking about the same clips??
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Re: Save them clips
Originally Posted by Al Froio
(Post 212946)
On the 2007 TCH the clips are shaped like roofing nails; one piece with saw tooth striations on the shank. On newer TCHs these clips have been replaced by two piece affairs with a button type center that you push in to anchor the clip in place. I had the 'old' type and had to buy the 'new improved' type.
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Re: Save them clips
I looked at this and it's for a 07 V6 but it looks like they also use the two piece mechanism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzW_KgFFXxE You must have been unlucky? I'll go check my car tomorrow morning. |
Re: Save them clips
Originally Posted by alphabetbackward
(Post 212950)
I looked at this and it's for a 07 V6 but it looks like they also use the two piece mechanism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzW_KgFFXxE You must have been unlucky? I'll go check my car tomorrow morning. |
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