Problems with installing tail lamps

[BronkyCHOO]

Hello, I finally just got my new tail lamps in the mail and I’m trying to remove the weatherstripping for my bronco. I use a trim tool with the Philips screwdriver to remove the weatherstripping and it does not budge at all and it’s stripped the bolts and now I don’t know what to do and I’m getting extremely angry when it was supposed to be an extremely easy install please help me. THE SCREWS STRIPPED IMMEDIATELY WTF

i spent 2 hours on it and cant even remove a single one of these screws. Are these fking screws plastic?! Who designed this?! All the online guides make it look like it comes off easy but it doesnt even move! Im EXTREMELY MAD

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[orion]

Get a pry tool behind and put a little pressure on it then lightly loosen the philips screw. Once you get it out you'll see how stupid those are and why they don't screw out. If you can get the head of the screw out, just pry it out then the other part.

 

[BronkyCHOO]

Get a pry tool behind and put a little pressure on it then lightly loosen the philips screw. Once you get it out you'll see how stupid those are and why they don't screw out. If you can get the head of the screw out, just pry it out then the other part.

I already did that for the past two hours and it doesn’t do anything no matter anything I try to do with it. I followed every single guide and studied them, even a week before receiving these tail lights.

 

[BronkyCHOO]

Get a pry tool behind and put a little pressure on it then lightly loosen the philips screw. Once you get it out you'll see how stupid those are and why they don't screw out. If you can get the head of the screw out, just pry it out then the other part.

I honestly cannot express the level of anger and hatred I have towards whoever designed this. I followed the instructions exactly. Now half the screws are stripped. Please sos help me

 

[orion]

I already did that for the past two hours and it doesn’t do anything no matter anything I try to do with it. I followed every single guide and studied them, even a week before receiving these tail lights.

Then get a razor blade and try to get the screw head out enough to get your pry tool behind it. Pry it out then the other part.

Are you using a forked prying device like this?

 

[orion]

I honestly cannot express the level of anger and hatred I have towards whoever designed this. I followed the instructions exactly. Now half the screws are stripped. Please sos help me

Don't push into the Philips head hard at all. Just lightly put pressure on screw. There's not enough thread engagement on the screw part. Thats why I said to pry on the part the screw goes into to put more pressure on the threads so it threads out, but you can't put a lot of pressure on screw or it just spins...

 

[BronkyCHOO]

Like this? Trust me man ive been doing this for literally 2 hours now. WTF

 

[BronkyCHOO]

Don't push into the Philips head hard at all. Just lightly put pressure on screw. There's not enough thread engagement on the screw part. Thats why I said to pry on the part the screw goes into to put more pressure on the threads so it threads out, but you can't put a lot of pressure on screw or it just spins...

Well the fking screws are stripped now; they stripped immediately.

 

[orion]

Well the fking screws are stripped now; they stripped immediately. This ruined my goddamned christmas. Fk ford

Take her easy. It's basically just a push pin like this...

...but threaded. Get a razor blade and pull the head out enough to get your pry tool behind the Philips head and pry it out. The screw part of them is a joke, just pry the center out, then pry the other peice out.

 

[indio22]

Well the fking screws are stripped now; they stripped immediately. This ruined my goddamned christmas. Fk ford

I get what you're talking about, because when installing front mud flaps the other day, several of those plastic screws clips would not come out. I was cussing like a sailor. Just spun no matter how much I tried to finesse with a fork pry tool applying some pressure to prevent spinning to help engage the threads. Finally resorted to brute force, they will pop out using the fork tool with enough pressure.

I was fortunate when installing tail lights, got all to eventually bite making removal easier. Those clips are a pain when the screw will not engage the clip.

 

[STC Bronco]

You’re not alone in your frustration. Perhaps your best course of action is not to try and finesse these cheapo plugs and instead be resolved to the fact that some may have to pry out and be affordably replaced. I’ve had to do that elsewhere on my Bronco. This thread may help. Make sure to read it all since it drifts a bit in the middle. https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...-plastic-screws-to-access-brake-lights.52676/

 

[BronkyCHOO]

Take her easy. It's basically just a push pin like this...

...but threaded. Get a razor blade and pull the head out enough to get your pry tool behind the Philips head and pry it out. The screw part of them is a joke, just pry the center out, then pry the other peice out.

Thanks for the info. I ended up just prying the shit out of them until it came out and I did a little damage to the car.. brand new car too really nice. Now I can’t get these undone. They just turn in place.

 

[jsoa]

For what its worth, this is my technique
- I never use a screw driver anymore
- pull screw out a bit, using pic tool
- use pry tool to pull out screw more if needed
- use pry tool to pull out entire clip

 

[Oldhippie]

they totally suck…I replaced all mine with rivnuts and real screws…just pry them out and replace them…

 

[ThunderFlash]

I've had about a 99% success rate with them. Like @orion said, it takes a little finesse. Make sure you have the correct size Phillips (#2 maybe?). Gently hold the screw driver with two fingers and put very little axial pressure on the screw portion with the screw driver. Just enough pressure to keep the driver engaged in the screw. Then gently turn CCW until it bites and let it back out. Push too hard and it will NOT back out. You might have to hold the outer bushing portion to keep it from turning. I've had my wheel well liners out a few times and have managed to reuse all them little plastic bastards.a few times. You can get replacements at NAPA or other auto parts stores if you mangle one or two. It's certainly not a reason to hate your Bronco. I'm amazed at the engineering to achieve just barely good enough and cheap as possible...and quick on the assembly line.

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