How To Remove Panel Clips, Retainers, and Trim Rivets

The first rule of engagement here is to replace these pieces after you take them out. Thus, you won't get the surprise of having a cooked plastic part in less than a year or so. Fortunately, they are easy to find either at most auto parts shops, eBay, or Amazon, to name just a few sources. I usually buy one box online, and if they're good quality, I order some more and store them away from any heat and sun area.

Then, you need to have the proper tools. Gone are the days when you used scissors, knives, cutters, regular pliers, or screwdrivers to extract these parts, damaging them in the process. A toolkit for working on these nasty plasticky things that keeps the panels together is a bargain nowadays. Try to get the one with the most tools, not just because you'll end up with more specialized ones, but also for safety. While older vehicles, such as the Bronco, needed just some regular pliers and screwdrivers to work on these panels, newer cars are way more complicated.

Use it on interior

Many car owners are trying to get rid of the vehicle's original sound system that still features a tape player and replace it with new infotainment systems that can connect to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This is also a safety measure since these new plug-and-play systems also allow Bluetooth connectivity. And no, don't look for those with USB sticks and CDs. You won't use them that much anymore. Nowadays, all the music you want is on Spotify or YouTube.

For that, you'll need to remove the old stereo, and you just can't pull it out from its tray using brute force unless you want to destroy the center stack. Instead, you'll need a set of metallic tools that will enter in four small holes placed on the sides of the device's front fascia. That will release the retainers that keep the unit in place. Only after that you'll be able to pull it out.

If you want to replace the cabin filter, you will also need to remove some interior trims. Using a regular screwdriver or a utility knife might do it. The downside is that you risk scratching the dashboard or other sensitive areas. So, not a good idea. But using plastic tools to remove those trims and slightly push them away won't damage them.

On doors' cards, you'll find more clips and retainers than anywhere else in the vehicle. Here, you'll also find plastic caps over screws. You need to carefully extract them since they are not universal parts easy to find in regular shops. Apart from those, you'll also find retainers similar in action with wall plugs, albeit the centerpiece is made from plastic. You can unscrew it with a regular Philips bit and then remove the sleeve with a tool from the toolkit we mentioned above. Find the one most appropriate.

Outside the vehicle

But plastic retainers can be found in other areas of the vehicles, such as in the engine compartment or bumpers. They are used to keep various parts in place to form a cohesive structure. In the engine bay, you'll find such retainers on the plastic covers that protect the upper part of the radiator or the headlights. These covers are needed to prevent accidental contact with hands or to prevent the spilling of liquids in those areas. I don't think there is someone who can say that they never spilled some windshield washer fluid around them when they filled up that tank.

For these clips, you might need some metallic tools since they are stronger than those used on the car's interior. Fortunately, these retainers are usually universal, and you'll find them in most online stores. We found a complete kit containing over 100 bits at prices below 10$. So don't worry if you destroy them. You need to replace them anyway. Still, you have to be careful not to lose one inside the fan-blade housing or, even worse, inside a headlamp.

One of the most annoying parts where some can find plastic clips is underneath the vehicle, fixing the bumpers. Bumpers were supposed to be strong and protect the car, right? Well, not that much anymore since the main safety beam is usually behind, concealed by the spoilers and other aerodynamic-enhancement elements. So their main job is to look good and divert the airflow toward the disc brakes or radiators to cool them down.

While some of these plastic rivets are under the vehicle, others are inside the wheel wells, and they might get exposed. It's very important that those do their job as well as possible. If the inner lining falls, it might get on the wheel and get destroyed. So you shouldn't reuse those.

So, with the proper tools and the right spare parts, you can work on your vehicle. Moreover, if you bought a car that is missing some rivets or clips, you can install them yourself.