Taking stuff off, ..for cleaning Options

[Hym3n]

I'm just trying the basics of taking parts off and I'm trying to figure some things out. Most importantly to me, how do you take off the tailights? I know there are screws in the trunk, but mine are covered by a plastic.. thing. I tried pulling at it a little bit, but I was afraid I'd break it. Do those just snap off? Should I break them off (lol)?

Also, I read a how-to on painting your dash inserts as a cheap way to make it look like a new interior trim kit. How do you just take the parts illustrated (check the how-to out) off of the dash, I mean, they isn't like a snap or anything..

Thanks,
-Brian

[aaronc222]

There are a few large 'screws' holding the trunk piece in. They are basically big plastic buttons. Once you remove those, it takes a little force to remove the plastic piece. Just be carefull not to break the piece around the latch(did this one myself).

Once you have that piece off, remove the 3 nuts from the bolts on the back of the light. Here you just have to be carefull not to drop the light on the bumper as you take it off.

As for the dash pieces. To remove the trim around the shifter(manual), I use a small flathead screwdriver and pry up. from there, remove the 2 screws under the cig lighter/pocket and the rest of that piece will pull right off. The window control trim will come off with a small flathead at the bottom of the piece(again prying). The drivers vent should just pull out(set the vent all the way up or down and just pull). The defroster vents(driver/passenger/windshield) all just pull out. The passenger vent is a pain, I can't really explain it, but it has a snap that makes it near impossible.