Anyone know how to remove the large trim piece that covers the A pillar and that also arches over the door?
- Phil
I have not removed that part specifically (I have removed all the rear trim pieces), but looking at the diagram of the part, I think it is just held in by a couple of clips. You probably just need to work a trim tool or your fingers behind it to pry it loose, and pull inward to free it. It could require a fair amount of force to free it.
Thank you! I was not confident anyone had done this, or would have any knowledge of it, so very much appreciate your response. Can you steer to me where you found a diagram of the part or that area of the car?
I am asking about this because I have a very small and slight dent in the left A pillar. I am trying to determine if there are any holes in this area behind the trim that could permit access for paintless dent repair. When you removed the rear trim pieces, did you find any holes in the metal that would permit access to outside metal? I thought there might be holes to hold wiring clips, etc that would permit body shaping tools to reach through.
Thank you again for your help.
- Phil
Have a look at a
Cayman
INterseries car and see if you can find some interior shots showing the roof inside and you'll be able to see what the metal looks like behind it, there are some slots/holes in the support beams if I remember right, I think it all depends on where your dent is.
I took mine off to remove my head liner, which incidentally had to come out to provide access to three dents in my roof panel that happened from a falling branch.
Start from the back of the panel, separating it from the C pillar trim. Then work forward. There are about 5 metal compression clips. Pull carefully and straight. The plastic they are fastened to is very thin and easily broken. It's best to use a door panel tool or clip remover.
Thank you. I found a good interior shot, but the cars have a roll bar, which goes along right where I need to see. Can't tell what access holes may be available. Do you think the metal on the other side of any holes is the actual sheetmetal on the outside of the car? Or might there be an intermediate section of steel there. Rather like a box section length of steel with a divider down the middle.
- Phil
To clarify, separate from the C pillar trim by just pulling on it? Pull directly away from headliner (not straight down, not straight across), working forward to A-pillar? It would really help if I saw a pic of the parts arrangement. Do you recall if there were access holes to outside sheet metal on the A-pillar?
Thank you.
- Phil
I found it in the parts catalog (picture and description below) - unfortunately, their diagrams leave a lot to be desired in terms of detail.
Thank you. I have learned that the A-pillar, moving from the interior to the exterior consists of a "cowl" (part of the unibody), a "reinforcement" (another section of unibody), followed by the "roof frame" (sheet metal exterior skin). I think there may be holes iun the cowl, but there may not be in the "reinforcement" piece, which would stand between me and backside of the exterior sheet metal.
A look under the trim will say for sure.
- Phil
