Fitting Mudflaps

[snowjoke]

Got my mudflaps today!

I've heard fitting them is dead simple, so help me out here.

1) There are five screws to screw on the front mudguards, four of which are down the sides and are accessible. But I have side-steps (factory fitted from new) and the step is in the way of the bottom hole, which takes a plastic grommet screw and tapping screw through the middle.

Photo below shows the problem. The white bit in the middle is the grommet screw which presumably you'd normally tap in with a mallet. I've tried pushing it with the end of a screwdriver, without success, but even if I did I don't think I could get the screw up there because the step is in the way. I could just not fit this screw, but I'm not sure how secure the mudguards are without it.

2) On the rear mudflaps you have to change the retainer clip holding the bumper and bumper seal together, as shown in the instructions. I can't seem to get the existing one off. I have taken the screw out. Is it just a cases of a lot of jiggling and a bit of force? I don't want to break it... Hard to actually see what's going on there without getting under the vehicle with a torch. :help2:

[anchorman]

sj

You'd be better to hose all that crud off first.

At the front that fixing is a 2 piece design. Take the centre screw out then after using a screwdriver or similar to align the hole (use wifey's make up mirror to look up) you need to ease the fixing through the holes ensuring the legs go all the way through and don't splay out between the sections. When it is in, sit the centre screw on the end of your screwdriver and push it all the way in which will splay out the legs and lock it. The screw is only there to help you get it out;

At the rear, that clip prizes off but is stiff. You can soften the plastic by pouring boiling water on it or use wifey's hair dryer. Be careful with a hot air gun as it could easily melt.

[snowjoke]

Thanks for the tips anchorman. I will give it another go tomorrow. I still think I might have a problem with the step being in the way but I'll let you know how I get on.

[bothwell_buyer]

sj

You'd be better to hose all that crud off first.

At the rear, that clip prizes off but is stiff. You can soften the plastic by pouring boiling water on it or use wifey's hair dryer. Be careful with a hot air gun as it could easily melt.

Please don't use a butane/propane blow-lamp either. And make sure you have an adult there to supervise in case you scald yersel pouring water upside down. ;)

[three5]

"use wifey's make up mirror to look up

Hi Anchorman,

'Found a source of indestructable mirrors for this sort of duty: Get an old Hard Disk Drive from a PC and strip it down so that you can remove the actual disk. They are polished metal of some sort and as hard as pot. The magnets are very useful too - but you need to shield all but the end you are trying to use as they are the strongest ones that I've ever come across. Probably "rare earth" magnets.

After rebalancing the heater fan rather than buying a secondhand one, I'll be getting a reputation as a cheapskate at this rate. I like to think of it as recycling. :)

[bothwell_buyer]

"use wifey's make up mirror to look up

Hi Anchorman,

'Found a source of indestructable mirrors for this sort of duty: Get an old Hard Disk Drive from a PC and strip it down so that you can remove the actual disk. They are polished metal of some sort and as hard as pot. The magnets are very useful too - but you need to shield all but the end you are trying to use as they are the strongest ones that I've ever come across. Probably "rare earth" magnets.

After rebalancing the heater fan rather than buying a secondhand one, I'll be getting a reputation as a cheapskate at this rate. I like to think of it as recycling. :)

you can get a grant to recycle more if you like

[Bodgit-fixit-run]

"use wifey's make up mirror to look up

Hi Anchorman,

'Found a source of indestructable mirrors for this sort of duty: Get an old Hard Disk Drive from a PC and strip it down so that you can remove the actual disk. They are polished metal of some sort and as hard as pot. The magnets are very useful too - but you need to shield all but the end you are trying to use as they are the strongest ones that I've ever come across. Probably "rare earth" magnets.

After rebalancing the heater fan rather than buying a secondhand one, I'll be getting a reputation as a cheapskate at this rate. I like to think of it as recycling. :)

No such thing as a cheapskate.

I've a 1991 corolla automatic where the alternator is running on recycled / modified electric drill brushes and some copper pipe to replace the worn out slip rings. Good as new

I like to live up to my name.

[three5]

"use wifey's make up mirror to look up

Hi Anchorman,

'Found a source of indestructable mirrors for this sort of duty: Get an old Hard Disk Drive from a PC and strip it down so that you can remove the actual disk. They are polished metal of some sort and as hard as pot. The magnets are very useful too - but you need to shield all but the end you are trying to use as they are the strongest ones that I've ever come across. Probably "rare earth" magnets.

After rebalancing the heater fan rather than buying a secondhand one, I'll be getting a reputation as a cheapskate at this rate. I like to think of it as recycling. :)

No such thing as a cheapskate.

I've a 1991 corolla automatic where the alternator is running on recycled / modified electric drill brushes and some copper pipe to replace the worn out slip rings. Good as new

I like to live up to my name.

I'm full of admiration. We could start a Wombalds section within the group? Bothy would have to be king as he seems to be able to make any Toyota bit fit a RAV.

'nother story:

in the mid '70's a group of us were on holiday just outside Fort William at Easter. We had a day off from snow climbing and set off to Mallaig in a small convoy ( our Midget, a Mini and a Anglia van ). About half way there the guy in the Mini stopped. The charging light on the dash had come on. The problem was very quickly traced to a broken brush spring in the dynamo. We took the end plate off the dynamo and relieved my wife of one of her hair elastics to put round the brush supports to hold the errant brush in place. The killer was that the guy who owned the car never did any further repair, it lasted till he sold the car 3 years later. What would have happened if the OH had not been wearing hair elastics? I dread to think.

[bothwell_buyer]

"use wifey's make up mirror to look up

Hi Anchorman,

'Found a source of indestructable mirrors for this sort of duty: Get an old Hard Disk Drive from a PC and strip it down so that you can remove the actual disk. They are polished metal of some sort and as hard as pot. The magnets are very useful too - but you need to shield all but the end you are trying to use as they are the strongest ones that I've ever come across. Probably "rare earth" magnets.

After rebalancing the heater fan rather than buying a secondhand one, I'll be getting a reputation as a cheapskate at this rate. I like to think of it as recycling. :)

No such thing as a cheapskate.

I've a 1991 corolla automatic where the alternator is running on recycled / modified electric drill brushes and some copper pipe to replace the worn out slip rings. Good as new

I like to live up to my name.

I'm full of admiration. We could start a Wombalds section within the group? Bothy would have to be king as he seems to be able to make any Toyota bit fit a RAV.

'nother story:

in the mid '70's a group of us were on holiday just outside Fort William at Easter. We had a day off from snow climbing and set off to Mallaig in a small convoy ( our Midget, a Mini and a Anglia van ). About half way there the guy in the Mini stopped. The charging light on the dash had come on. The problem was very quickly traced to a broken brush spring in the dynamo. We took the end plate off the dynamo and relieved my wife of one of her hair elastics to put round the brush supports to hold the errant brush in place. The killer was that the guy who owned the car never did any further repair, it lasted till he sold the car 3 years later. What would have happened if the OH had not been wearing hair elastics? I dread to think.

I really feel you should leave yer wifes private life out of this otherwise I'll get jealous!