I have a quick newbie question: how do I remove the plastic A-pillar trim piece? I'm looking to run some wiring up that way from the fusebox. The Haynes manual says, "Pull back the rubber weatherstripping, then remove the windshield post trim strip (retained by clips)." I started pulling on the weatherstripping, but then I stopped because I was afraid of stretching it out. Is it supposed to take a lot of force? And then once I have the weatherstripping pulled back, do I just pry out the pillar with a screwdriver or something? Where are those retaining clips? Do I need to worry about them falling out and getting lost? Should I start prying at the top of the pillar?
Sorry for being a nervous wreck, but it's cold out there and I don't want to mess anything up! And please no flames for asking a simple question... at least it ain't about a y-pipe or gas mileage!
Thanks folks!

 

You can just stick a screwdriver or something like that inbetween the car pillar itself and the pillar cover, get it open, and pry it back going downwards, there are probably like 3 fasteners you need to pull out..

 

I have never messed with weatherstripping on somethign so easy cause it is dang expensive!! just pry back the pillar cover from the upper most crevice

 

thanks for the input!

 

What kind of fasteners are they? I tried prying at the top with a wide screwdriver, but the pillar cover would not separate from the pillar easily at all. is there a clip near the top or something? How do I undo it? I don't want to break anything or have anything get lose and rattle around

 

Won't work...no 'uppermost crevice' to pry out from.

Besides, the weatherstipping on the front door/a-pillar are cake to slide off.

(I took mine off to hardwire my radar detector)

 

What happens after I remove the weatherstripping? Any advice on those clips? Thanks!

 

just pull on the a-pillar...should snap right off. Just use your judgement and make sure you don't break it. You take of your weatherstripping by pulling on that as well. it's cake.

 

Just remove the weatherstripping from the A-pillar area.

The clips snap on throughout the middle of the pillar itself...I think there are 3 or 4.

Just as said before though, they pop right out. When you take the weatherstrip off you can pull on different areas to see where the most resistance is, lol...these are your clips.

 

thanks to those who responded! i finally got home from work early enough (sun goes down so early this time of year) and was able to yank the pillar cover off. for future reference, there are three "clips"... actually they are simply plastic push-in retainers. the top one is pole-shaped and the bottom two are rectangular. it took a heck of a lot more effort to remove the thing than i thought it would!

 

eat some spinach and pull next time

 

Glad you could take care of it.