Body Panel Fastener problem

[tomatocity]

Has anyone else had problems installing the left side body panel fasteners?

I didn't before but did tonight. Could not get the last one in so I used a zip-tie. The only difference is that it has been to the Service Department for the recall upgrade. Noticed that two of the fasteners were missing the washers.

I was going to use another longer fastener to try and align the female fastener. Can you believe I don't have a bolt of that size and the hardware store was closed. Tomorrow.

 

[Tremor38]

Has anyone else had problems installing the left side body panel fasteners?

I didn't before but did tonight. Could not get the last one in so I used a zip-tie. The only difference is that it has been to the Service Department for the recall upgrade. Noticed that two of the fasteners were missing the washers.

I was going to use another longer fastener to try and align the female fastener. Can you believe I don't have a bolt of that size and the hardware store was closed. Tomorrow.

Never to that extent, though I have noticed they're really finicky about the bolt - anchor nut angle of insertion when you're trying to start them threading in.

 

[Alan]

Has anyone else had problems installing the left side body panel fasteners?

I didn't before but did tonight. Could not get the last one in so I used a zip-tie. The only difference is that it has been to the Service Department for the recall upgrade. Noticed that two of the fasteners were missing the washers.

I was going to use another longer fastener to try and align the female fastener. Can you believe I don't have a bolt of that size and the hardware store was closed. Tomorrow.

I had that when boB installed my cruise control. He finally got it in. They are just finicky.

 

[roy]

I have the most trouble with the lower left one and the one at the very top under the bar location. All the others go in fine but those two seem to be picky about the angle of the screw to clip.

 

[jajpko]

::026:: I start the two on the bottom first then the top left.. Leave them all loose until you have all of them started. That will help quite a bit..

You can buy the nylon washers at Lowes. Not exactly the same size, but they work..

 

[pqsqac]

I had a hard time as well when I was performing the recall on the fuel pump. the left panel screws really put up a fight going back in. Especially the right side if you are facing the panel. I was able to reach behind and hold the nut plates to get most of the started.

 

[fredz43]

I haven't removed the left panel completely. I found that I can remove 3 screws and leave the front upper one in place, then reach in and remove the left tank bolt. After the first time I replaced the allen head tank bolt with a hex head, so I could easily reach in with my 10 mm gearwrench and remove it. End result, is that I have done this many times and the 3 screws that I ermoved from the panel go back in easily, as the panel itself has not moved.

 

[markjenn]

There are a couple on the left side that are finicky. The panel doesn't naturally lie at the right angle for the screw to engage the clip behind and when you push with your driver, the clip angles away worse. Sometimes you have to change the order you put them in and you always want to try and get them all started before starting to snug them down. Overall though, as plastic goes, the S10 is better than average to strip down and put back together.

- Mark

 

[stevepsd]

I had one that was a real pain.....upon closer inspection I found the problem to be with a slightly mis-manufactured nut plate.

Instead of the threaded portion being 90 degrees to the nut plate, this offending one was off by quite a bit (15 degrees or so). I tried moving it to another spot, to see if the change in angle would help. It did not. Replacing it fix my problem.