Taking out "Deck Trim Side Panel Assembly" from 2007 5-door (for cleaning purposes!)

[lech7]

Hi,

This is my first post. It's great to see a site dedicated to just this one car :)

Just a quick question: I need to remove the left "Deck Trim Side Panel Assembly" (these are the plastic panels inside the boot/trunk that go over the rear wheels) for cleaning*.

I just wanted to ask if after removing the two bolts and the one screw from the panel, you just yank the thing off with brute force or whether you need to do something special to get the clips and claws off?

By the way, the instructions/diagrams for this are on page 53 (52 printed on page) of this pdf: http://etimago.com/yaris/repairmanual/Interior.pdf. If you you don't like pdfs it is also here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/8679895/20...-Interior-Trim. Same page number (type 53 on the left side of the nav bar at the bottom of the screen).

(*Why would I need to clean here? Let me explain: Needing to use the spare tire in this second-hand car I discovered a disgusting inexplicable greasy mess on the interior of the chassis where the spare wheel lies and unfortunately also going up to the left and under the side panel. The mess appears to be from some kind of curry. How it got there and in this manner - the rest of the boot is clean - is a mystery. You don't normally see it, it doesn't smell - luckily! - but I want to get rid of it! as you can probably imagine.)

Thank you.

[CTScott]

The claws unclip easily with a screwdriver or plastic trim tool (to prevent scratching {a little masking tape on the screwdriver also works for preventing scratches}). For the clips, there is a tool, that has a wide flat blade with a notch to go around the clip, that is specifically made for removing them. You can pull straight down on the clip to release them without the tool, but sometimes the head will pull out of its recess rather than the tip coming out.

[lech7]

Thank you for the reply :)

Well I don't have this tool so I think I will have to risk it. There's no way to improvise?

Thanks again!

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by lech7

Thank you for the reply :)

Well I don't have this tool so I think I will have to risk it. There's no way to improvise?

Thanks again!

Over here, the tool is less than $10 in any auto parts store. I actually never remember to buy one, so I just try to tug on them as straight as possible to avoid damaging them. When removing the door panels a couple always seem to pull out of their holders, but they seem to survive.