Clip remover tools not working, mangling clips

[RMcG]

I am trying to remove the rear bumper cover to get to an area on the body that has a welded seam that may be leaking. (If curious see post). The first step in removing the rear bumper cover is to remove two clips using a "clip remover" in order to remove the rear bumper side seal. See attached instructions from the manual.

I tried removing a clip using a large flat head screwdriver and pliers as recommended in a youtube video. I could not get the clip out. So I bought a couple of tools based on googling "clip" "remover" and "yaris." These tools look like this NAPA door panel remover tool Part #: BK 7769160 here . But neither of these tools apparently fit and I still could not get out the first clip (of many) and indeed ended up essentially tearing the head of the clip off.

Although I haven't yet removed it, the clip looks like a plastic bolt with a round smooth head and ridges (instead of threads) on the shaft. The NAPA tool has a "mouth opening" which is about 1 cm wide and a "slot" opening (at the back) which is about 6 mm. It appears that 6 mm is not wide enough to accommodate the clip shaft. In other words, I think this NAPA tool does not really fit the clip properly.

So now I have two clip removal tools that do not work, a mangled clip and still have barely started the project.

QUESTIONS: Does anybody know how to find a clip remover tool that works/fits properly?

Is there really another method of clip removal that works without using a formal clip removal tool? At least one youtube video said to use a large flat (single slot) screwdriver and pliers, but I wasn't able to get that method to work so far.

How do I find replacement clips for the one or more clips that are/will be ruined by the process of removing the clips?

Thanks,

R.




RearBumperCoverRemoval.jpg