Getting access to Chim front indicator?
Discussion
Folks,
Was washing my trusty Chim earlier this morning and by chance touched the front indicator with my sponge, of course the whole assembly dissappeared into the wing!
My car is a pre-facelift "P" reg (August 1996) and the lense etc is now sitting inside the wing. I can't appear to get at it from underneath or from inside the bonnet and assume the only way to get at it to reposition it is to remove the front grill (where the number plate is) and grappling around inside for the indicator. I'll have to disconnect the wiring on the light assembly and bring it out through the front grill, re-attach the wiring and push back into the small indicator "grill". Couple of problems here I wondered if anyone can advise on??
a. How do you remove the front grill and replace it given it has that rubber seal thing around it? Is there a special trick or is it just a fiddly job and you have to be careful? I assume the number plate screws hold it in place?
b. How is the indicator wired? If I pull wires out the back blind I'm not going to see where they're attached in order to reconnect them - ideas?
c. Finally would it be easier to force out the small indicator "grill", push the light back through that and try and replace? ...although to me this looks tricky as the indicator grill appears to be siliconed in place rather than a (potentially) removable rubber seal.
Grateful for any replies on this as I need to get it fixed ASAP (car is my daily driver and I can't be without her). Getting it to an independent for this job involves a whole bag of hassle for me and it seems hardly worth it if there are some simple tricks anyone can pass on.
Help!
Cheers all...
- Andy.
Was washing my trusty Chim earlier this morning and by chance touched the front indicator with my sponge, of course the whole assembly dissappeared into the wing!
My car is a pre-facelift "P" reg (August 1996) and the lense etc is now sitting inside the wing. I can't appear to get at it from underneath or from inside the bonnet and assume the only way to get at it to reposition it is to remove the front grill (where the number plate is) and grappling around inside for the indicator. I'll have to disconnect the wiring on the light assembly and bring it out through the front grill, re-attach the wiring and push back into the small indicator "grill". Couple of problems here I wondered if anyone can advise on??
a. How do you remove the front grill and replace it given it has that rubber seal thing around it? Is there a special trick or is it just a fiddly job and you have to be careful? I assume the number plate screws hold it in place?
b. How is the indicator wired? If I pull wires out the back blind I'm not going to see where they're attached in order to reconnect them - ideas?
c. Finally would it be easier to force out the small indicator "grill", push the light back through that and try and replace? ...although to me this looks tricky as the indicator grill appears to be siliconed in place rather than a (potentially) removable rubber seal.
Grateful for any replies on this as I need to get it fixed ASAP (car is my daily driver and I can't be without her). Getting it to an independent for this job involves a whole bag of hassle for me and it seems hardly worth it if there are some simple tricks anyone can pass on.
Help!
Cheers all...
- Andy.
done this twice so far! and yes you have to remove the front grill, reach in and grab the indicator, apply a bead of mastic/sealant around the touching edge and push it back into position from behind. No electrical work required. Now the hard bit - getting the grill back in. A little bit like putting a tyre back on a bike, the last few inches can be a right bitch
....thanks Greeny,
Just to confirm - you are saying I can push the lense back through the indicator grill from behind? That sounds easy!
Having never taken the front grill off before is it possible to replace the numberplate without the grill? Just thinking that if I have a go at this in a mo', if I can't get the grill back, will I be able to drive her to work tommorrow morning without it (but the number plate in place)?
What do you reckon? There's no trick to the front grill then, just push and hope?
Thanks again for such a speedy reply, isn't PH brill (but we all knew that).
- Andy.
Just to confirm - you are saying I can push the lense back through the indicator grill from behind? That sounds easy!
Having never taken the front grill off before is it possible to replace the numberplate without the grill? Just thinking that if I have a go at this in a mo', if I can't get the grill back, will I be able to drive her to work tommorrow morning without it (but the number plate in place)?
What do you reckon? There's no trick to the front grill then, just push and hope?
Thanks again for such a speedy reply, isn't PH brill (but we all knew that).
- Andy.
The number plate fits to two diagonal glass fibre sections behind the grill so you can refit it without the grill. There may be some 'easy' way to refit the grill but as I have only done it twice I can only suggest putting it in at one end and working your way round using spoons/bike tyre levers/care/patience just like putting a bike tyre on!
couple of things
1) the rubber bit is fixed to the body and the grill slips into the rubber housing. (I know it might sound obvious but an MOTer who had to adjust the headlight almost tried to remove the rubber from the bodywork until I showed him
) (also, "slip" is probably the wrong term as its not as easy as this implies)
2) take your time putting the grill back or you could slip and run a spoon or screwdriver against the paintwork.
1) the rubber bit is fixed to the body and the grill slips into the rubber housing. (I know it might sound obvious but an MOTer who had to adjust the headlight almost tried to remove the rubber from the bodywork until I showed him
) (also, "slip" is probably the wrong term as its not as easy as this implies) 2) take your time putting the grill back or you could slip and run a spoon or screwdriver against the paintwork.
Errr....my grille just comes out (with rubber surround) when I take out the no. plate screws. I did this just to have a look what was behind there. After I just pushed the grille back in then tried to line up the no. plate holes through the grille into the diagonal fixing strips. No problem at all. Am I just lucky?
....I reckon so. I managed to fix my indicator no probs, but can I get that grill back in? No chance, it's gonna have to stay with one end detached until I can go and see Mr Batty at the next service (mind you, I haven't attempted taking it all out, complete with rubber, and then pushing it all back - maybe that's the elusive trick I was after!
I ended up trying to leave the rubber as is, bent the grill quarter out and did the business with the light and then tried to bend it all back and in - result, not that great.
Maybe I'll have another go at the weekend.
I ended up trying to leave the rubber as is, bent the grill quarter out and did the business with the light and then tried to bend it all back and in - result, not that great.
Maybe I'll have another go at the weekend.
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