Boot lid actuator

[alex.mcintosh]

The other day when I closed the boot I heard a nasty crunching sound and found that the actuator on the hinge had broken off - I only had one anyway.

I went to my local dealer and they supplied me with 2 new actuators and 2 new black locating pins. However, the existing locating pins are not easy to remove - they are much shorter than the new ones and have been painted in situ, presumably when they car was built. The dealer suggested I force them out and use the new locating pins as they are much longer and will hold the actuator in place more firmly. Is this correct? I expect that when I remove the existing pins it will take off some of the paintwork from the hinge

Any comments, suggestions and experience appreciated

Thanks

[melhook]

Sorry to tell you, bbut the locating pins were never painted from new, so your has had a paint repair at some stage. To remove the old ones you need a very small screw driver, or thin punchno more than about 1 mm in diameter. Then just punch the middle out, this will enable you to remove the rest of the retainer, renew actuator, and refit new clips. Hope this halps.

[Jaguar steve]

Use a very sharp Stanley knife and carefully scrape away the paint fron the pins before you try to remove them. Hopefully doing this will stop any paint damage spreading to the surrounding bodywork when you push the old pins out.

[alex.mcintosh]

Not good news about the repair, but it's a good job so no too bothered. Good idea about using a stanley knife. Do you think it's worht using the pins currently in place to save disturbing the paintwork? Only problem is that are not nearly as substantial as the new ones