Hey all! So after watching my LED's on my 97 slowly die one by one for the past two years,I need to change it. I have a spare that I know works. The problem I am having is that the screws that hold the lamp to the hatch will not unscrew:what I mean is this: if any of you have had these off before then you know that there are blind fasteners that the retaining screws mount into. Should I just destroy the old lamp I am replacing to access the flats on these fasteners or is there a more(ahem)proper way? Thanks for any input!

 

Hey step, I don't know if this is the set-up you have but it might help.
Are the screws just spinning or are they locked up?

 

Yes, the screws are just spinning as the blind anchors are as well. I have replaced these before and not had this problem. My CHMSL is mounted on the glass hatch not the roof. It seems that for me to get to the blind anchors with a tool I may have to destroy the old lamp.

 

are both sides spinning? last time i replaced mine, one was spinning, but i managed to disassemble the lamp by pulling just 1 screw out.

 

Yes both anchors are spinning,but I suppose I can just break apart the old lamp and hope that will give me access to those units.

 

maybe.. i think the 'nuts' are molded into the top of the window rubber. may be able to pry them out of the rubber now that they aren't attached properly. a bit of CA glue may be all it takes to reattach them after you've freed up the nut. ya'd think they would use stainless screws...

 

No they dont seem to be molded in,I have one in my hand from a previous swap: it is a brass retainer about 1cm long,the flats are 5/16 and the mounting screw appears to be machine thread. Again,I guess I will gently sledge hammer it off there this weekend!

 

I too am a fan of the "gentle sledge hammer".