Hey guys,

About 6 months ago I replaced my interior with that of a '99 Limited. I never got around to completing the project because I just didn't care that my headliner was blue. Well now I'm trying to sell my Runner and I need to get rid of this hideous blue headliner! I removed all the upper trim pieces and lights, but these button-looking things are a pain! Does anybody have any advice for this? I got one bloody knuckle and one broken button already, and I've only tried one! Help?

Thanks
Jim

 

bobk did a fabulous writeup on such a topic...it may be in the tech section and if not..it's on www.4runners.org good luck

 

Jim,
Yes, check out my sound deadening article: http://www.4runners.org/articles/sound/

Here's the page that deals directly w/ the headliner removal:
http://www.4runners.org/articles/sound/headliner.html

As for the 4 rear buttons, if you look at the pic, they aren't really made to come out intact. Just go to town on them. Buy new ones beforehand, though.

Who's yer pal, huh!!?!?

Bob

 

I should've known Bob would have a write-up! Thanks a lot Bob! I guess I will have to order these sometime soon. Hopefully they wont be $5 a pop!

 

Jim,

FYI: It helps to have a second person to help you with this. As soon you remove those last 4 button type fasteners, it'll drop down and all the weight will start to bow the plastic vertical panels. The first time i did it, i had to do some very acrobatic, gymnastic moves to support, slide and remove it out of the back.

Bob

 

I got it out no problem. Once I took one of those plastic button things out, I realized why they were a pain. If you take a flat head and pry it down a little, you can see which way the snap is positioned. Then take some needle-nose plyers and get them as high as possible on the snap. Then squeeze and try to wiggle it out and bada bing bada boom. I saved the life of 4, I have 2 that are broken but reusable, and one didn't quite make it. I think 96-98 have 4 or 5 and 99-02 have 7. Thanks for the write-up though, Bob. It definitely helped out!

Jim