Headliner Removal ?
 

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