Applique Panel

[seeyalater]

Has anybody replaced the rear applique panel on an 02 explorer. i bought a new panel today because mine cracked. I wanna know how hard is it to take the old one off and put the new one on?

 

[Tbars4]

...the emblems??? i believe you can use a blow dryer and fishing line to get them off and they just have sticky tape to put them on...the older gen's were bolted...

 

[seeyalater]

no im talking about the whole plastic panel on the back, right under the rear window.

 

[Tbars4]

...sorry, applique means an ornament so i mistook your meaning...

 

[L4CX]

Some kind of Glue? My dad's 02 fell off too. I think he just got Gorila Glue and went to town. Make sure it's water proof and will adhere to the material. I think that's the only way to go.

 

[seeyalater]

mine didnt fall off, it cracked so i got a replacement one from ford. but your saying its just glued on?

 

[L4CX]

Well, his fell off and it appeared to just be glued on. I'm not sure if it was at the factory or if the previous owner did it. By the looks of it, it was factory.

 

[1969scott]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. My wife's 02 xlt applique panel just cracked, right down the middle and underneath the blue oval. The stealership quoted her $260 for replacement painted and installed. I would imagine there to be a few nuts which would be accessed from under the interior panel which hold the applique panel on. I was figuring to go to a junk yard to find a replacement panel and there I am not afraid of poking around and possibly damaging anything. By the way, how much did the dealer charge for the panel?

 

[seeyalater]

i paid around $60 for the panel, and then i got it quoted for paint for about $140. i went to the local finish master to see if i could get some paint mixed cheaper and they told me about $120. I think i might pay the extra money and have ford do it.

 

[1969scott]

I was wondering if you had the time if you could go to http://www.directfordparts.com/part...=2002&graphicID=MF02695&callout=2&catalogid=2

and tell me if part 2 is the same one you got? If the link doesn't work its in direct ford parts under 2002 explorer and search for applique and the diagram will come up. Thanks.

 

[1969scott]

I was also wondering where yours cracked and if you had the recalled hinges replaced a few years ago by the dealer. Like I said, mine cracked almost dead center under the emblem, could have something to do with hinges not totally aligned and latch assembly causing stress on the plastic. Any other ideas?

 

[seeyalater]

mine cracked about 2 inches to the right of the emblem. and idk about the hinges, i just bought it in march. i should probably get those checked out. idk what could have caused the crack. one day it wasnt there, the next, it was.

 

[1969scott]

Here's another thread I found. Not much help. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198647

 

[seeyalater]

cool, ill take a look at mine next week sometime, im gonna go get the piece painted and see if Ford will give me any information.

 

[1969scott]

Here's one more I found and this has the TSB along with detailed instruction on how to do the replacement. Sounds easier to just pay someone to do it, my opinion.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1563791&highlight=applique#post1563791

 

[seeyalater]

yea, it sounds time consuming. i guess ill have to see how much ford is gonna charge me to install it.

 

[superman77532]

mine is also split on my mounty, i was wondering is there a reason to replace other than cosmetic? it really doesnt bother me enough to spend the 250ish everyone is talking about unless its going to cause a problem elsewhere

 

[tomwom]

Just bought my 02 this week, came with the panel loose on the right side. I used hot clue on it and seems to be holding. The dealer I bought it from used 2 sided tape that held about an hour!

New here by the way.

 

[blichy]

I haven't replaced mine yet, but intend to soon. Probably will just by a DYI as the dealers have referred me to body shops and they are quoting $400+...

 

[High_Order1]

as for me

when I knocked out my back window, it didn't bother the panel at all. But they told me they couldn't reuse it. Then, when they installed it, they canked it. One side is flush, the other side you can about stick your finger under. Apparently, there must be a little to it.

Let us know how you made out with yours....


-Shawn