Drop Headliner

[hmn4389]

Hey, not sure where to put this.. but here goes

I wanna drop the headliner on my 97 XLT to wire some lights on the roof. Whats the procedure for removing and/or dropping the headliner?

 

[gijoecam]

Ask and ye shall receive. (Without the pictures though)

Trim Panel — Roof

Removal

Disconnect the battery ground cable.

Remove the B-pillar trim panel; refer to the procedure in this section.
CAUTION: Bending or twisting of the component may result in damage; use care when removing the component.

Remove the windshield side garnish moulding (03598) by carefully pulling it from the windshield side pillar.

Remove the quarter trim panel (31012); refer to the procedure in this section.
Remove the overhead console; refer to Section 501-12 .
Remove the interior lamp; refer to Section 417-02 .
Remove the sun visors.
Remove the six screws.
Remove the sun visors.
If equipped, disconnect the electrical connectors.

Remove the the sun visor brackets.
Remove the two screws.
Remove the sun visor brackets.

Remove the six assist handle retainer covers.

Remove the three assist handles.
Remove the six bolts.
Remove the three assist handles.

Remove the three rear roof trim panel pushpins.

Disconnect the cargo lamp electrical connector.

Remove the six remaining pushpins.
Remove the roof trim panel (51968).

Installation

NOTE: When the battery is disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the vehicle relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 16 km (10 mi) or more to relearn the strategy.

To install, reverse the removal procedure.

 

[traveler]

Yes, I know its an OLD post. But can I get a simpler, easier to follow set of instructions from someone who has done it before? I know the instructions from the Ford Manuals are often TOO detailed and include steps that can sometimes be avoided.

 

[C420sailor]

I don’t really see how it can get any simpler. Those are as step by step as it gets.

I will say, you don’t usually need to drop the whole headliner. I lowered the front right quarter or so of it enough to slide a piece of sheet metal in, so I wouldn’t damage the headliner when I drilled the roof for my Whelen Liberty bar. Pulled the sheet metal after drilling, installed a grommet (with RTV) and passed the cable through. A canon plug would probably be best, but isn’t very practical in some cases.

Then I routed the cable behind the trim and to where it needed to go. Easy peasy.

If you’re also installing antennas and such, taking the whole thing down is the way to go.

 

[Mr. Alligator]

How to: Weatherstripping (and interior plastic trim removal)

Removing, or at least releasing, the interior trim is most of the work. Maybe the above thread will be of some help.

Good luck.

 

[traveler]

I'm interested in reinforcing the rails that hold the OEM roof crossbars, then using it to hold a self-made roof rack. I just don't have much faith in what looks like sheetmetal screws holding it in place.

 

[XLTrunner]

Those screws thread into a blind nut that is spot welded to the underside of the outer roof panel. How do I know? I had the misfortune of having the most rearward one on the driver side break loose when trying to remove the screw. It now just spins...and, the nut is all but impossible to access with a wrench even with the headliner removed. Suppose a guy could cut an access hole in the inner metal roof panel...but, I rarely use my rack and just used some RTV to seal around the now loose screw head.

 

[sehaare]

I just took mine out and put it back in this week.

Those steps above are pretty much what I did, without knowing they existed.

None of the side trim needs to come all the way out but it all will have to be pulled down and away from the side.

Take pictures of how the trim lines up with the rubber seals at the doors and rear hatch, I didn't get it back on correctly the first time, luckily I figured out it wasn't line up right before I damaged it.

My SUV had a moonroof which has a rubber trim piece holding the headliner to the roof. That rubber piece just pulls off (slowly) and that allows you to drop the rear of the overhead console.

Where the cutout is for the moonroof doesn't leave a lot of headliner on each side and that is easily the weakest part of the headliner. Make sure that you support the front of the headliner as you remove it out the back hatch or it will droop and break at this point.

Keep all the handles, coat hanger and fasteners in ziplock bags clearly labeled where they came from. Too many little pieces to either loose or forget where they came from.

Get a set of trim removal tools from harbor freight they make it much easier to pull all the pushpins out that hold on the interior trim without damaging them.

You'll need a big torx bit (55?) to take the seat belts out.

when I went to put it back in I put some straps across the top of the panels to let it rest on as I was sliding it in.

The picture shows what it looks like with the headliner out

 

[Mr. Alligator]

Good advice, T50, as I recall.

Good luck and drive safe.