Wanted How To: Remove the plastic fenders on the ex?

[almondj]

I just got a '98 explorer eddie bauer edition and am really thinking the fender flares and running boards make it look fat and old. I want to remove them. I removed the bolts that were in the wheel well. But its still being held on by what looks like plastic clips.

Any help?

 

[sport97]

If you remove them you will have a lot of holes showing. They snap into those holes.

 

[almondj]

I figured there'd be holes, will probably fill it with a puddy of some sort and paint over it. So should I just use force and pull it off?

Also, where's the ac-134a port? The guy at napa told me it was a port towards the front of the engine. The cover doesn't fit on it (the port is to big.) It kinda fits on one in the rear left (when looking at the engine compartment.) It sticks out of a canister that has tubes coming out of it.

 

[Paraphoe]

The running boards, no surprise, have big heavy steel brackets that need to be unbolted before you can pull them off, at least that was the setup on my XLT. Might be different on an EB, but I doubt it. Can't help you with fender flares.

 

[97 EB Mike]

I just pulled on my flares to remove them. The boards will have to be unbolted, like Paraphoe said, on the underside of the truck. There is also a steel bracket riveted on the rear fender, and IIRC, also bolted on somewhere, that acts as a support for the back of your board behind the rear door. It is underneath the back of your board as it comes up to meet the rear fender flare (mine had a picture of a shoe with a circle and slash through it, as if to say it's not a step).

There is one ac service port where you describe it. The other is at the front of the engine. Look between your radiator cap and battery. Its sticking straight up. Hope this helps!

 

[almondj]

There is one ac service port where you describe it. The other is at the front of the engine. Look between your radiator cap and battery. Its sticking straight up. Hope this helps!

I filled the one in the back (the service port in the back left) with a little ac-134a and it makes a quick hiss and a part connected to the belt spins a little bit. This happens every few seconds. I didn't empty the can into the system though. Also, the connector does NOT fit on the tube at the front of the engine compartment by the battery. (NAPA told me that that tube would probably be the one, but it won't fit at all.)

 

[nssj2]

The one on the back passenger side of the engine bay is correct. the front one is the high pressure side. They make the service ports idiot proof, so you can not connect your 134 can to the high pressure port. the hissing noise means that it is not sealing correct.

 

[almondj]

The one on the back passenger side of the engine bay is correct. the front one is the high pressure side. They make the service ports idiot proof, so you can not connect your 134 can to the high pressure port. the hissing noise means that it is not sealing correct.

And that means? Should I empty the rest of the can into it and see if it fixes it? The napa fellow said that it had some sort of sealing capability I believe.

 

[nssj2]

It means, be sure the female quick connect on the hose is seating properly on the service port. Improper seating is usually caused by a crack in the plastic connector, or a bad oring in the connector. If you tried to force it on the high pressure side, I can guarantee it cracked. The sealant in the 134 can the napa guy was talking about swells the orings in the ac system to minimize leaks. This is only a band-aid, and expect to regularly top the system off.