Body mouldings - removal and refitting
Body side mouldings
1 Using a thin-bladed screwdriver, prise away the moulding insert strip, carefully levering from the lower edge.
2 The moulding is secured by rivets and these can be drilled out using a 3.0 mm drill. With the rivets drilled through, the moulding can be removed.
Body side moulding rivet locations (except XR2)
3 Refitting is a reversal of the removal procedure, but you will need a pop-rivet gun and supply of suitable rivets to secure the moulding. Check its alignment as the moulding is secured in position.
4 Where a new moulding is being fitted you will need to first drill the rivet holes in it. Use the old moulding as a suitable template to drill the holes in the new moulding.
Tailgate aperture mouldings
5 Prise free or drill a hole in and hook out the upper moulding retaining screw caps then undo and remove the screws.
Remove moulding screw cap for access to screw
6 The upper moulding is now removed by carefully cutting through the adhesive tape which secures it in position along the front and rear edges. Use a soft-edge razor blade or similar to slice through the tape. Take care not to cut into the moulding or paintwork.
7 With the tailgate open, prise back the quarter trim to gain access to the lower moulding securing nut. Undo and remove the nut.
Tailgate moulding lower retaining nut removal
8 Gripping the moulding at its top end, pull it away from the body panel so that the adhesive bond is broken, and remove the moulding.
9 Remove any adhesive tape still remaining on the body panel, wiping it off with a rag dipped in methylated spirit.
10 Before refitting, the mouldings will need to be heated so that they are warm to the touch and the contact surfaces coated in primer, followed by the adhesive tape.
11 Refitting is otherwise now a reversal of the removal procedure.
Sill panel moulding
12 Raise and support the car at the front end (see “Jacking and vehicle support”).
13 Use a 4.5 mm drill and drill out the moulding-to-sill rivets from the positions indicated.
Sill panel retaining rivet positions
14 Grip the moulding and pull it free from the car, pulling from its lower edge. The top edge is secured in position by press fit retainers and adhesive tape and should just pull free. If the top edge of the sill is reluctant to separate, carefully slit the adhesive tape along its length using a safe-edge razor or similar.
15 Clean the old adhesive from the sill panel using methylated spirit.
16 Before refitting the moulding it will need to be heated so that it is warm to the touch, the contact surfaces coated in primer and the adhesive tape applied.
17 Press the moulding into position along its top edge, ensuring that it is fully secured and correctly located in the retainers. Press and smooth the moulding down to ensure that it adheres to the sill along the full length.
18 Using a suitable pop-rivet gun, insert poprivets to secure the panel along its lower edge, but use only the special plastic capped type rivets supplied by Ford.
19 On completion lower the vehicle to the ground.