Subaru - plastic screws under hood for air intake

[Donald]

There are a few plastic screws on my Crosstrek that hold on the air intake assembly near the hood latch. Loots like a plastic screw (regular slotted head) with attached washer. They are not quarter turn like I expected. How to remove them without breaking them?

 

[HemiBenny]

Plastic push rivets? Flat on top with a slot to either side under the flat peice? If so, just put something flat (screwdriver) into the slot under the top peice and gently push up. There are tools for them but a flat screwdriver works well enough to get them up far enough to get under them. Once you pop it up, the whole thing (plasting push rivet) should come out together.

 

[HemiBenny]

It could also be plastic screw rivets (these would have a Philips head), same idea but most of the time they're supposed to screw back out but they don't. If it's this, just gently wedge something with a flat edge, like a small flat head screwdriver, into the seam between the screw and washer part and gently pry upwards while unscrewing the screw part of the rivet. You might make it ugly or tear it up, but these assorted push rivets are super cheap at any parts house.

 

[GravelRoad]

These plastic push rivets?

 

[Wheel]

On mine they just take a quarter turn, the head pops up and you can pull them free. I think they are prone to getting dirt in them. I've put a drop of wd40 on mine to help them pop up. If they stick, I'll clean them and put 303 on them.
Then again, maybe mine are different.

 

[PimTac]

Put a screwdriver to them and find out.

 

[Andrew1972]

My recommendation is get a bag of replacements. You can be careful but after so many times or cold or whatever they snap.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted by madRiver
My recommendation is get a bag of replacements. You can be careful but after so many times or cold or whatever they snap.

The plastic pop up rivets that keep the underside skirt partially in place on my 2004 WRX lose all their flexibility after several years. They're really difficult to put back on after an oil change. Not sure why they'd use a clip for the intake. Mine is held on with two bolts.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted by GravelRoad
These plastic push rivets?



Yes

Looks to be dog/cat food brought into the non filtered side of the air intake. No mouse nest or parts of however. Want to take it out to clean.

 

[JTK]

Had them on my 3 Subarus. Like said, they should thread out, but may need to be pried out like a standard push plug. You will not find these in your standard generic assortment kit of replacement push plugs. They can be replaced with generic ones though.

I've found this to be the case with many Subaru, Nissan and Honda push fasteners.

 

[CharBaby]

I never worry about breaking them as they're easily replaceable parts from any parts stores "HELP" section. You can buy a whole pkg of them(4-5 or more) off the shelf for ~$2.99-$3.99. I keep'em around the garage/tool box in a couple of sizes.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Char Baby
I never worry about breaking them as they're easily replaceable parts from any parts stores "HELP" section. You can buy a whole pkg of them(4-5 or more) off the shelf for ~$2.99-$3.99. I keep'em around the garage/tool box in a couple of sizes.


Char- I hear you in that they can be easily replaced. I could have missed them somewhere, but where are you finding exact OEM replacement ones like these at any parts store? I've been down that road trying to keep the OEM look. Unobtainable other than a Subaru parts counter or online.

 

[bobdoo]

They *are* push pins. Slide a flatblade under the 'head', pry it up from the 'washer', then pull out with your fingers. You'll need to wobble it a bit. You only need one to hold the air intake in place.

Or leave it off for that flat-four intake roar.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted by bobdoo
They *are* push pins. Slide a flatblade under the 'head', pry it up from the 'washer', then pull out with your fingers. You'll need to wobble it a bit. You only need one to hold the air intake in place.

Or leave it off for that flat-four intake roar.

I've dealt with these types of retainers before, and after years of being pressed in they may harden and be difficult to pull out. New ones work perfectly but inevitably they'll harden and require replacement. I'm not sure what you call that section (the shank?) will stay flared out compared to a newer one which will spring back to the original shape once the center piece is popped out.

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted by JTK
Originally Posted by Char Baby
I never worry about breaking them as they're easily replaceable parts from any parts stores "HELP" section. You can buy a whole pkg of them(4-5 or more) off the shelf for ~$2.99-$3.99. I keep'em around the garage/tool box in a couple of sizes.


Char- I hear you in that they can be easily replaced. I could have missed them somewhere, but where are you finding exact OEM replacement ones like these at any parts store? I've been down that road trying to keep the OEM look. Unobtainable other than a Subaru parts counter or online.


Sorry, I didn't mean to lead anyone to believe that I was buying exact OEM replacement push pins at the local parts store. I am just buying a couple of different universal sizes in the "HELP" section and keep'em around. Most universal sizes will fit one car or another in one area of the car or another(under hood or wheel well area). I am not concerned if the "push pins" have the OEM look as long as they work.

Sometimes(depending on the area), I'll just use a cable tie and thread it through the hole and ZIP it, as long as I don't have to remove it frequently, it can stay there forever.