BX GTI 8 valve Spoiler

JohnHA · Post by **JohnHA** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:13 pm

I have some remedial work to do on my tailgate spoiler, can anyone tell me how to remove it from the car so i can carry out the work and what pitfalls are there to look out for.

Thanks all.

John.

350ci muppet · Post by **350ci muppet** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:03 pm

hi mate if you open the tailgate and look on the outside edges under the spoiler on the ends you will see 2 grommets one either side flick them out and you will see a 10mm nut i beleive undo them and its off

JohnHA · Post by **JohnHA** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:02 pm

Thanks for that. When the weather gets better i will have a go.

Will let you know how it goes.

Surprised that only you answered, perhaps i am in the wrong part of the forum. Still, i am pleased you did. Thanks again.

John.

toddao · Post by **toddao** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:53 pm

I think it is the right part of the forum but perhaps no one has removed one before ( either that or they're in the trenches of the 'Anything Else' section battering each other with hand-bags!

)

I actually need to remove one for repainting so I found something out too. I was under the impression there was some of that legendary Citroen glue involved somewhere?

350ci muppet · Post by **350ci muppet** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:47 pm

well ive removed 2 now both having been from ph2 gti's and all that held them on was the 2 nuts, no glue double sided sticky tape or anyother kind of funny stuff although there was a nice collection of dirt where washing obviously cant get to

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:47 pm

Erm, i believe that there are 4 bolts that need removing, 2 are easy, the other 2 are hidden under the plastic shroud that goes from the top of the tailgate to the strut. Never did work out how to remove that shroud without potentially breaking it, so i dont think its as easy as thought

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:25 pm

you need a long nut runner or a 1/4" socket set to get to the nuts /screws that are deep down the 'tubes' of the boot lid.

Mike

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:30 pm

Just to clarify, are there 2 or 4 bolts that hold the spoiler on?

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:41 pm

I don't know whether it would help in this instance, but once the nut has been 'cracked', I've often had success with difficult to get at nuts by pushing a short length of tightly fitting pipe over the nut to turn it. Works for getting it back on the thread too...

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:51 pm

If the nuts/screws are not too rusted, they will come out easily, otherwise they will probably snap.

But you probably do not need all four fixings, modern glues are very good.

Mike

JohnHA · Post by **JohnHA** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:08 pm

Hi,
It's like waiting in the rain for a bus, in the end one comes along with what looks like a comfortable journey but is then closely followed by others going in another direction

Anyway, i have found the nuts behind the 2 grommets but have also found 2 bolt heads passing thro' the plastic shroud that Mulley talks about. They seem to be in the right area for a second fixing

My BX is a K reg 8v GTI Perhaps different models have different fixing methods.

Anyway, as i said when the weather gets bettet i will have a go and see what happens & let you know.

Thanks all

"and still they gazed & still their wonder grew, that one small head could carry all he knew"

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:12 pm

As i thought, i couldnt remember as it was ages ago i tried taking the spoiler off & realised it wasnt as easy as i'd thought. When you manage to work out how to get that plastic shroud off without breaking it, please post up how you did it

That could save quite a few people swearing out aloud.....

mountainmanUK · Post by **mountainmanUK** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:55 pm

To clarify....there are TWO 10mm nuts hidden up in the depths of the tailgate, which you can find by popping out the rubber cover grommets either side, AND there are TWO hex-headed (also 10mm IIRC) long screws, which are located about an inch or so from the others two. These screw directly into the "meat" of the babywalker spoiler, and can leave a bit of a mess if they dont come out clean! The two nuts usually remove easily on the end of a 3/8" socket extension.
Once removed, you will see the static "bolts" which are used as locators when replacing the spoiler.....these are what the 10mm nuts fasten!

Any dameage to the spoiler made during removal of the long screws, can be fixed up with some good plastic filler, while the spoiler is off!

Good luck!
Dave

JohnHA · Post by **JohnHA** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:37 pm

Hi,
I think i have worked out how to remove my spoiler & also the plastic shrouds we are all concerned about.

I have taken some pics of my tailgate to show what has to be removed but cannot work out how to post them on the forum. any help please?

I am no computer expert so words of one syllable would be good.

Thanks all.

John.

JohnHA · Post by **JohnHA** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:10 pm

Hi ,
I still havn't worked out how to put pics on the forum but have worked out how to remove my spoiler. As everyone agrees, open the tailgate & remove the two plastic grommets, (one each side) and with a long tube spanner find a 10mm nut. You may have to lift aside some wiring, as in my case it passed across the face of the nuts making them difficult to see. A magnetic tool is useful to pick up the nuts when they fall out of the spanner as you try to bring them out through the tailgate. Now, about an inch or so down from the top of the plastic shroud everyone is worried about breaking you should find an 8mm head of a screw passing through the shroud & into the spoiler. Remove these and the only thing holding the spoiler in place will be all the muck and rubbish you can't remove by normal cleaning.

In the end it was as easy as that. However, if no 8mm screw head is showing, then it must be under the shroud. To remove this, first support the tailgate with a couple peices of timber & remove each "buffer" by pulling out the pin retaining clip & tapping out the pin. Next, do the same for the tailgate struts. At the bottom of the shroud there are two small screw covers, remove these and the screws. The shroud should then come away O.K. & all will be well with the world

Let me know what you think. It certainly worked for me

Regards, John.

"and still they gazed & still their wonder grew that one small head could carry all he knew!"

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