Technical How can I remove the mudguard screws to access the foglight? (319)

[jack808]

Hi guys, Someone/something hit my foglight on the driver's side (Right hand drive, because UK) and knocked the light back into the housing. I saw a video in Italian that shows you can remove two screws in the wheel well and remove a flap to give access behind the foglight.

These screws are well and truly stuck in place (Who would have thought using screws in an area that gets lots of dirt and moisture was a bad idea?) and no amount of WD40 and coaxing with a screwdriver will get them to turn, to the point I've pretty much rounded them.

Any ideas how I can remove them?

Missing foglight:

The offending screws:

 

[Jiffycom]

Use a Dremel type tool with a small cutting wheel to cut a large slot in the screw and then use a suitable large flat head screwdriver to undo it. I had to do that recently with mudflap screws on a Honda Civic.

 

[Leroypanda]

thats a wheel off job and remember to use axel stands in a suitable place ( not the sills)

 

[SiloSean]

I have something similar, as my eldest yesterday managed to scrap another car in a car park with my 63 plate panda 4x4, resulting in damage to the bumper and breaking a bracket on the fog light. Have looked at it this morning, turning the wheel to give access to the hatch in the inner wheel arch, the lower screw came out ok, but the upper screw didn't turn. I sprayed a bit of penetrating oil between the plastic hatch and the arch, let it soak for a few minutes and whilst pushing as hard as I could on the screwdriver managed to undo it. So I suggest a really good fitting screwdriver, some penetrating oil and brute force. I will change the screws later, possibly copper grease them when refitting to prevent corrosion and make it easier to remove them in future?

The hatch does give access to the back of the fog light, but it is still not really possible to do much other than change the bulb. I think I am going to have to remove the inner arch to change the actual light, as it is almost impossible to get to the screws holding it in place through the hatch. I guess that you have the same problem.

 

[varesecrazy]

Yes a well fitting tool is the key..

Try both a Phillips and a Pozidriv ( they are different)

Soaking for a while with a good penetrant wont do any harm either.. but of course the part that is actually gripping is probably hidden out of sight

 

[cala]

Had the same problem, ended up making a larger slot in screws with grinder to enable long flat screwdriver to remove, plenty of grunts applied did the trick

 

[varesecrazy]

I had concerns doing similar with my twinairs undertray.. not been touched in at least 3 years..COVID.. ( oil change definitely due..)

Its all 8 years old so of course its rusty..

Had a quick offer.up of my screwdriver selection..the 'lifetime guarantee' halfords seemed the best

But.. a couple of the dozen screw heads had me worried !!!

I looked at the head of the 15 year old screwdriver.. well tired .. all that IKEA had given it a hard time

Off to halfords next evening.. sign on the door :
'Due to staff shortages we are opening 10 til 4 weekdays' oh bugger..
I want to do the job this week !!


SO
I got a grinding wheel involved..!!

I figured out the angle of the 'nose' on the tip and carefully took a touch off all 4 edges.. attempting to keep it all 'square'

back under a bright light : got rid of most of the wear radiusing - result


Of course.. due the the chisel profile of the head..this made it all slightly fatter


Under the car.. here goes..

Far more positive in the 'good' screws

I was determined to get the 'easy' ones free before I potentially chewed my new edges on the bad ones ( nearside wheel.. catches junk for half the year)

The dodgy ones were not great
. But did come out



They all got soaked in the old engine oil before being reinstalled.. probably a 1st for them


Anybody who's watched a Garage doing an oil change will know why..!

 

[SiloSean]

I had concerns doing similar with my twinairs undertray.. not been touched in at least 3 years..COVID.. ( oil change definitely due..)

Its all 8 years old so of course its rusty..

Had a quick offer.up of my screwdriver selection..the 'lifetime guarantee' halfords seemed the best

But.. a couple of the dozen screw heads had me worried !!!

I looked at the head of the 15 year old screwdriver.. well tired .. all that IKEA had given it a hard time

Off to halfords next evening.. sign on the door :
'Due to staff shortages we are opening 10 til 4 weekdays' oh bugger..
I want to do the job this week !!


SO
I got a grinding wheel involved..!!

I figured out the angle of the 'nose' on the tip and carefully took a touch off all 4 edges.. attempting to keep it all 'square'

back under a bright light : got rid of most of the wear radiusing - result


Of course.. due the the chisel profile of the head..this made it all slightly fatter


Under the car.. here goes..

Far more positive in the 'good' screws

I was determined to get the 'easy' ones free before I potentially chewed my new edges on the bad ones ( nearside wheel.. catches junk for half the year)

The dodgy ones were not great
. But did come out



They all got soaked in the old engine oil before being reinstalled.. probably a 1st for them


Anybody who's watched a Garage doing an oil change will know why..!

Pretty sure most of us have bodged a tool at one time or another, just to get the job done. Wouldn't be the first time that I have put a bit of plate or a washer in the jaw of a spanner because a bolt head was an odd size.

 

[Panda IIs]

Hi guys, Someone/something hit my foglight on the driver's side (Right hand drive, because UK) and knocked the light back into the housing. I saw a video in Italian that shows you can remove two screws in the wheel well and remove a flap to give access behind the foglight.

These screws are well and truly stuck in place (Who would have thought using screws in an area that gets lots of dirt and moisture was a bad idea?) and no amount of WD40 and coaxing with a screwdriver will get them to turn, to the point I've pretty much rounded them.

Any ideas how I can remove them?

Missing foglight:

View attachment 411362

The offending screws:
View attachment 411363

I've been watching the various comments on here; personally, I'd just take the whole front bumper off, deal with the cover screw's spire nuts from the other side and be able to replace the fog light with far more ease. A bit more work up-front but replacing the light itself will be easier I reckon.

There's a decent YouTube video of a young guy taking the front bumper off his 500 (same set up) to replace a wishbone. Just mind you take the weight of the bumper as you lift it off so the fog light cables (which you can't disconnect because of the messed up screws on the covers) don't get strained and snap. With the bumper freed you can reach in behind and take the connection/bulb out.