Interior Trim Removal/Installation

Interior Trim Removal/Installation - Front Pillar Area

Front Pillar Trim

SRS components are located in this area. Review the SRS component locations and the precautions and procedures before doing repairs or service.

NOTE:

Follow the front pillar trim installation procedure carefully; improper installation could cause the side curtain airbag to deploy improperly and possibly cause injury.
Put on gloves to protect your hands.
When removing components, use the trim tools or equivalent.
Take care not to scratch the trim and panels.
The upper clip in the front pillar trim (A) consists of a grommet (B) and a pin (C). The grommet expanded with the pin secures it to the body panel (D). The projections (E) on the pin is broken during removal, so the clip must be replaced with a new one when the trim is reinstalled.

1.	Pull the front door inner seal away from the front pillar as needed.

Hit the upper clip in the front pillar trim (A) with your hand. The clip is under the point (B) where the triangle mark (C) on the edge of the trim indicates. Hitting the clip breaks the projections (D) on the pin (E) and pushes it into the grommet (F) and against the body (G). The grommet becomes narrow.

NOTE: The clip must be replaced with a new when the front pillar trim is reinstalled.

3.	Pull the top of the front pillar trim (A) back by hand to remove the upper clip (B) from the body (C).

4.	Pull the front pillar trim (A) by hand to detach the clips. Pull the trim up from the dashboard (B), then remove it.

5.	If the side curtain airbag has deployed, replace the front pillar trim and all clips on the trim with a new one.

If the side curtain airbag has not deployed, remove the upper clip (A) from the removed front pillar trim (B). Then check the trim:

To prevent the side curtain airbags from deploying, improperly and possibly causing injury, inspect the front pillar trim and replace it if it has any of these types of damage:
- Any cracks, deformations, or stress-whitening in the front pillar trim
- Any cracks or stress-whitening in the clip seating surfaces (C, D)
Replace the lower clip (E) if it is damaged.
Replace the upper clip with a new one.

7.	Before installing the front pillar trim (A), carefully remove the upper clip (B).

8.	Check the overlap between the headliner and front pillar trim, and if necessary, adjust it.

9.	Carefully install the upper clip (A) to the front pillar trim (B). Be sure that the grommet (C) is nearest to the top of the pin (D) as shown.

10.

Reinstall the front pillar trim (A).

-1	Insert the bottom of the trim into the dashboard (B).
-2	Place the trim over the front pillar (C), and fit its upper clip (D) and lower clip (E) into the holes (F) in the front pillar, then lightly push the trim into place. NOTE: Make sure the side curtain airbag isn't tucked down under the clips and ribs. Push lightly on the upper clip. If you push too hard, the clip will be damaged, and it will not hold the trim properly.

11.	Reinstall the front door opening trim.