Date:         Mon, 30 Sep 2013 15:23:39 -0400
Reply-To:     TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Rear hatch panel fastener options
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

OK, so if you've read todays posts, you no doubt saw my trials and
tribulations with electric motors.  Now, we're moving on to interior parts.
 The aforementioned hatch panel that was covering my burned out rear window
wiper motor was a real PIA to remove.  Now, I've pulled a few panels from
87's before (have 3 of them) and never had an issue.  Well, it looks like
the engineers revenge is much older than I thought.  What's that some of
you plebes ask?  Well, when I worked at VW (and Porsche, and Audi for that
matter) we had a joke that whomever designed the cars never worked on them.
 Certainly not trying to make flat rate, that's for sure.  Then, our shop
manager told us that it turns out that the head mechanic in Wolfsburg was
"dating" the senior engineers daughter. Well, he made sure that ALL
mechanics after that would pay the price for that infraction on his little
girls pride and person.  Don't believe it, go change the battery on the 1st
gen New Beetle.  Start with the right headlight and well, you'll figure it
out...

Anyhow, I digress, the panel on said rear hatch was secured with the most
wretched fasteners I have worked with.  The were nearly impossible to get
out.  I scratched the paint with a screwdriver just trying to get some room
to work, and eventually just ripped the entire panel clean off.  Still some
of the fasteners still remained.  Does anyone know of a better version?  I
see the "monsters" listed on some of the vendors sites but looking for
options before I hit FLAPS and get some generic junk.

Thanks,

TJ

87 Syncro
87 Wolfsburg