I'm painting my car, and EVERYTHING is off/out... the only two parts of plastic that are being stubborn are the rear hatch vents... the ones the sunroof drains into. I want to take those entire L shaped plastic ducts out so I can sand/paint underneath them to get a good paint seal. I really don't want to have to paint over them.

Anybody know how to get those things out without cutting them to pieces? The look like they'll rotate out, but every attempt at it ends up damaging them in some way.

If anybody has done this before, I'd greatly appreciate some advice.

Thanks,
Micah

 

So, I just tried again, and it appears as if maybe they DON'T come out.... I have a set on a parts car as well in perfect shape, I'm REAL close to just risking cutting them out to see how they are put in... and with that knowledge, getting the ones out of the parts car and inserting into the good car. However, if I find out the car was welded together with it already inside, I'll be up **** creek. I can't imagine mazda would do something that stupid though.

 

I am also trying to remove the rear covers to replace the sunroof drainline. I could use some help or a picture to visualize removal and where the drain attaches behind the cover.

 

Well, good luck... I didn't have any.. I've just been working around them.