While waxing I noticed that the black plastic vent screen was out of place.

When pulled, the front of the vent popped right out (car had been wrecked and rebuilt before I bought it). Unfortunately the back came right out too when the plastic tabs that hold the vent in sheared off.



I plan to epoxy the screen back onto the vent.

I have been thinking that maybe I can epoxy a screw in place of the sheared tabs and then squirt a blob of silicone glue onto the vent where the tabs used to be and then press the unit back into place. I am hoping that as the silicone cures it will be pushed into the slot and hold the vent in place.

If this doesn't work I will go lube up and go to Mazda to buy a new one.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for getting the vent back on securely?

Does anyone know of a good epoxy for bonding metal to plastic?

 

My tabs were broken also. I epoxied the screen back on the vent then used 3M tape to hold the vent to the front fender. It holds it securely and can also be removed again if need be.

 

Thanks... Do you mean double sided tape? Never came loose?

 

If you take out the fender liner, you can get at the backside of the vent, inside the fender. That might help you when you remount the vent.

 

Several thousand miles and the 3M tape holds up. You can get it at Autozone, or other parts stores. Yes it is double sided.

 

Thanks, I'll give it a try tomorrow.

 

You might want to consider some stainless steel mesh in there instead of the OEM plastic grill while you are at it. Use the OEM grill as a form to shape it. Hold it in place with plastic epoxy putty. The putty comes in a small " tootsie roll" that you cut off and knead to activate. Just scuff the smooth plastic with some coarse emory paper and it will stick forever. Don't use regular sand paper since it will leave dust behind on the plastic and inhibit the grip of the epoxy. You can shape it with a Dremel tool or drill it - whatever.

If you go the double sided tape route get the "outdoor" version - it's grey. Works great.

An easy mod and a nice cosmetic touch.

 

Thanks, but I cannot imagine SS mesh looking as nice as the black grill. Do you have a pic?

 

Epoxied the screen, and taped the vent in place.

The tape feels stronger than the tabs did. Quick, easy, and cheap fix.

Thanks JXC-REX!

 

No problem down south we use a little redneck engineering!