[SimiGuy]

If anyone has done this before can you please offer any advice that may help me avoid breaking things? I am trying to remove the headliners to run a video cable to the middle brake light where I want to mount a backup camera. Sounds like I need to also remove the headliner in the rear just to be able access and remove the brake light lens.

I already pulled one of the plastic rivets that holds the headliners up as a test (see pic) and it was pretty difficult and seems to ruin the rivet in the process. Sounds like I'll need to buy new rivets to replace all the ones that will be pulled.

Also not sure how the headliner will come off around the rear upper door latches?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[alarmist]

Hint: You start by removing the side trim.

 

[Wmillette]

please detail with pics.... as i will need this info to install the maxxair 7500k

thanks

i checked the pins already
there are 2 kinds needed and there sold in sets of 4

there is 6 of 1 kind on mine and 2 of another kind so need 3 bags total

 

[brimflop]

I pulled my complete headliner down .. Took about 15 min. Is much easier with some trim removal tools. I picked up a cheap metal trim removal set at harbor freight. The pins are not ruined, the will hold just fine when reinstalled. Watch out for the magnets on the front middle section, one of mine came loose, will glue it back. You do not need to pull the side trim, but if you do ..one side is all you need. I didn't take but one of the middle pcs off.

I think the Ford detail on this is horrible, compared to my sprinter anyway. The fit and finish is not well thought out.. Due to the full length side air curtains the h/l is Not attached at the sides,

You can removed the air curtains, and install a simulator to keep system fully functional and no fault warnings. I decided not to do that however. Search Texas airbag systems for the parts.

I have plans to engineer my own answer to the crappy fit at the left and right sides of the hl.

 

[SimiGuy]

Agreed, pics would be great. I got back from the dealer and ordered 4 packs of rivets (16 total) today... Didn't realize there was another type but guess I'll get those later or reuse. Still not sure how it all comes off around the rear door latches but guess I'll find out when I start digging into it over the next few days. Gotta get to that pesky 3rd brake light buried back there! Thanks for the heads up about the magnets. Yeah, I'm not planning on messing with the curtain airbags because I will be carrying passengers back there once in a while.

 

[brimflop]

The black plastic covers at the rear top door just pop,off. Pry down on the inside back, slide over the stop. The door weatherstripping just laps over the HL., same as around the slider door opening, but much better.

 

[SimiGuy]

So finally got the headliner down and accessed / removed the 3rd brake light. Thanks brimflop for the tip on the plastic covers for the door latches - just had to pry a little on the front edge and they came right off. The pillar cover panels pulled off pretty easily on the sides but not sure I had to take them off. Then I removed all the rivets and the headliner came down pretty easily. There are some funky clip brackets that hold the front edge of the headliner that were kind of hard to disengage - they interface to these orange snap pins in the roof - tried to take a pic of those.

The A/C ductwork was surprisingly sloppy - the duct going across the top of the rear doors was misaligned to the other duct flanges (see pic) - will try to improve that once I re-assemble. This duct has to be removed to get to the brake light access hole in the top rear cross beam.

The 3rd brake light itself was very easy to remove through the access hole in the rear cross beam. No need for tools - just squeeze your hand into the opening and then simply press on the metal clips and the light assembly pops right out. Kinda hard to believe it actually makes a water tight seal with that installation method - the gasket didn't seem very conformal /squishy and the clips don't seem to provide much pressure... I think I may add some RTV when I re-install the light.

Below are a bunch of pics (some out of focus) - but they may help someone trying to do this in the future.

 

[OneEyedJack]

"There are some funky clip brackets that hold the front edge of the headliner that were kind of hard to disengage - they interface to these orange snap pins in the roof - tried to take a pic of those."

The pics are helpful. How did you disengage the clip brackets from the orange snap pins? Thanks

 

[ilovehotshot]

Thanks SimiGuy! Do you happen to have pictures of the ceiling without the headliner?

 

[micquinn]

So finally got the headliner down and accessed / removed the 3rd brake light. Thanks brimflop for the tip on the plastic covers for the door latches - just had to pry a little on the front edge and they came right off. The pillar cover panels pulled off pretty easily on the sides but not sure I had to take them off. Then I removed all the rivets and the headliner came down pretty easily. There are some funky clip brackets that hold the front edge of the headliner that were kind of hard to disengage - they interface to these orange snap pins in the roof - tried to take a pic of those.

The A/C ductwork was surprisingly sloppy - the duct going across the top of the rear doors was misaligned to the other duct flanges (see pic) - will try to improve that once I re-assemble. This duct has to be removed to get to the brake light access hole in the top rear cross beam.

The 3rd brake light itself was very easy to remove through the access hole in the rear cross beam. No need for tools - just squeeze your hand into the opening and then simply press on the metal clips and the light assembly pops right out. Kinda hard to believe it actually makes a water tight seal with that installation method - the gasket didn't seem very conformal /squishy and the clips don't seem to provide much pressure... I think I may add some RTV when I re-install the light.

Below are a bunch of pics (some out of focus) - but they may help someone trying to do this in the future.

I'm removing the headliner now. Those pins are very difficult to remove. Should I just cut them and buy new ones?

I'm not sure if they can be reused if I don't break them when removing them. Thanks!

 

[spotco2]

I'm removing the headliner now. Those pins are very difficult to remove. Should I just cut them and buy new ones?

I'm not sure if they can be reused if I don't break them when removing them. Thanks!

I pulled mine down far enough to wrap a nylon string around them several times and attached the other end to something more suitable for pulling with (wood stick) and they popped right out without noticeable damage. I think Ford recommends cutting the ones at the very rear and replacing but I did not see any need.