2 Quick daft questions.....

[Schui1024]

Had a fun day with Vauxhall, finally got the drivers mirror working again, and the handbrake recall is fixed.

Anyways.. 2 things I'm stuck on / confused with.

1 - The previous owners daughter dropped a skittle (the sweet variety not a ten pin one!) down the front windscreen airvent. This is the grill bit in the center of the dash that blows onto the windscreen, and has the center speaker in it.

Everytime I go round a corner or over a speed bump I can hear this blessed thing rattling about in the chamber below. There must be a "reservoir" bit at the bottom that stops it from sliding round to the airvents. Been throwing the car round roundabouts hoping it would pop out. I need to remove this vent cover but haven't yet figured out how.. Any ideas?

2 - Chrome front V-Grill. Went to a body shop and asked for a quote to paint it, and he said you can't paint that chromed plastic as the paint won't bond properly, and will start flaking off. Any thoughts? I'd really like to colour code it but don't want it peeling in the future.

As usual, your comments / ideas are greatly appreciated.......
(oh and I'm still deciding on the alloys to get, likely to be VXR 18's when I'm paid next...woop!)

[JSYSH466Y]

The bodyshop know nothing. All it takes is some sandpaper to rough it up.
As for the skittle I can only imagine how annoying. Dependant where it is I should imagin you will need to remove the dash unless you can get it to the speaker slot

[fenderguitar]

Quite a few guys on here have colour coded there grills,and happy with the finish

[BigP]

You can buy the V grill in primer from VXL dealers.

[Schui1024]

You can buy the V grill in primer from VXL dealers.

Just found a thread with a note they can be bought at vauxhall-accessories.com.. £60... Might take a look down the breakers and sand/paint one, then I can take time on it and swap them out.

Thanks for your advice, I did think painting the plastic chrome would be possible, but have never tried to do it myself in the past... I'm too impatient!

Any other thoughts on removing that center grill? REALLY don't want to have to remove the dash. May remove the airvents and shove a hoover hose down them in the hope I suck this damn thing up!

[Tadpole]

Open glovebox, tease/pull the long trim that runs under the passenger side of the dash & above the glovebox. Once it starts it will come off quite easily. You will see the screws that hold the vents in place, these again pull out (from the bottom. Try the search it is your friend hth …………..

[Grimo72]

i might be able to help



what colour is the skittle ?.........

[Schui1024]

Open glovebox, tease/pull the long trim that runs under the passenger side of the dash & above the glovebox. Once it starts it will come off quite easily. You will see the screws that hold the vents in place, these again pull out (from the bottom. Try the search it is your friend hth …………..

Think this is for the vents on the front of the dash, have taken these out many a times... The skittle is stuck in the air vent at the rear or the dash board, by the firewall, as indicated in the pic below


I've tried to prise it out, but just ended up bending the plastic and can't figure out where / if any, the lugs or clips are.

I've taken out the front center air vents and display thinking I could get to it behind that, but the air vent tubes are in the way, and I can't see anything...

[Tadpole]

Sincere apologies I should have read your post hope help is at hand ......

[plasma]

centre vent is actually for the speaker, the grill jus pops out, get your fingers on it and give it a little pull upwards. The grill will come off and the speaker will stay behind in the dash. If you have climate control be careful of the wires attached to the grill centre domey bit.