Another paint chip spoiler victim

[BilJ]

Originally Posted by Russell James

The washers I bought at the hardware store are the exact size of a nickel, but with a hole. Take a nickle in with you, and look for a washer tray labeled - rubber washers. You'll need 6.

Only needed if your spoiler is touching the decklid paint to paint. If you have a slight gap everywhere, no need to mess with it.

When you pop it off, you'll see the oe rubber washers are squished around the studs. Scrape those off and put in the new washers. Then when putting the nuts back on with loctite, watch the gaps and don't get the nuts so tight that it kills the gap. The loctite will hold the nuts, they don't need to be super tight. Magnetize your socket so you don't drop the nuts down in the trunk.

You'll need a trim tool to pop off the push in retainers on the trunk trim. I think 4 of the access holes just have rubber plugs over them. Then to get at the two inside holes, the trim need to be removed by popping out all the push pins with the trim tool. After all 6 nuts are off, carefully pull straight up. The spoiler will have one - push in - retainer still holding it to the decklid. Just pull carefully straight up and it will pop off. You have to be real carefull, you don't want the studs bouncing around the paint. Two hands - pull straight up.

When the 6 nuts are off, you'll wonder what is still holding it on. It's just needs to be firmly pulled straight up.

To get at the two bolts nearest to the center of the trunk lid, did you have to take the entire trunk lid trim piece off? Also, did you have to take the trunk latch off? My spoiler is touching the paint on the right-rear side so it definately needs to come off to add some washers. Problem is, I am still trying to determine how



to remove the spoiler. Many thanks.

[Hebe4]

Remove the 4 liner fasteners and pull off the plastic latch cover. You can now pull back the center part of the liner to get at the 2 spoiler nuts.

[BilJ]

Originally Posted by Hebe4

Remove the 4 liner fasteners and pull off the plastic latch cover. You can now pull back the center part of the liner to get at the 2 spoiler nuts.

OK, THANKS for the help. Tried what you said and got the two nuts off. I didn't know if the latch cover was bolted or screwed on but it popped right off. Now, on with the washers. Thanks again.

[CHEROB10]

Update:

Dropped my car off at the dealership body shop yesterday. I called today to get an update and the shop manager said once they got my spoiler off they found more paint chipping. I did notice before I dropped it off that the clearance between the spoiler and trunk was alot tighter on the right side where the chipping occured rather than the left side. I made sure to tell the body shop manager I wanted a rubber washer installed and to be sure both sides of the spoiler have the same distance between the spoiler and trunk. I hope they get it right....We'll see what she looks like when I pick her up tomorrow afternoon.

[BlackM6RS/SS]

You have Red Stripes right? Mine does too and they were applied at the factory. I hope that goes well.

[CHEROB10]

Just picked my car up. It looks ok...we'll see how it goes in the next few months. Now I have to wash it and put another coat of wax on her this evening when it cools down. Glad to have her back!

Actually my stripes are orange.

[ssummit camaro]

so did they reuse they same rubber washers on the spoiler

[CHEROB10]

Originally Posted by ssummit camaro

so did they reuse they same rubber washers on the spoiler

No...they better not have. I told them I wanted new ones.

[RX SS RACERX]

I'm not a paint guy-but don't you need to wait awhile before you wash and wax 'new' paint?! Just askin'-I don't know. I checked mine and she has a chip under the spoiler on the passenger side. Small,but it's there. Guess I'll make the call tomorrow and see what they say.

[CHEROB10]

Originally Posted by RX SS RACERX

I'm not a paint guy-but don't you need to wait awhile before you wash and wax 'new' paint?! Just askin'-I don't know. I checked mine and she has a chip under the spoiler on the passenger side. Small,but it's there. Guess I'll make the call tomorrow and see what they say.

I'm no paint expert either. My husband neglected to tell me this until I read your post. I did a quick wash but didn't wax it. Most of the new paint is up under the spoiler anyway.

Hope all goes well with yours

[ssummit camaro]

so they only painted the bad area and not the whole trunk lid

[CHEROB10]

Originally Posted by ssummit camaro

so they only painted the bad area and not the whole trunk lid

Correct....they just cut out the area that was chipped and repainted only that area. I figured they would have painted the entire trunk. I asked the shop manager if they were going to repaint the entire trunk lid...he said that they were only required to paint the area that was chipped, not the entire trunk lid.

[daphatgrant]

I've got the same problem on both sides

[KnightRiderSS]

Originally Posted by daphatgrant

I've got the same problem on both sides

so much for it being an "early" production model problem...mine was built in may 2010 and still got the chip in less than 300 miles