How To Remove Trunk Liner Clips? (Explained)

The only way for you to remove a trunk liner is by unfastening the clips. The trunk liner clips are the ones that hold the liner to the trunk. From the underside of the trunk, these clips resemble a round button.

If you have never removed trunk liner clips, working your way around them can be challenging and time-consuming. That, however, doesn’t have to be the case since it’s a relatively simple procedure.

The best method of removing trunk liner clips entails using a small flat-blade screwdriver. With this tool in your hand, stick it on the sides of the clips and pull it up.

In case you face some resistance, you can twist the screwdriver slightly. This should help pull the pin-up. Once that happens, you can pull the clips off using your hands. It’s that easy.

Another tip for removing trunk liner clips is to use two flat screwdrivers. If you use one to pry on a particular side, the clip can break. However, if you pry different sides using two flat screwdrivers, the clip should come off easily in one piece.

Are Trunk Liner Clips Disposable?

When using the method described above, you shouldn’t run into any challenges with trunk liner clips. However, if you use other methods, there is a chance that the clips may get damaged in the process.

Please understand that trunk liner clips aren’t disposable. You can reuse them as many times as possible. A trunk liner clip costs about $1 to $2, depending on where you buy it from. Most trunk liners are held by more than ten clips.

This means that if you break them, you will have to spend $20. This may not seem like a lot of money, but every time you change your truck liner, spending $20 can accumulate a lot of money in the long run.

As you compare various methods of removing trunk liner clips, ensure that you find one that won’t damage them. The screwdriver trick should ensure that you can reuse the truck liner clips as many times as possible.

Will a Pliers Break Trunk Liner Clips?

Pliers can also help you remove trunk liner clips, but we wouldn’t recommend using this handheld tool. Pliers tend to hold firmly onto clips, and if they are fragile, they may break as you pull them out.

If you are gentle enough, pliers won’t break the clips. But there is a good chance that it will. Instead of using pliers, opt for a screwdriver instead. It is easier to use and more gentle. Only use pliers if you are willing to spend a buck on replacing each broken trunk liner clip.

Are Trunk Liner Clips Interchangeable?

Even though they are easy to remove, accidents happen, and you may have to replace them. Fortunately, trunk liner clips are interchangeable.

If you break some during removal and have clips from another car lying around in your garage, you can also use them. These fasteners feature the same design and mechanism.

It’s only the top part that looks different. But they all have the same purpose. So, in case you lose a clip or break it, you can replace it with that of another vehicle.

Where Can I Buy Trunk Line Clips?

Also known as trunk line fasteners, you can get them from a wide range of places if you don’t have them in your garage. The first place where you can buy a trunk line fastener is at a dealership.

They should have fasteners made for your vehicle. An auto store near you should also have trunk line clips. You can also order them online and have them delivered to your home.

If you have an old car that doesn’t run anymore, open the trunk and check if there are clips on the trunk liner. Remove them gently using a screwdriver and install them in your car.

Irrespective of where you buy trunk liner fasteners, they are often affordable. One clip can go for either a dollar or two.

What Tool Should I Use to Remove Trunk Liner Clips?

The ideal tool to use for this task is a flat-blade screwdriver. Unlike pliers or other tools, a flat-blade screwdriver ensures the safe removal of the clips.

You should stick it on one side of the clip and pry it gently. Twisting the screwdriver can also help with that. Using two screwdrivers makes removal easier and lowers the risk of clip damage.

If you are dealing with + shaped clips, you should opt for a smaller screwdriver. This will be more capable of digging deeper into the clip.

Removing trunk liner clips needs a lot of patience because you have to be gentle and methodical. Car owners who aren’t patient may find themselves damaging most of these clips.

Should you fall in the latter category, buy a new set of clips. You will feel less frustrated when you are done. If you don’t have a flat-blade screwdriver, a small pocket knife can come in quite handy.

Some people have successfully removed trunk liner clips using even spoons. Feel free to be creative. Any tool can work, provided it can pry and wiggle the clips out.

How Do Professional Mechanics and Dealers Remove Trunk Liner Clips?

They use the methods we have described above. If you visit your dealer for trunk liner removal, they will use flat-blade screwdrivers or pliers.

Because of years of experience, these guys don’t struggle with removing trunk liner clips. And they do know that these parts aren’t disposable. They will therefore remove them carefully without breaking or damaging them.

Installing Trunk Liner Clips

We have discussed how one can remove trunk liner clips in detail, but do you know how to put them back? Removing trunk liner fasteners is more challenging than installing them.

The latter is easier, and you don’t need any special tools. If you want to install truck liner clips, position the trunk liner in place, grab a fastener, put it inside the hole, push it in with your thumb, and you can rotate it till it clips firmly.

Most car owners prefer to replace these clips because they don’t stick as firmly as they do when reused. Considering that they aren’t expensive, replacing them shouldn’t take a toll on your finances.

Can the Guys at the Dealership Remove Trunk Liner Clips for Me?

Sure they can as long as you ask them to. However, they may charge you some money, yet this is an activity that you can easily do by yourself. It doesn’t need skill, special tools, or even experience.

Provided you follow our recommendations and tips, you should remove the trunk liner clips by yourself. DIY trunk liner clip removal will take a fraction of the time that you would spend driving to the dealer.

And, even if you do break them, the cost of replacement is almost the same as that you would have spent paying a mechanic.

Can I Use a Hammer to Pry Out the Clips?

Treating trunk liner clips like nails can also help you remove them faster and easier. In case you are struggling with a flat-blade screwdriver, you can use a hammer instead, the part that removes the nails.

Position the hammer strategically on the trunk liner clip and yank it out. This method won’t break the clips as long as you do it gently.

When using a tool such as a hammer in your car, be very careful because if it slips, it can scratch the trunk or, even worse, break a light. So, handle it with caution.

What If I Use the Lining as Leverage and Use It to Remove the Clips?

Trunk liner clips, though small, can be annoying sometimes. You can even be tempted to pull the entire lining out and hope that the clips will be removed in the process.

Though doable, this method has plenty of drawbacks. Using the lining as leverage only works on new trunk linings and those that have weak clips.

If your trunk liner is old and worn out, you can tear it into pieces when you pull it out without removing the clips.

Using this method, some clips can also break. Out of the many techniques you can use, please avoid this one.

Why Should I Remove Trunk Liner Clips?

The main reason why most people remove trunk liner clips is to access the interior of the trunk. You could be installing a rear spoiler and may want to access the wiring beneath.

Alternatively, you may want to clean the headliner. The trunk is exposed to a lot of dirt and dust. After a while, you should clean it, and the best way to do that is by removing it.

Also, if the trunk liner is worn out or old, you should replace it, and that will entail removal. Irrespective of why you may want to remove the trunk liner clips, the article above should guide you on how to do so without damaging the clips.