Trick to little black plastic clips and steering wheel airbag?

[heyasam]

Hey hoping someone can give me some suggestions on:

1. Little black plastic clips that hold on the rear bumper and some related parts - whats the best way to get them off without damaging them in the process, so that they can be reused?

2. Steering wheel air bag (on a 04 T5) - I've read the VW pdf, watched videos online, but still cant do it and it's driving me crazy. Whats the trick with inserting and turning? a screwdriver to move the springs that release the airbag? I'm starting to think getting a right angle drill to try and drill through the stupid spring wire! Don't care if I damage the steering wheel as long as I can release that airbag.

And while I'm asking, all the electrical plugs in the engine bay that I've struggled with and eventually got apart, is there a trick to those too that I'm missing?

Thanks heaps, Sam

[Umai Naa!!]

The clips for the rear bumper are a two-piece design. You need a metal trim cliip removal tool to pull the centre part out.

For the airbag, loosen the steering wheel height/rake adjuster, and pull the wheel towards you and lock it off again. The turning the screwdriver method is crap. You need to lever the spring tabs towards the centre of the steering wheel. You'll find that you can release one side, and not the other. That's ok. Push it back in, and try the other side, then go back do the other.

As for electrical plugs, push the connector together as you release the tab.

Above all else, have a lot of patience, or you will break everything.

[heyasam]

Much appreciated

[ian]

I know the feeling ,When i changed over to the Paddle shift Steering wheel, I had the same problem ,
Even using a mirror to see ,helps But its all about Perseverance ,Just when your about to give up the clips release
Good Luck

[heyasam]

For any future readers of this thread i found a new trick - loose patience, get bigger screw drivers, and lever on the stupid plastic piece on the back of the steering wheel until you break it and it pulls away. Then access to the spring clips is easy! Yep i gave up but got what i needed. Van is destined for scrap anyway. Seems like a silly design- this van had evidence already of damage at those access points. Dread the day if I ever need to remove the steering wheel from my nice multivan. Though it seems from videos online there are some differences between steering wheels and hopefully i won't run into this style again. I won in the end.

[Sunny43.5]

Yes the later series are a piece of cake to remove insert scew driver into hole at rear and lever outwards I think or try inwards , be careful it usually jumps right off the hub . hint turn wheel 90 degrees to access the holes