Plastic cowl grille things under windshield

[suobs]

You know those plastic grille-looking cowls under the windshield wiper arms on Nissan pickups and Pathfinder? They look like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371010035013?it ... 20&vxp=mtr

You have to get the cowls off to get the metal body part off between the hood and the windshield, for example to get at the wiper linkage.

Does anyone know if the little plastic push-snap fasteners that hold the cowls on are supposed to be removable? In my experience trying to get them off (or even on!) without damaging them is usually impossible. Then they're impossible to replace. So I now have 3 sets of cowls from having to get into the wiper linkage and damaging the snap fasteners. The latest set has new snaps but I'd prefer not to go through this again.

Is there a trick to getting them on and off? If not, can the snaps be bought without the cowls? Or is there some other kind of fastener that would hold the cowls on?

[Rev_D21]

Usually just pushing the button in the center of the pin releases them. You can buy a box of 25 from ebay for pretty cheap. They are an Auveco part.

[suobs]

Thanks for the clue, but do you know what they're called? It's a long list under Auveco.

[Rev_D21]

I can get the part number tomorrow. I have an Auveco catalog at work.

[whomadewho]

Take a ball point pen or a nail and push in the center of the snap, this will release the pin. You can also reuse the snap again.

[Rogue One]

Probably available at local hardware stores. Screws and fasteners section, often there's a subsection labeled as car fasteners.

[Rev_D21]

They are too specialized to be found at a local parts store, especially since there is a min 25 buy amount. Auveco # 16725 is what you are looking for. Might as well have the extras on hand...you will use them.

[suobs]

# 16725 - got it and thanks very much.

Why can't they just call them "Plastic cowl grille things under windshield connectors"?

[Rev_D21]

Or PCGTUWC for short?