Has anyone replaced these vents themselves? I searched the threads here but can't seem to find any instructions on how to remove the old vents. I saw a small article on the web by Truckin' Magazine but it doesn't seem to give the whole story. Thanks in advance for any help, I just don't want to harm my paint by doing something dumb.

if i remember correctly(because its been a long time since i took mine off) i got some fishing line(plastic of course) and slid it behind the plastic(not easy) but that will cut through the 3m tape in the back.... then i belive they pop right off. not much to it really. the after market ones that i put on use a small piece of metal that you screw in to keep it from falling out...plus i put 3m tape also to make sure it wasnt going anywhere...and to protect my paint.


hope that helped

just so you know how it looks behind.....


http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/513/461/26280230021_large.jpg

Damn.... just remembered....

there are 2 small plastic things on the very ends that fit into the holes you see in the fender..... if you plan on re-installing them try not to break them when you are cutting through the 3m tape... just go around them with the fishing line.

ok im done now....unless i remember something else

Great picture. Here is a silly question, are the side vents functional or are they just for looks?

Thanks for all the help MT, I'll give it a try!

I'm thinking just for looks based on the fact that there is a big piece of metal behind them, but maybe it just goes through the little holes in the metal.

They are not functional. I have removed mine several time. I use a plastic putty knife to cut through the 3m tape. Tips above are all good. When the black plastic insert drops into the fender (which I guarantee it will), it really is easy to fish it out with a coat hanger. In fact if I am recalling correctly, to get the fake chrome vent out, you must first dislodge the black insert by relasing the clips and letting it drop into the fender. Doing this gives the surround enough flexibility to be removed. I used the magazine instructions, and I also think some instructions will come with any kit. I had to take mine off to put the E&G mesh inserts into the stock vent.

If you have trouble, PM me your phone number and I will walk you through it. It scared the heck out of me at first, but in the end, was really not hard.

Yeah.... i remember reading that a putty knife was to be used...which is why i put on the blue tape. Not wanting to mess up my paint i remember a friend of mine telling me to use fishing line instead....and to me its a much better way of doing it. one wrong move and that putty knife(even the plastic ones) will mess up ur paint. Plus once you got the fishing line out you might as well hit up all the other badges and crap all the way around. I took off everything that said cadillac escalade ext GM.... I like that clean look.

Now i could be wrong but those vents do help out a lil bit...... they do move out some of that heat from the engine bay. all that air coming in from the front grill will have to come out some how. Im sure its not something that will help out in a super crayz way...but im sure it does something besides let you know its a Caddy and not a Tahoe or Yukon

I also used the plastic putty knife to release the tabs - wedged in between painted part of fender and top of chrome vent surround. It's all coming back to me.......

Fishing line does work great, I just did not have any at the time. I have debadged a lot of emblems and side moldings in my time - fishing line, SEM Solve adhesive remover, and the 3M eraser wheel were once my best friends.

As to vent functionality, sorry, but I am pretty sure they are useless. I remember really investigating that because the E&G inserts essentially block the airflow. I found that the inner fender wall was completely sealed. No air was escaping via the vents. If it enters via vents, it remains inside the fender.