SECTION 3.


STEP 3. Remove the fenders. (You do NOT need to detach the plastic cladding) Each fender is secured with eight 10mm bolts and two plastic fasteners through the plastic cladding above and below at the front of the door sill. (photos 28 & 29)
(photo 28)


(photo 29)


The plastic fasteners work the same way as those used for the inner liner except that they are round and flush fitting with cross slots for a Philips screwdriver.
(photo 30)


1) First, open the doors wide and remove the plastic fasteners that secure the fender cladding as in photos above.
2) While the doors are open, remove the 10mm bolts that secure the fender at the bottom, (photo 31) middle (photo 32) and top (photo 33) of the front door pillar.
(photo 31)


(photo 32)


(photo 33)


3) Remove and disconnect the orange side marker lights. The US triangular marker light lifts out after removing the single screw. The JDM round marker light has no screw; it hooks in at its leading edge and snaps into place at its rear edge. To remove, simply lift it away from the fender at its rear edge.

4) Remove the bottom front 10mm bolt.
(photo 34)


5) Lastly, while carefully supporting the fender, remove the top four 10mm bolts. (photos 35 & 36)
(Photo 35)


(Photo 36)


Use one hand to support the fender at the wheel arch while using the other hand to support its attached cladding at the base of the door pillar and then gently ease the fender and the cladding out and forwards. Again, place on a soft surface where you can’t trip over it!

STEP 4. Inspect, clean and seal all grommets and seams as described in “THE PROBLEM” above. You will see the water and dirt tracks where water has been running. The driver’s side grommet where the hood release cable passes through should be obvious. Because not all VXs have had wet carpet issues, it is possible that they were fitted with a different type of grommet and perhaps even all the seams were fully caulked.
1) Use a stiff brush to clean all areas especially all seams and grommets and then vacuum thoroughly. The middle quarter of the vertical seam is awkward to access (See photo 04) but don’t skimp on the cleaning. At this point you might as well use the brush to clean all other areas that are now exposed, including the inner liners.
2) Now apply the wicking silicone to all seams and grommets. In my VX there were a couple of sizeable gaps in the seams that required a double dose of the wicking silicone (photo 37);
(Photo 37)


this is the time to be thorough! (photos 37 through 45 – all seams and grommets after sealing)
(photo 38)


(photo 39)


(photo 40)


(photo 41)


(photo 42)


(photo 43)


(photo 44)


(photo 45)


End of SECTION 3. Continued in SECTION 4.