# Odyssey roof rack cross bars **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 25, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820 "2008-06-25T02:15:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rbeischen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@rbeischen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rbeischen)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/1 "2008-06-25T02:15:08Z")
I have a 2007 Honda Odyssey van. I purchased some cross bars for the roof rack but I am having some issues installing them. The instructions tell me to use a small flat head srew-driver to push in the retaining tab on the cover of the roof rack end but I can’t get the cover off. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/2 "2008-06-25T04:09:55Z")
With the price of gasoline, remove the rack and seal the holes. Travel lighter. ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy\_R\_Hoyt](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jeremy_r_hoyt/32/37_2.png) [@Jeremy\_R\_Hoyt](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeremy_R_Hoyt)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/3 "2008-06-25T13:23:51Z")
I would like to help you, but I would need to see a picture. You can attach one to a reply or you can upload pics to a free service like [photobucket.com](http://photobucket.com) and give us the link. ---
**Author:** ![Ron-man](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ron-man/32/739_2.png) [@Ron-man](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ron-man)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/4 "2008-06-25T13:24:49Z")
That was helpful. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/5 "2008-06-25T14:08:58Z")
Since the vehicle is this new, I’ll bet the guys in the service department at the dealership from whom you purchased it would be glad to show you. It should only take a couple of seconds. Bring a dozen donuts, and they’ll probably jump at the chance. ---
**Author:** ![rbeischen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@rbeischen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rbeischen)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 2:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/6 "2008-06-25T14:14:53Z")
Here is a diagram of the rack stay covers.My issue is removing them. ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy\_R\_Hoyt](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jeremy_r_hoyt/32/37_2.png) [@Jeremy\_R\_Hoyt](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeremy_R_Hoyt)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/7 "2008-06-25T19:27:04Z")
looking at the curved lines, once you press the tab, try sliding the covers away from the rack (forward in the front, towards the rear in back). Don’t try to lift up on them until after you slide them. Then after sliding them they should come off easily. ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy\_R\_Hoyt](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jeremy_r_hoyt/32/37_2.png) [@Jeremy\_R\_Hoyt](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeremy_R_Hoyt)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/8 "2008-06-25T21:19:42Z")
Any luck yet? ---
**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/9 "2008-06-26T02:20:07Z")
wrong, weight savings would add up to zero and the sealed holes will leak ---
**Author:** ![rbeischen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@rbeischen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rbeischen)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/10 "2008-06-26T02:48:03Z")
I tried and tried but I couldn’t get them to move. I called the local Honda dealer and they did it for free. Apparently there is some technique to removing them. I was afraid that I was going to break them. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/11 "2008-06-26T02:59:25Z")
Told ya! ;0} Will you be able to do it yourself, should the occasion arise again? ---
**Author:** ![stutzja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@stutzja](https://community.cartalk.com/u/stutzja)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/12 "2008-06-30T01:17:00Z")
There is a small hole on the INSIDE of the rack stay covers (i.e., toward the center of the roof - you can see it easily from the other side of the vehicle). You need to stick something in there to release a spring catch on the stay (philips head screwdriver worked for me). Once you release that, they slide right off (as stated above, forward in the front, towards the rear in the back) ---
**Author:** ![Lewisjam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lewisjam](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Lewisjam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/13 "2008-07-09T00:19:55Z")
I’ve just installed my cross bars, and here’s the trick to removing the roof rack end cover: 1. As suggested, depress the spring with a philips head screwdriver or something else then and cylindrical to release the spring catch. 2. While depressing the spring, use a thin flathead screwdriver to wedge the end cover off. As you insert the screwdriver head, gently turn it to push cover away from the other end of the roof rack. 3. Once the cover is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch away froom other end of rack, you’ll be able to use our hand to simply slide the cover off. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticlife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@chaoticlife](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chaoticlife)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odyssey-roof-rack-cross-bars/15820/14 "2009-12-26T16:53:20Z")
I was concerned I was going to break something if I forced the covers off, so I hit google and ended up here. Thank you, Lewisjam, for the detailed instructions. I now have my crossbars on and can pack for our trip.