# Tool to remove rivet for the plastic engine cover **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** corolla, toyota\ **Created:** [April 26, 2020, 10:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tool-to-remove-rivet-for-the-plastic-engine-cover/163416 "2020-04-26T10:06:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zillah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9fc348/32.png) [@zillah](https://community.cartalk.com/u/zillah)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 10:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tool-to-remove-rivet-for-the-plastic-engine-cover/163416/1 "2020-04-26T10:06:39Z")
Dear folks Which tool can be used To remove those rivet or snap-in retainers for the plastic cover for Toyota Corolla 2011 ? [[Album] Imgur ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/5/f/5f3b500601773b43550d0d0592fd0eaf131d3578.jpeg "Imgur") ](https://imgur.com/a/416lM4R) This was not helpful ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/0/a078447c9d5ebe392dd665d7f61925a830ca9017.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tool-to-remove-rivet-for-the-plastic-engine-cover/163416/2 "2020-04-26T12:29:01Z")
I just use a small screwdriver. Pry up un the center pin until you can get under it and pull up until it “clicks” at full extension. Then pry below bigger outer ring to remove the pin. Tool shown should work reasonably well. What trouble did you have? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 1:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tool-to-remove-rivet-for-the-plastic-engine-cover/163416/3 "2020-04-26T13:02:21Z")
It looks like the gray circular part on the embossed plastic label came off with the pry bar. Is the push rivet in an oval recess? I think you need to get under the dome and pry it up enough to get the pry bar with the orange handle under it. A small flat blade screwdriver like @TwinTurbo suggested is a good start. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tool-to-remove-rivet-for-the-plastic-engine-cover/163416/4 "2020-04-26T13:51:08Z")
Push the center pin in then remove the river with your fingers. To install first push the center pin up 1/8" above the base of the rivet, install on the cover then push the center pin flush with the rivet. ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tool-to-remove-rivet-for-the-plastic-engine-cover/163416/6 "2020-04-26T16:54:43Z")
I would listen to @Nevada_545 before thinking about using any fancy tools to pop that out. Some of those “rivets” are the barbed type…which you simply pry out… Others have a center that you push in and thus uncouple the bottom…and then you pry it out Others that center section needs a pick to pull it up…so that it unflares the bottom fingers…and then you pry it out. My go to tool? A pick…and a pair of wire dikes… Never seen a fastener I couldn’t remove with these two items. It may help you to look at what type of fastener have center push…or center pull pins…to understand the way they operate…BEFORE you attempt to remove them. It should be obvious in person, but… I cannot gauge another’s perceptions from my desk. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tool-to-remove-rivet-for-the-plastic-engine-cover/163416/7 "2020-04-26T17:06:17Z")
Here is a video showing how to unlock the fastener; ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tool-to-remove-rivet-for-the-plastic-engine-cover/163416/8 "2020-04-26T17:15:29Z")
Ah yes… @Nevada_545 nailed that one. I do like me those push centers. They are kind of the “Lexus” of plastic rivets. The Yugo would be the barbed style…push in, pry out The Caddilac would be where the center pin pulls up and out instead of inward… Or something like that. I dont spend an iota of time trying to remember plastic rivets or fasteners but over the years I suppose that learnin just sort of creeped in… Only takes a few moments to figure out…and I guess it helps to have seen them before as they are designed NOT to be intuitive. ---
**Author:** ![zillah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9fc348/32.png) [@zillah](https://community.cartalk.com/u/zillah)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 10:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tool-to-remove-rivet-for-the-plastic-engine-cover/163416/9 "2020-05-04T10:20:16Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > Here is a video showing how to unlock the fastener; Sorry for the late reply the car was away to check it Nice video Unfortunately the procedure in this video in not applicable to this car ---
**Author:** ![zillah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9fc348/32.png) [@zillah](https://community.cartalk.com/u/zillah)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 10:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tool-to-remove-rivet-for-the-plastic-engine-cover/163416/10 "2020-05-04T10:21:10Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > I just use a small screwdriver. Pry up un the center pin Yes I did like that as well