Splitter Fitting!?!

[stevei'D]

Just cleaned the FR+ today, clay, megs three step, glaze and AG Hi-def she looks loverly! The only thing that let it down was the splitter having been scuffed by the previous owner, so got th new one out and went to fit it.

Ive done a search on splitter, replace splitter, splitter fitting, splitter fit, how to and pretty much everything else but no where on here could i find i guide on how to replace new for old. What a pain it was to get off to begin with and fitting the new one, well it appears its too short, matching it up over the old one, a tad difficult to do as its not flat, it would appear its about an inch to short. It was bought from Seat so didn't think there'd be a problem, rang and checked just in case there were two different types, but nope just the one. Unfortunantly on tyring several different methods i've snapped one end off, ARSE!

Anyone actually replaced like for like?
Anyone had a problem with a new splitter from teh dealer?

Other than this small problem she looks beautiful now, although my neighbours think i'm a little strange spending 3days cleaning the car.
Cheers for any help/replies
Steve

 

[turbin]

I managed to tear one side off on my car. Didnt breake it so I just pushed it right back in. It clips on. Just need to apply pressure to it and have someone take a hammer and tap it. Place a piece of wood infront of it so you dont tap on the splitter itself.

Like surgery

 

[johntheboy]

Replaced mine twice. The first time is always difficult but the seccond time took me 10 mins and that was just being careful using a jack to pop the two teeth up into the bumped. First one I got at the very end of it was an inch or so too short (looked like a defect moulding-hadnt been checked by some monkey) but wasnt a problem fitting.

There's no guide with photos on fitting but the way I did it was this....

Removing the old splitter

1. Pull both sides of the splitter which wrap around the bottom ofthe wings outward and follow this round towards the middle on both sides.

2. Where the splitter goes into where the two 'teeth' are you will need to pull outwards again where the splitter bends inward to the car to release there (if that makes sence). This leves just the two large 'teeth' going into the bumper.

3. Use mole grips (was my prefered choice of tool) clamp around either one of the teether and wraggle the splitter around until it comes free (do'nt be too affraid it will take alot to damagae the bumped by doing this but just use common sence as I take no responsibility or libability for damage to person, vehicle or prperty when you loose patience and throw the closest tool through your windscreen due to frustration). Repeat this method to the other large 'tooth'

Your old spriller should now me removed.

Fitting your new splitter

For this you will need a jack, preferably with a flat bottom for ease.

1.Place either one of the large 'teeth' into place on the bottom of the bumper and very slowly ease it into it's hole using the jack. Inch this very carefully, if you feel you want to pull it away and try again dont worry I did this a few times. When it goes in properly you will know as it will 'POP' into place. Repeat this with the seccond tooth.

2.In reverse from the removal of the old splitter push the splitter back into place starting at the front first and moving round to the sides. It may be a tad fidley and look a bit short.

3. When coming round to the sides the splitter may look short as all of the clips may not be in position securely so you may have to pull the splitter into place around the sides rather than push.

4. (If it is still not correctly in place) Using a cloth so as not to damage the splitter or bumper use a toffee hammer to help push all of the clips securely. Do this along with pulling the splitter round.

5. Job complete-open can of alcoholic beverage.

Like I say it's more difficult this first time around.

 

[daboy3000]

I've got one on order, sound like its going to be fun. I've got to take off the bumper to change my lights, would it be easier to change the splitter while the bumper is off?

 

[johntheboy]

I would have through it would be harder. You culd do with it attached so you have some weight to push and pull against. Really looks and sounds a harder job than it really is.

 

[Teasy]

Pabs guide on here helped me when I did mine

 

[stevei'D]

Replaced mine twice. The first time is always difficult but the seccond time took me 10 mins and that was just being careful using a jack to pop the two teeth up into the bumped. First one I got at the very end of it was an inch or so too short (looked like a defect moulding-hadnt been checked by some monkey) but wasnt a problem fitting.

There's no guide with photos on fitting but the way I did it was this....

Removing the old splitter

1. Pull both sides of the splitter which wrap around the bottom ofthe wings outward and follow this round towards the middle on both sides.

2. Where the splitter goes into where the two 'teeth' are you will need to pull outwards again where the splitter bends inward to the car to release there (if that makes sence). This leves just the two large 'teeth' going into the bumper.

3. Use mole grips (was my prefered choice of tool) clamp around either one of the teether and wraggle the splitter around until it comes free (do'nt be too affraid it will take alot to damagae the bumped by doing this but just use common sence as I take no responsibility or libability for damage to person, vehicle or prperty when you loose patience and throw the closest tool through your windscreen due to frustration). Repeat this method to the other large 'tooth'

Your old spriller should now me removed.

Fitting your new splitter

For this you will need a jack, preferably with a flat bottom for ease.

1.Place either one of the large 'teeth' into place on the bottom of the bumper and very slowly ease it into it's hole using the jack. Inch this very carefully, if you feel you want to pull it away and try again dont worry I did this a few times. When it goes in properly you will know as it will 'POP' into place. Repeat this with the seccond tooth.

2.In reverse from the removal of the old splitter push the splitter back into place starting at the front first and moving round to the sides. It may be a tad fidley and look a bit short.

3. When coming round to the sides the splitter may look short as all of the clips may not be in position securely so you may have to pull the splitter into place around the sides rather than push.

4. (If it is still not correctly in place) Using a cloth so as not to damage the splitter or bumper use a toffee hammer to help push all of the clips securely. Do this along with pulling the splitter round.

5. Job complete-open can of alcoholic beverage.

Like I say it's more difficult this first time around.

Removed the old splitter exactly as above, pulled the sides out first worked my ay round to the front and removed the "teeth". These were quite stubbon and had to be cut off then removed. Now for the re-fitting, tried it as above, middle first working round to the edges, all slotted in until we got to each side where the splitter was about 12mm short on each side. With a bit of pushing got in down to about 10mm but it would not wrap around the bumper.

So tried one side in first, all perfect until the other side where its now about 20mm to short, however the centre "teeth" were all lined up??????

We persisted and eventually trimmed the splitter's push in clips (bit hard to explain but it would mean the splitter would push/pull further round the bumper). Eventually got in down to 2mm (the length of the small lug at the end that wraps around the bottom of the bumper) but on tryng that little bit to hard.....snap. O well new one on order and well see what this one fits like.

Cheers for this guide above its nice to know someone else has doen it and in the way we were doing it, restores my confidence in my abilities. Looking again on the splitter the only difference is that the new one does not have SEAT marked in the plastic but does have the small green sticker as per the old?

Cheers for all the replies people

 

[johntheboy]

Removed the old splitter exactly as above, pulled the sides out first worked my ay round to the front and removed the "teeth". These were quite stubbon and had to be cut off then removed. Now for the re-fitting, tried it as above, middle first working round to the edges, all slotted in until we got to each side where the splitter was about 12mm short on each side. With a bit of pushing got in down to about 10mm but it would not wrap around the bumper.

So tried one side in first, all perfect until the other side where its now about 20mm to short, however the centre "teeth" were all lined up??????

We persisted and eventually trimmed the splitter's push in clips (bit hard to explain but it would mean the splitter would push/pull further round the bumper). Eventually got in down to 2mm (the length of the small lug at the end that wraps around the bottom of the bumper) but on tryng that little bit to hard.....snap. O well new one on order and well see what this one fits like.

Cheers for this guide above its nice to know someone else has doen it and in the way we were doing it, restores my confidence in my abilities. Looking again on the splitter the only difference is that the new one does not have SEAT marked in the plastic but does have the small green sticker as per the old?

Cheers for all the replies people

Like I say my first one was too short on one side on the end tip by about that much, it was just a dodgy moulding which had'nt been picked up when it was made, should have been classed as a defect really. It does just take a bit of pushing and pulling to get the clips to go in properly so it will fit all the way around. Try and give it a tug to see if it pops back out easily, if it does it wasnt in properly.

 

[kevinmac87]

my middle clips on my lcr have cum out, tried pushing the mback in by hand but do u think pushing them up with a jack will do the job?

 

[johntheboy]

They've come out but the rest hasnt you mean? How did you manage that - it's pretty good going! haha. Yeh just go gentle with the jack they should just brise in. Could use mole grips on them to prize them together whilte they start to push in aswel.

 

[kevinmac87]

Live in the western isles on the west coast of scotland but bought the car on the mainland. was coming home on the ferry and the tide was low and the ramp was high enough said? the joys of living on a rock. I will give it a go, will i need a trolly jack or will the one from the spare wheel do the job?

 

[stevei'D]

wont need a jack, just rolled mine to the edge of the drive (its on a slope) and used the ground clearance, given the amount of pulling and pushing I did you'd pull the car of the little OE jack.

 

[stevei'D]

Splitter fitting-Resolved

Turns out the first one i ordered was a bad moulding, as suggested, ordered new one and fitted in 30seconds.
Sorted! Cheers for help and suggestions.

 

[johntheboy]

Yeh it'l just be people not checking the mould properly in the factory when they're taken out of the tooling.