I would think that WIS would have the procedure for removing and installing that trim, but I don't have the program handy. If you work on your car, you should get it. Look here:
https://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=622081

My pillar trim was coming loose because of some broken fasteners, so I attacked some junkyard cars for their fasteners. It's been a while, but maybe the steps are 1. insert white piece into A pillar; 2. use black piece to lock white piece in place; 3. put trim on top.

No guarantees that I'm remembering correctly!

But, my windshield pillar trim has stayed on despite vigorous snow and ice cleaning.


ETA: maybe the white plastic goes into the trim, then the whole thing is installed on the pillar, with the black piece then locking it in? Whatever, the black piece is a lock piece and is removed and then reinstalled, somewhere in the whole process.

 

Windshield Trim Piece ... Thank you, EdT!

EdT -

Thank you for taking the time to reply. The clips came out attached to the Trim piece, so, I hope the key is to do what you suggest & insert the clips first - because I have only tried them while they are attached to Trim piece & it hasn'e worked.

Just to clarify: the 'Black piece' you refer to is the rubber piece on the back side of the plastic Trim? Because I have not taken that piece off either.

I realy do appreciate your time - those pieces are expensive & I'd rather put the money into a new exhaust or something!

I am going to download the WIS you sent now - will keep you posted. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

SK

 

Unfortunately my copy of WIS is not providing illustrations, however the steps for removal go like this (as part of pulling the windshield):


6 Remove the decor strips on the outside of the A pillars by:
6a Pull out the plastic pins
6b Gently prise loose the plastic clips, using a small screwdriver.


I was a little mistaken, there's actually a round plastic pin vertically in the middle of the clip; this pulls out like the pin from a grenade. While WIS does not show this for me, the parts catalogue EPC gives a better picture. Pull this pin out before removing/installing the clips into the A piller.



Access to a pull-it-yourself junkyard with NG900/OG9-3 cars (the windshield trim is the same) lets you practice, and also accumulate lots of these clips for cheap/free. I think I have some leftovers, but it's not worth trying to ship them from Canada.

 

they never give any more detail about how to re-install these - it seems to be no problem. I cannot figure it out.

I had to do mine about a month ago. And I also used junkyard clips, so far, so good.


Anyways, there are three parts to the retaining clip: one is the white clip itself. Second is the black foam you see in the picture you attached. And lastly, on the opposite side of the clip, in the inside of the clip, is a white-color (same color as the clip itself) "pin" (as I'm calling it). The "pin" is small and round in shape. One of the ends has a flatten shape so that I guess you can grab it with needle-nose pliers, that's what I used.

First you pull out the "pin", insert the clip with the foam-end to the body of the car. Then insert the "pin" back in which causes the "legs" of the clip to spread which holds it in place, then reinsert the "pin". The "pin" has no threads or direct to it so you don't have to twist it in any specific direction to get it in the clip. Once all four clips are in place, snap the trim piece on the clips.

The issue I had was that my trim piece broke its retaining slots.




Edit: so I reread what EdT wrote, so that I wrote basically the same thing.

 

Reinstall Windshield Trim Pieces

Squiggy -

I can't thank you (& EdT) enough - seriously, I was feeling so stupid for not being able to do this. The clips popped out with the trim piece, I thought they were connected.

Two of the clips completely broke off the trim piece - they aren't next to each other, so, I'll see if they work (and stay flat withough wind noise); if not, I will go to a salvage yard liek you guys suggested - because new ones are so expensive!

To think this all started because I was initially trying to fix a leak in the boot ... that lead to a thread on here that requires taking off the rear roof panel ... that somehow leads to having to remove the door seal ... which covers the outside of these trim pieces ... is just one of those times I look back and think to myself "how did I let the first thing lead to this ... what was I thinking?!?!" FOUR DAYS LATER!

I couldn't work on it yesterday because the wind got up to 50mph - but I am on it this morning and will update my progress. Truly cannot thank you enough.

 

Two of the clips completely broke off the trim piece - they aren't next to each other, so, I'll see if they work (and stay flat withough wind noise); if not, I will go to a salvage yard liek you guys suggested - because new ones are so expensive!

Hopefully it will be okay. I think that Saab engineers really went to town and overthought this system.

On the Parts & Accessories link, I cannot find these trim pieces? So may of the Part(?) numbers are repetitive?

Also, the part numbers I have for the trim pieces & the clip pieces do not coincide with the numbers on the list? I'm wondering if there is a way to look up what number goes with what pieces?

For example the Trim piece Part numbers listed on all of the parts sites (to order new ones) are 4330031 & 4330049 .... do not see them on the list.

THANK YOU!

I don't have EPC available right now, but....



So in EPC (parts catalogue) it would be under Body/Windshield. Sometimes one number covers an assembly, which would be the case for the two numbers you quote. The plastic connectors themselves will have a number, and I doubt that they are broken down into further bits (though it would not utterly astonish me). An assembly usually has the key number in the diagram circled, while subassembly bits don't.

 

Install Winshield Trim Pieces

EdT -

I forgot to mention that I went through the process of downloading the WIS information you posted.

On the Parts & Accessories link, I cannot find these trim pieces? So may of the Part(?) numbers are repetitive?

Also, the part numbers I have for the trim pieces & the clip pieces do not coincide with the numbers on the list? I'm wondering if there is a way to look up what number goes with what pieces?

For example the Trim piece Part numbers listed on all of the parts sites (to order new ones) are 4330031 & 4330049 .... do not see them on the list.

THANK YOU!

 

Install Winshield Trim Pieces

EdT & Squiggy -

Thank you SO MUCH! It took all of 10 or 15 minutes tops after you explained to remove the pins in the middle of the clips. I'm afraid I embarrass myself when I say that I never would have figured that one out.

Also, I agree, EdT, the engineers really went overboard on this one - I'm mean really?!?!

But you all saved me so much time, energy & no doubt alot of money in many ways.

NOW - I noticed the windshield wiper on the hatch falls loose over to the Left side (drivers side)? When I noticed it, laying limp/falling over, it was easy to put back in place - However, although it feels tight if I gently push it to the right (towards passenger side) like it should, if I push it back to the left it feels "free", no resistance at all.

Hoping it just needs to be tightened? But I think I need to take a break from the little blue Saab for a 'minute' before unscrewing and screwing and twisting and turning ....

I just cannot say thank you enough!

 

The rear wiper nut probably just needs to be tightened. Flip up the cap at the base of the wiper arm, and snug up the nut. It probably takes a 13mm socket.
Saab even put out a technical service bulletin about it coming loose, and recommended Loctite. I use a stainless steel nylon lock nut on mine. No rust, and it won't come loose!

 

Jeremy R -

Thank You!! Just from glancing at it, I was afraid I was going to have to take the interior off the lower hatch off, take the arm off, etc. etc. that's why I didn't even TRY to mess with it after Finally getting the answers to the windshield trim pieces ... I will take a look at it today following your guidance & let you know.

Gosh, you guys are all so awesome on here!

Just be careful, as it's possible to strip the nut and/or wiper motor shaft! Then you will be unhappy.



If the arm has been like this for a while, it can get stripped out. The answer then is to find a better arm in the junkyard. That's what I had to do. And yes, trying to tighten the nut enough to hold a worn-out arm stripped the nut, and did not help the threads on the shaft either.

 

Hatchback Windshield Wiper Arm

Jeremy R -

Thank You!! Just from glancing at it, I was afraid I was going to have to take the interior off the lower hatch off, take the arm off, etc. etc. that's why I didn't even TRY to mess with it after Finally getting the answers to the windshield trim pieces ... I will take a look at it today following your guidance & let you know.

Gosh, you guys are all so awesome on here!