Miata Mailing List: January 1995, Message #64
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   From: "Alex M. Postpischil" 
Subject: Re:  I've bunged myself and I can't get up
   Date: Tue, 3 Jan 1995 16:29:59 -0500

The plastic screws are a means of expanding the plastic "grommet" the screw
actually threads into. The expansion of the grommet holds the cover to the
body of the car. These screws are also used on plastic splash shields in the
wheel wells and on the cover over the windshield washer reservior on ABS cars.
I've had a few of these screws shred. The easiest way to get them out is simply
pry! Be careful not to damage the cover or the body and remember, if the screw
was soft enough to strip it is soft enough to be pried out. I never replaced
the screws with new fasteners, I simply popped the old ones back in (maybe
someday I'll replace them). FWIW, when I was changing my front brake pads
today I found out the body shop did not use those same fasteners on the splash
shields when they repaired my car. As much as I dislike the plastic screws (I
hate what they used even more), I am going to insist they get me the right
fasteners.
-alex-