Auto body repair & detailing: Ford Explorer Sporttrac tailgate

Question
I have a 2010 Sportrac Limited  and recently the moulding on the tailgate has become loose , can you advise me how to repair it , do I need to remove the inside cover of the tailgate to get to the moilding fasteners .

Answer
Hi Ron!....I did some checking, and from the pictures that I found, it looks like the tailgate moulding is indeed installed using retainer/clips, (as opposed to a 3M two sided tape), but it also appears that these are moulded directly onto the trim, instead of being separate individual clips that can be replaced. It also shows a separate retainer/clip at each end of the moulding. In any case, if you would like to remove this piece and re-install it securely, having access to the backside would be the best way to go. That way, you can release the clips without damaging them. That being said, you might need to remove the tailgate cover to do this successfully. If you do not have access at that point, the only way will be to simply pry the moulding off carefully, using a plastic trim remover, or simply wrap a large flat blade scraper in masking tape as to not damage the painted surface. Once removed, you can see if the retainers are damaged enough to not be re-installed tightly. In some cases, you can re-bend the tabs on the retainers so they will hold once re-installed. If this is not the case, you can simply use a 2 sided tape as I had mentioned earlier, or may wish to purchase a new moulding. The part number for the original moulding is :  7A2Z-7840602-BA ...The price is on average $ 56.00....Hope this helps you out....If you have any other questions, please drop me another line....Thanks...Dave