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Second Time Repair
We replaced the fabric on the trim sections of the dinette some years ago.   The new material didn’t hold up so we replaced it with something that hopefully wears better.   The key is an electric stapler and a spouse who has patience! 

HOWEVER, we have repeatedly tried for several years to remove the engine cover and we have repeatedly failed.   It’s driving me nuts and is so frustrating.   Especially since we’ve tackled much more difficult projects. 

We’ve removed the cup holder and the lower dashboard panel on the driver’s side.  We released the 4 clamps but can’t loosen the front or leading edge of the cover.  It’s not making any sense to us.

Defeated by an engine cover. 😖
Re: Second Time Repair
Reply #1 –
If you have the four clamps off it will come out. You just have to jiggle it and give a hearty pull. You won't damage anything. There's not much room right at the top. Maybe it's hung up there. Good luck.

The second photo has a good view of the gasket. It just pushes against the rig's metal lip and isn't attached in any way.
jor
09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester
Re: Second Time Repair
Reply #2 –
Hi Ed;  In my '99, Lazy Daze put at least 9 screws through the carpeting flaps in front of the engine cover that had to be removed, to get the cover off.  I filled the holes and didn't re-install those screws.
    A couple at a Vista  Caravan Club, (from Alaska) were aghast at me using a small sledge hammer to re-install their engine cover that hadn't been replaced properly after a smog check.  Getting the cover off can take a bit of judicious force to get it off and back on correctly.   RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Second Time Repair
Reply #3 –
Quote from: Ed & Margee  - 
We’ve removed the cup holder and the lower dashboard panel on the driver’s side.  We released the 4 clamps but can’t loosen the front or leading edge of the cover.  It’s not making any sense to us.

You have to release the clamps, but you also may have to tug a bit on the loosened clamps to get the hook to remove from the place where it inserted.   Once you do that, the hook/clamp assembly can be folded out and you will see that it is clearly disconnected.  

After that, it's a matter of wiggling and tugging.   Between the seals and the carpet and the trim above the doghouse, it can take some maneuvering to slide it free.  

My 2003 doesn't have the turning clamps shown below, but you might.
remove e450 doghouse - Google Search

Rich
2003 MB
Re: Second Time Repair
Reply #4 –
Hi Ed & Margee

When I remove the engine shroud on our 2003, I remove the plastic panel below the dash on the passenger side; it just pops off. You can see that JOR has removed them in his photo. I do use the cup holder to pull on the top of the shroud to wiggle it loose and then pull on the bottom. It takes some back and forth pulling to get it loose. Don't let the frustration get the better of you leading to damaging anything. 

Steve K enjoying the polar vortex and sub zero temps...brrrrr
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: Second Time Repair
Reply #5 –
Ed,
Ron is correctomundo on the sheet metal screws. I forgot about them. I had three. They are hard to find. You just have to comb your fingers through the carpet to locate them.However, the three that I found were just securing the carpet to the doghouse so they were not interfering with the removal of the doghouse. You might want to pull the doghouse carpet up away from the floor carpet as shown in one of the photos. Maybe that's the problem.

Here's a photo. The three tools are pointing at the screws.
jor

09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester
Re: Second Time Repair
Reply #6 –
Thanks for the guidance.   I have not aggressively pulled all that hard for fear of damaging it.   So now I’m going to pull and shake much harder.   Maybe next week when the temperature moderates. 

More to follow.