A week or so ago I removed the passenger side rear wheel wheelhouse liner to take a look and educate myself as to what components were tucked away inside the quarter panel. I posted photos of the goodies I found, and put everything back together. Thus emboldened with the success of that task, today I removed the passenger side front wheel wheelhouse liner for exactly the same reason, substituting ‘fender’ for ‘quarter panel’. Here’s what I found. By the way, I know that these photos will not be news to any long-time owners or professional technicians, but for anyone like myself, entering only my fourth month of C7 ownership, they may prove to be of interest.

Everything went back together easily, and I had no leftover fasteners. I'd like to say that I didn't break anything, but that's not exactly correct. The wheelhouse liner had 3 or 4 heat welds at both the front and rear lower edges holding it against other body panels. Those welds were sacrificed for my curiosity.

Here's the dry sump oil reservoir, plus a couple of items I don't know what they are. If anyone could tell me what the electrical box is, and the silver canister behind the oil reservoir, I'd appreciate it!

Since it looked as if I had access to the nuts that hold the fender vent in place, I thought I'd remove the vent 'just for the experience of doing so'.

I was able to remove the two nuts that I saw (not easy to get to, but I did it), but even with those two off, the vent didn't want to move. My inspection mirror revealed a third, lower-most nut that still needed to come off. Not gonna happen, at least not by me today. For any of you that have had all three nuts off, confess! When you put it back together, did you put all three on? Really?

This lower black panel has been cleaned up with mineral spirits, but before that, it bore evidence of oil changes made by individuals that didn't care if they sloshed some oil down there. And the oil collected a bunch of road sand and gravel bits. Even though no one will likely ever see this area again, I'm glad I have it cleaned out.

Nothing special here - just a shot of the overall area with the wheelhouse liner off. These components are easily visible from under the car while the liner is in place.

A couple of dates.

Yada, yada, yada.

While I was at it (dangerous words) I removed these two front lower closeout or valence panels and scrubbed them clean top and bottom, and then slathered on Armor All. With them reinstalled, the lower front area of the engine compartment looks much cleaner - they had been coated with seven years/13,000 miles worth of dust and dirt.

 

I would go easy on the Armorall.. I do not know if they changed formula in last few years, but the petroleum distillates it contained actually deteriorated rubber and plastic. There are better alternatives. Check out car care section some time... nice job

 

Thanks for sharing. That looks to be quite a task.

 

Thank you! Didn't know that bit of info!

 

Electrical box is the ECU. Silver canister is part of the oil tank. (only way to make it fit)

 

Thx, Ernie!

 

Sometimes, there are things better left undone!

 

Those dates above the suspension are most likely your production day. I know on the C6 they put the production day inside the left front fender well so maybe this is where they do the same for the C7 but use the other side.

 

Nice pics and thanks for posting them. I’ve never had my wheel liners off, so this is interesting to me.

 

With the way these plastic aggravating puzzles go together or come apart.I have zero confidence taking these apart.Every pull or pry is a waiting for a Snap to Break pissed off moment.Pulling that rear diffuser away from the bumper was a ARE YOU SHITTY ME? Moment.
Temperature is so important with this plastic crap snapping apart.
Gotta give ya credit diving in like you did

 

I have a few projects as well , but agree until it's really warm in the garage a I don't mess with brittle plastic tabs...