Okay, the UPS guy just dropped off the nerf bars and the taillight guards from
www.dealsofsteel.com.
First impressions: both boxes are HEAVY! ?So heavy that the nerf bars' box is broken open on both ends. ?One end of each bar has some pretty tough paper on it, but that's NOT the end that touches (or has been dragged on) the ground. ?I can't tell without taking them out of the plastic if there are any major scratches.
Next: Taillight guards appear to be fine, except no instructions! ?Hmm, looks like only two screws, And I'm pretty handy with building PC's, so I *think* I can handle this. ?I open the taligate, remove the two screws holding the taillight on, and try to fit the guard over the light...no go. ?One of the metal standoffs on the guard is welded and/or bent too far inward, so I muscle it out a little. ?Both of the standoffs were farily far off, you would think someone would have noticed that before they coated and shipped 'em. ?Still not fitting. ?I noticed a little "clip" that fits underneath the other side of the guard. ?Nothing I do seems to get that clip over the far edge of the light. ?And then I notice: the size of the guard on just the rear-facing end is simply too small, the width of the taillight is too big, even if I got the clip to fit on the other side. ?These don't appear to be made for the Av, or have been warped WAY too much to ever fit one.
Now I'm nervous, the nerf bars are still in the garage. ?I look through the box and find...mounting instructions! ?Yea! ?
Uh-oh, they say they are for a 2002. ?Anybody know of the mounting holes for the 2002 & 2003 Av's are in exactly the same places? ?I'm hoping I don't have to send this stuff back!
There is no copy of my order in either box, so I can't figure out if they shipped what they thought was the correct parts. ?The website indicates on both the nerfs and guards that they fit both the '02 & '03 models. ?Anybody else have any problems with any other brands not fitting between the two model years?
I'll be contacting the company to see what can be done, and again, I'll keep you guys informed.
Ron