Articles » Install an aftermarket grill

Yeah I know my car is filthy in this how-to. You'll just have to forgive me. It's been raining here every afternoon and I don't want to waste my time washing my car if it's just gonna be dirty the next day.

First, pop the hood. Locate and remove the grill clips. They are made of black plastic and have little notches in them - handy for wedging a small flathead screwdriver in them and gently popping them out. Don't try to pull them out with your fingernails. That will piss you off. There are 5 clips on the grill. (pic below)

Next, locate and remove the remaining two bumper clips. They are on either side of the grill, close to the headlights. Remove them the same way you removed the grill clips. All the clips are the same size so don't worry about keeping track of what goes where. (pic below)

You will also need to remove the clip housings. The clips are actually two pieces. First remove the clip itself, then the housing afterwards. Here's what the clip + housing looks like, just fyi. Tmi. (pic below)

Now that all the clips have been removed, it's time to loosen and remove a couple screws. The are located in each wheel well, on the upper side. A short-handled phillips screwdriver will make this task easier. The washers on these screws might be pinned down by the plastic fender lining so you might need to gently bend the lining away. (pic below)

Now you should be able to remove the bumper. Grip it securly and gently pull it away from the chassis. If you've removed it correctly, it should look like this.....DUH. (pic below)

Place the bumper on a soft surface so that you don't scratch the paint. I placed mine on a couple towels. Leave plenty of room to work. Check out my ricey colored emblems. (pic below)

You're almost done. Only 4 screws and two clips to go. Are you still reading this? You need help! Remove the four screws and two clips attaching the grill to the bumper. In the picture below are the locations of said clips and screws. Obviously a phillips screwdriver will do the trick here, but you will need a special tool to remove those damn clips! >:O (pic below)

You will need a clip removal tool to get those last two clips off; they are on there TIGHT. I got mine at Pep Boys for $7. While I was there I also picked up some Type R seat belt pads, a set of windshield squirter L.E.D's, and some rockin' JDM altezzas. Word. Here's what a clip removal tool looks like. (pic below)

To remove the clips, simply insert the pincers of the clip removal tool into the u-bend of the clip and wiggle/pull the clip off. They might fly out and hit you in the eye, so wear those eye goggles you wear while you're trimming the lawn. (pic below)

Now just pull the OEM grill away and you're all set. Here's what those stubborn clips look like, just in case you can't figure out what the hell I'm talking about. I need a tan. (pic below)

Reverse the process while installing your new grill and you're good to go. Depending on the quality of your new grill, re-installation will vary. I hope you can figure it out on your own. If your new grill utilizes the two clips, make sure they still retain a tight fit. If they don't then get a new pair.

Before and After: Long gone is the tacky chrome and ricey white Honda Emblem. In it's place: A clean and sporty looking front grill. Rejoice.

BEFORE

AFTER: