Two nights ago I was driving along at about 35 and a cat darted out in front of my car. I braked but not quite to a stop and after a thump-thump a couple seconds and another 50 ft or so the cat darted out from behind my car. So the flexible stock lip on my car did its job, it saved the life of a cat (not that I like cats). But there was some damage, all four attachments between the grill and the lip were broken, on the grill side, and the left most 'fin' (for lack of a better word) broke.



I figured I had a few days to figure out how to fix it since the lip was still well secured by the sides. But on the way to work this morning on the freeway, what appeared to be a hard plastic square (approx 6") struck the passenger side of the bumper near the bottom. So now my lip is barely hanging on.



So I figure I need to fix this at least partially tonight. I'm going to check it out in better detail and see how bad the damage is to the passenger side of the bumper. I do have a spare grill that is in better shape than the one on my car now. So I may try to replace that tonight as well.

Anyone have experience taking off the bumper and taking out the grill? Suggestions would be appreciated, although I have already got some information from elsewhere in this site.

Thanks,
Matt

 

its very easy to take the bumper out.

pop the hood. take the air deflector out (the long plastic piece covers the Radiator), take out 4 bolts, then go behind the bumper. use a screw driver pop all the plastic screws loose. then go under the car, do the same thing.

I can take a bumper out in about 10 minutes. Its not hard.

 

Yup, was not hard at all, with a little help from the online shop manual and a youtube post. Took me a little less than two hours to remove the bumper, replace the grill, replace some missing hardware and remount to the car.

But I was being really careful and watching the Giants beat the Rockies. I figure I could do it in about a half hour next time. Btw I don't have the little pop plastic screws on the bottom, there are small metal screws. I had my bumper replaced after an accident, so I guess they used those to put it back together.

My old grill, with a few parts missing


All put back together

 

Good job/