Can anyone give me tips on the removal of lower front bumper grills.
They don't appear to screw in from the front and access to rear looks impossible without taking whole car apart. I have removed the pan below engine but this didn't seem to allow any access.
Possibly the grills just clip in from the front. There must be a reason for the holes on the outboard sides of each grill.
Any ideas.

 

Sure,
Actually it's really easy. They simply just pop right out. If you took a flat head screw driver, and carefully push on them from inside the holes. They should just pop right out. Just be carefull, because you don't want to scratch the paint.

 

Thanks Saskins.

I will give it try next opportunity I get. I was considering leaving them out but run the risk of rad damage from stone. My 88 Corvette does not have any grill below bumper and air flows directly through to rad. Never been a problem and stock right from the factory.

What do you think? How does it look when taken out completely?

 

Any reason to take them off?

 

Being inquisitive I guess.

I thought if it was fairly easy to remove, I would try it and see what it looks like without. I would imagine it would result in slightly improved air flow.
I have seen some replacement grills and also was thinking that if the grills were painted the same colour as the door handles and around windshield, it might look really neat, but maybe not.

These are things you have to try, just like the explorers did back when?

 

Just remember when you pop them out, to pop the outside edge out first. The inside edge has more of a hook to it that hooks behind the bumper.

Personally I don't think it would look very good to completely leave them out. The area isn't trimmed out very good and you would be able to see the temperature sensor.

 

I have my grill the center one at a machine shop this week to design an aluminum one also going to match the lowers to it .

How did you do your exhaust?Any pictures?

 

Also you have to remember on the drivers side lower grille, there is the cutout for what appears to be the temperature reader. It has its own slot in the grille so removing them, will make this piece just freely swing around by its wire, take a look at it, its the pointy thing on the grille, push hard on it and it will pop out, or actually pop in.

 

Thanks for that piece of info. Until earlier today, I didn't know where the temp sensor was. Nice to know that it is integrated with front grill.
I'll watch this when I remove the grills.

 

Aren't we supposed to use the mystery tool? I just found mine inside the pockets behind the driver's seat....after 10 months

 

I think the mystery tool is used to remove the center caps on your wheels.

Am I right; if not, please provide information that I need to know.

 

the mystery tool is used for automatic cars if the transmission linkage locks in park...the tool is inserted in the lower area of the shifter gate inside the car to unlock the linkage.

as for the center caps...i use my drivers license to remove them (slide the card in the seam and pry). hold on to the center cap or it will fall out of your hands and on to the ground if your not careful. a flathead screw driver will scratch the rim.

 

The tool is dsigned to be used to remove the grill to access the front tow hook (should be in the OM). There was some discussion about this before and if I remember correctly it is safer to access the release point from inside the wheel well and release it by hand. The author of the previous message had some damage done by the tow truck driver.

 

I removed the drivers side grill today and had no problems whatsoever; used small flatheaded screwdriver in the outboard hole and grill came out quite easily;
Your right as far as the finish look without grill is not good. The temp sensor is there fastened to a bracket.
I placed the grill back in as easily as it came out and will leave stock appearance for now;
I still think that maybe DC should have painted these the same silver colour as door handles and windshield frame but I guess they wanted less obtrusive look.

Thanks all for the info on this posting.

 

OMMFG!

Please, do yourself a favor...

IGNORE THE OWNERS MANUAL!

There is a much easier/safer way: in the wheel well there is an access panel, you remove it, and you can reach in and pop them off from the inside. No worry on scratching up the grill and destroying the plastic.

Also the manual isn't clear. It implies (by the picture) there is some scew, like some other sporty cars. (the picture show the mystery tool with a turning arrow) Its not! Its a pry tab. Again, I don't recommend this method. I put a post some long time ago of the horror story of the flat-bed driver Chrysler Service sent out who destroyed my lower front grill (and my driveway, and almost my entire love of the car).

L8rs,

GD

 

No owners manual in my case; in fact, I had no idea this type of info was in the owners manual.

I just followed simple iinstructions given on earlier posting and the process was a piece of cake. I don't even think there is much of a risk in scratching the paint if your careful enough.

The key is to pull the grill out from the outboard side first (side where the square hole is). Putting the grill back in the same as it came out is important as well.

I should emphasize that the temp sensor was clipped to an inside bracket behind the grill
and did not float around on its wires like someone earlier had suggested.

 

Mystery Tool ???????

 

it's a semi-long black metal tool/rod....used to disengage automatic shifter linkage if the car gets stuck in gear.

in most cases...it's located in the vertical center pouch between the seats. (only applies to automatic cars)

 

The mystery tool comes with "all" models. Among it's other uses are to help pull off the lower grills and pop off the center wheel hubs.

 

I used the mystery tool to remove the lower front plastic grill and cover it with a chrome mesh grill. I also removed my front plates and my XFIREX is looking alot better and much more sportier!