Dorsey

Simple, 30 minute job. Follow the instructions with this advice:

The instructions for the front say to use a push pin to pierce a plug. The plug has a dimple in it where you are instructed to push with the pin. The dimple is a piece of plastic you are breaking and pushing inward so that you can thread a screw into the hole created. I found it easier to use a very small phillips screwdriver and give it a slight rap with the palm of your hand. Just make sure the diameter of the screwdriver is less than that of the dimple.

You are removing two plastic push rivets for each rear guard. Pry up on the middle of the rivet with a flathead screwdriver and pull it out and you can wiggle the entire rivet out. When you replace them with the rivets that come with the guards, reach around behind the underbody and make sure they are fully seating in the plastic behind the felt fender liner. The plastic they are securing into is fairly flimsy and there is a good chance of seating the rivet without catching the plastic. Once you feel that they are all the way through the felt and the plastic, keep pressure on the plastic from behind while you seat the inner part of the rivet into the outer part.

On all four guards, don't fully tighten the screws until all are part way in and the rivets (on the back) are seated. Then keep pressure on the outside of the guard pushing gently towards the body while you tighten all the screws (start with the middle screw on the front guards). This will keep the guards flush to the body without gaps.

BlackDogRDX

Thanks for the detailed information - I was considering adding these on myself and it's always good to know I'm not getting into an Ikea-type DYI nightmare!

Mugszy

Where did you get your guards... trying to get a set myself...

Mugz

Dorsey

I got them at Park Acura OEM Parts internet site. They don't have 2013 parts as a category on their site so I searched using
Part#: 08P00-TX4-200 They were a bit less than $100 plus shipping.

They come with the screws and clips but not the install instructions. Go here for the install instructions: http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/AI/BII13464.pdf

Onac

I installed the splash guards over the weekend myself. Was really easy and I think they improve the look of the RDX. Hopefully they function pretty well too. Got mine off eBay can't remember the exact Acura dealer.

rdxJP

please post a picture once you guys are done installing it. I want to see how it looks like. I see lots of 2013 RDX OEM parts from eBay and I want to get one too.

weather

Hey...if you look at my photo thread (photo discussion....RDX Tech White Diamond Pearl), you will see that my RDX has them on. Its very subtle but do make the look nicer. In Canada, these are standard...as with the HID and fog lights.

CousinVinny

Hi Dorsey,

I installed mine earlier today. Following your instructions (thanks BTW), It was simple enough but I was unable to fully eliminate the gaps between guards and body after numerous tries.

Were you able to have the guards flush to the body without any gaps at all? Any additional tips on how to eliminate the gaps?

Thanks in advance!

Best,
Cousin Vinny

CousinVinny

Can someone please post some close-up pictures of their installed splash guards?

Thanks in advance.

Dorsey

Cuz - I did not have a problem with gaps but it is an individual judgement call. Mine are not perfect but they are pretty good and look fine. Will try to post some pics in the next few days. Are the gaps on all 4 or just front or just rear? If rear only make sure the rivet is fully seated and grabbing the plastic attachment point. Sounds like you have tried to loosen and tighten them to get a better fit. The only other thing I can suggest is to play with the temperature during reinstallation. Try to realign them with the vehicle in the hot sun or try putting one of the guards in the freezer for a few hours and then reinstall. That may create enough expansion or shrinkage to help.

CousinVinny

Thanks, Dorsey. Pics would be much appreciated. There are gaps on all for but the ones on the rear are a little lager than those on the front.

Dorsey

Here you go Cuz - http://s160.photobucket.com/albums/t...X%20mudguards/

Please excuse the dirt. I wash it every Saturday and today is Friday. I took a picture of each corner from behind and from directly above as the shadows make it difficult to see where the body and guard meet. Other than a small gap on the right front they are all pretty tight. I will work on the right front and see if I can close it up.

Let me know if yours are better, worse or the same.

CousinVinny

Thanks, Dorsey.

I think my are a little worst.

Here are the pictures that I took of them.

http://flic.kr/p/cFKhfJ
http://flic.kr/p/cFKhtj
http://flic.kr/p/cFKhFC
http://flic.kr/p/cFKhVd

Thoughts?

weather

CousinVinny...I went to check mine and they are perfectly flush with the vehicle, no gap whatsoever. In fact, I can't recall seeing something so tight.

That being said, mind were factory installed (or dealer) as they are standard feature on the Canadian models. The only reason I chimed in was to let you know that they are not suppose to have any spaces or gaps as I have evidence that its not the way they are suppose to be.

RDXAWD

If you don't have these during winter, do your paint get messed up from kicking up sand and salt?

I agree the above fitment doesn't look very good.

weather

^^^ Well, unlike other splash guards, these aren't overly tall and will not have the full splash protection that a full sized splash guard would. Esthetically, they are very pleasing but come at the expense of the protection they provide.

RDXAWD

Anyone got a full side view of the car with them?

weather

I hope this helps....As you can see, they are very subtle.

Dorsey

I think yours are worse - I am happy with all mine except the right front. Go back and look at the mounting instructions on the Acura estore. Note that there is a specific sequence for tightening the screws - here is an excerpt for the left rear:



Try again and see if that helps. Let us know.

GRDX

Attached are the full instructions for installing the splash guards which includes the proper fastener attachment sequence.

Colorado Guy AF Ret.

I installed my own...and did see that there was a gap developing. I then readjusted the mounting hardware as described....and when finished I still noticed a slight gap on I think 2 or 3 of them. I left them alone...and guess what???......after some time mounted they "conformed" I guess and the gaps went away and they were snug against the body.

Now, I don't know if that is the answer....but, it's what happened with mine. They probably "stretched/relaxed in to the correct conformity required to be snug fitting.

hawkeye62

Here are some photos I took of my dealer installed splash guards. Notice the front guard, the guard conforms exactly to the contour of the body panel.


http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1010385.jpg

http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1010383.jpg

http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1010382.jpg

http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1010378.jpg

Regards, Jim

weather

^^^ Great photos Jim...yours allow our members to describe what mine are like as well. BTW, you RDX seems very clean in those pics...Good job my friend

hawkeye62

Thanks for the kind words weather.

And, if you think my car looks very clean, that is the ultimate compliment.
Your meticulous attention to your cars has inspired me to new efforts.

Regards, Jim

musty hustla

Do the splash guards for the 2012 CRV fit? They are about $30 cheaper on ebay.

mykey06

CR-V Splash guards won't fit.

aks1972

My rear fender (inner well) has this felt liner with no clips or holes in the bottom - on both sides. Where are the holes for the pins? Do I need to make holes?

Thanks a bunch

Dorsey

On the rear you are replacing two existing rivets with the longer ones supplied with the splash guards. Are you saying that there are no existing plastic push rivets or holes for them in the rear fender lip or just in the felt? If that is true then the felt fender liner should be flapping around at the bottom rear. In any event, you should not have to make holes in the felt inner liner. I suggest you hold the splash guard in the correct position and make sure there are no black plastic rivets aligned with the holes in the splash guard. If not, take it to the dealer for advice because something is not right.

weather

*laughing* I must have missed your post earlier....Thanks for the kind words as well. I am aware that I am super anal about the state of my vehicles and maybe a bit too much. Glad to see that my compulsion has served as a motivation for you

GRDX

If you are truly super anal you would remove the splash guards once or twice a year to clean and apply a protective coating of wax to the areas of the body panels covered by the guards.

weather

GRDX....Thanks for giving me yet another thing to obsess about *lol* In all seriousness, if I drove it in any wet road conditions, I likely would by the RDX is now becoming like my TL and only my little Accent takes the brunt of the abuse when it comes to the weather. So I think I will not need to remove the guards to clean underneath for now anyway.

diamondcut

Gotta love Canada

musty hustla

I installed a set today...it was relatively easy. I thought the rear would be a nightmare due to clearance but there was plenty of room. I was surprised that the rear fender seemed to be made of sound deadening material.

Kapadiab

Hi Aks1972,

On my Rdx also, there are clips on rear fender inner well in the bottom. If you have installed guard, would you let me know how you installed.

thanks
bk

musty hustla

This is the most "challenging" part of the install if one or more of the pins puts up a fight.

You have two options: reach under and push out the center portion the pin from underneath the liner or use a thin flat head to pop out the center portion.

Kapadiab

Hi evryone

Thanks for your help/guidance to install splash guard. Today I installed splash guards and it took me about 30 minutes.
The dealer in california asked $203+ tax, I Purchased splash guards from Curry Acura for $105 including shipping and tax. All 4 splash guards snug with the body very well.
See attached pics

weather

^^^ Looks good! Great job with extra money in your pocket

truelies

Just finished installing. Spent about 1.5 hours. Thanks for the guidance.

The real tricky is the rear two, don't press in the inner part, first push the outside of rivet in, then push the inside. I bought from the acura dealer since they sent me a 15% off coupon. No gaps except the left rear has a very small gap, I pressed the inner part in first, maybe the gap caused by this mistake. The plastic quality is great.

steig

They look good on white. Look factory molded.

RDXed

The splash guards I bought didnt come with the screws/rivets. Do you know if I can buy them separately?