I'm trying to remove the front bumper on my Stock 99TL. I have no OEM kit on it at all. There are more then 4 gromets it looks like that i have to remove as oposed to what the DIY says on abunchofcars.com. ANYWAYS, In the process of removing the middle driver side gromet, I broke the black plastic tab thingy that you wedge the flat tip screw driver under. Well i put the flat tip under it, and went to apply pressure downward and the plastic tab broke. NOW THERES NOTHING TO WEDGE UNDER for the gromet to pull out. IDK WHAT TO DO. First time doing this bumper thing. How do i get it out without fucken BREAKING MORE SHIT. PLEASE I NEED AN ANSWER NOW. Gotta get this done before 5:30 eastern standard time. Please respond ASAP. THANKS.

 

have you taken a look at this http://www.abunchofcars.com/diy_page...er_console.htm

 

REMOVING THE FRONT BUMPER
This was very easy. Start first by going under the car and looking at all the clips on the bumper. You will notice there are plastic clips on the very front, connecting the front spoiler. These do not have to be removed in order to take of the bumper. You will see other clips going along the bumper. You just take a flat head screw drive and pry them out gently. When the center is out you can pull the front bumper and the black undergarment piece apart and do this to all the clips, I think there is like 5. Also there are 2 screws on each corner that you will need to remove. Then open the hood and you will see 3 more clips. Remove these next. Now there is a screw left on each side left. Inside the wheel well. Remove .Now on each side of the bumper a couple inches from the top screws you just removed ,there are clips holding the bumper in. Just grab the edge of the bumper cover, from in the wheel well, and pull, these will free the bumper and remove. That's it. This is a 10-15 minute job.

 

thres also 2 bolts under the skid plate you need to remove. I thinks it a 10mm

 

bumper is pretty much off now but MY PROBLEM is that there is one gromet left holding that bumper on. I CANT GET IT OUT CUZ I BROKE THE CLIPS ON THE GROMET ITSELF and now there is nothing to wedge the flat head screw driver under to wedge the gromet out. Its the Driver side middle one that i broke the little clips on. Ive tried just grabbing the plastic of the bumper thats around the gromet and pulling down REALLY FUCKEN HARD. WONT POP OUT. Only way i can think is to saw it off. WHAT DO I DO. PLEASE RESPOND QUICK. Im waiting on someones solution for me.

 

options...


-drill out the center of the black clip.

-take off the bumper and leave that clip installed, you will be able to get at the clip from the other side when you have the bumper free from the car. I understand the bumper will still be attached to the car but you should be able to attack the rear of the black clip that way... just have something to put the bumper on, it will not reach the ground if the clip is still installed.

-reach under the car and get at the clip that way, use something like a screw driver to push out the center of the clip from the back.

-use a pair of side cutters and cut the black clip out from the front or from the back..

-pull the bumper, the clips sometimes pop out even though they are "closed"

Lemme think of more and I'll post em..

By the way, relax... I'm exactly the way you sound with your car, I get really frustrated with things and end up breaking something... usually small but still breaking somethin...lol.. I've lost a bunch of those clips, and ruined a bunch... I just keep rotating the good clips to the top where they are seen, in the enging bay...

 

If I am understanding right you are talking about under the car...if that's the case, yes just cut it off. You can use a saw or tin snips. Just about anything. Don't worry about screwing up the clip, they are very cheap and easily replaced, do worry about cutting the bumper or damaging it. Either way, even if it is not under the car that you are talking about and you are just having a hard time getting the clip out, do whatever it takes to get it out. Even if you need to drill it. Your dealer might even give you more grommets for free like mine did. Good luck.

 

OH MAN, earlies i was in distress LOL. But ALL IS WELL. I fucken took a foot long flat tip screw driver and stuck it through the front area of the bumper that is open and wedged it between the the bumper piece and black piece of plastic that the Gromet goes through and POUNDED THE SHIT OUT OF IT WITH A Hammer to the end of the screw driver. It thrusted in deep enough to where it forced the grommet out and WALA. Bumper came right off with no problem. THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP AND COOPERATION WITH ME. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST ON THIS FORUM. Yeah, some of us get really frustrated with stupid shit like that LOL but hey, thats what makes it fun irght lol. Aight, this thread is no more needed. Once again, THANK YOU EVERYONE. Later
Resanator was removed succesfully. Sounds great for now until i get my CAI.

 

a clip tool is always handy for removing those stupid clips

 

you suck....moving those bumper clips is easy if u know how to, u cant just put a flat head and expect it to come out.....u kinda just have to wiggle it out.
yea...only newbs brreak clips.

 

Aint a newb to the forum. I just havent done the bumper removal before and plus, those clips are a piece of shit. All the other ones came out no problem. If you woulda seen this clip u would understand.

 

Where can i get a clip tool at?

 

most auto parts stores.

 

koool. i understand

 

Are you talking about this?

 

Just buy some replacement clips and then break the darn things off. It is much easier that trying to "finess" them.

 

I had the same problem man...don't sweat it. I cut the outer lip of the clip (the part that contacts the bumper) with a wire cutter and it slide right off with the peg still in there.

 

Not if they cost over $2.00 each.

 

Yeah they are like $3 each at the acura dealer. Lowes has similar plugs in the wiring secton.