Sugi

Good Morning,
I was recently driving when my 2009 TL took a hit to the face from a rock. It broke one of her teeth. I decided to get it fixed and began inquiring. Acura, told me that it would be $73 CAD for the part and at least 1 hour for install at $99/ hour plus $17 shop supplies. Thinking that this could be longer and charged more than this I decided to take it on and do it myself.
https://acurazine.com/forums/album.p...ictureid=28888

First, I did not have the shop manual, or an online subscription to helms. My intention is to help those who are trying to remove the grille in the easiest fashion. The 2004 TL manual describes taking the bumper off then removing the grille. You do not have to do this in the 2009.

Things that I have learned.

1. There are a lot of screws behind the grille. There are 16 x https://acurazine.com/forums/album.p...ictureid=28886Torx 25 Screws behind and 4 x 10mm bolts on top, visible once the Pass and front engine covers are removed. https://acurazine.com/forums/album.php?albumid=5426&pictureid=28887

2. There are also 6x 91503-s0k-a01 pop clips. https://acurazine.com/forums/album.p...ictureid=28885

3. Important point: The only things holding the grille assembly to the car are the 4 bolts on top and 6 pop clips. To open them you wiggle a flat screw driver between the inner and outer piece and twist to pop it. Trust me easier said than done.

4. When I dissembled the grille I did not know this and could have saved a lot of time. Instead I removed all torx screws which separates the 2 silver front pieces and give you access to the back side of the pop clips which you can then punch out with a Robertson screw driver. However, getting the pop clips off is not the easiest to do as the two center ones have very little clearance.

5. Assembly: This is completed in reverse but ne challenges arrive. First I put all three pieces together first with the torx 25 bit and a drill (have the clutch to a very low setting to avoid breaking the parts). Install the pop clips. I would suggest doing the hardest ones first (2 center and 2 outer) as you will likely drop them and have to retrieve them.

Tools that I used: Torx 25 bit, 10mm socket, ratchet, flashlight, mirror, flat screwdriver.

Time: 2.5 Hours, most of that figuring out that I didnt have to take all the screws out.

Good Luck, I hope this helps someone. All Pictures are in this album below.
https://acurazine.com/forums/members/sugi-276470-albums-front-grille-installation-5426/

NJ SHAWD

Nice write up, and thanks for the information! How easy was it to re-align the grill upon installation?

Sugi

It is pretty easy. There is a lip at the bottom of the grille that can only go in one exact position. if it is off by a little bit, it won't go in.

GunnerX

Nice writeup. I used these instructions to replace my grill with the sports grill. I found it easier to take out the bumper and just remove the clips. But I guess it's easier since I'm replacing the entire grill.

http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/AI/BII39505.pdf

swooopeno

thank you very much...

got the grille off without taking the bumper off. Broke one clip in the process, but that just gives me an excuse to get a free car wash at the dealer today.

Tomorrow... onto the rear trim replacement... I think I'll have to remove the entire bumper for that one...

GunnerX

The rear trim is a lot easier than the front grill. This one took me under 20 mins to do. Just remove the 2 upper bolts from each wheel well then start peeling back the bumper. Once you have it out, just reach from the back and use a stubby screwdriver to remove the trim and just push the new one in. Then pop the bumper back in.