This has been an ongoing question with only one good article on this but missing details that can help you remove the grill without breaking anything. When using Google, I can't find anything, not even the article that everyone points people too so unless you are a part of this forum, you will not know of the articles. If you notice in some of my pictures there is a small crack in the upper right part of my grill. That happened when trying to follow the directions in the articles on how to remove the grill. It helped but wasn't detailed enough for me. Plus he failed to mention how on the drivers side the retaining frame is right up against the grill at all points while at the same time some of his pics the tape placement changed. I had to figure out some things myself that wasn't mentioned. I actually just removed my grills (about to plasti dip them) and took some pictures so here is what I did:
1) Tools (yes a plastic knife b/c it works wonders when it comes to getting in between the grill and the retaining frame. Doesn't scratch your paint and will not crack your grill.)
2) The Grill and Key Points
(Photo 1)These are pry points for the two clips that mainly hold this in place
(Photo 2)The top of the grill
(Photo 3)Points to position your hands for pulling. On the driver side, part of the retaining frame is right behind the grill in those points so be sure to only pull on the grill and not both the grill and retaining frame.
(Photo 4) Initial start point
Top clip area on retaining frame
3) Directions:
First use the plastic knife at the very top of the grill and pry it in between the grill and the retaining frame (Photo 4). Work the knife from the top back corner to the front of the top while pulling down at the pull points mentioned in Photo 3. I worked the knife in and then switched to the pull points and started to pull down and out. Work back and forth between the two things. This will release the 2 points displayed in Photo 2.
Now that the top has released, the next steps deal with the clips in Photo 1. From this point on your focus with pulling the grill will be at the same points but in the direction of out and up. Switch to your small flat head screw driver (Note: I did slide the plastic knife down the sides of the grill to loosen some of the pressure) and move to the top key point(Photo 1). Push down on the retaining piece with the flat head while pulling up and out on the grill. With a little elbow grease you should be able to pull the grill clip out of the retaining frame leaving the top half of the grill hanging out.
Next move down to the bottom clip point (photo 1) and begin to pry the retaining frame down, like you did for the top clip point. While doing this, using the hand points mentioned in photo 3, pull up and out. With a little more elbow grease than the top clip the grill should pop off of the retaining frame and there you have your grill.
Next on to my plasti dip.
Maybe this YouTube video will help. Video is unedited, uncut, and obviously not
rehersed!
YouTube - Side vent removal for YouTube
Nice video. But like I said and showed in my video, there are 2 other points at the top and the drivers side has a retaining frame all behind the grill. That will not work for the drivers side. Maybe my CS is the only CS that has 4 clip points.
You're making it more complicated than it needs to be. If you START at the Bottom clip of the Grille, when you release the Upper Grille clip the two top clips will automatically be released as you pull the Grille down and off the retaining frame.
