Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior Front Grill Issues!

Alright, before anyone even asked! Yes I did a search for Grill topics and none of them really helped me so I am posting my own question. Here it is: I have an 02 Celica GT 5 speed with the TRD bodykit. It has a wire mesh grill already installed I need to know the easiest way to get to both the upper and lower grill so that I can paint them. Is there anyone that can help me?

they should just be screwed into the lips of the bumpers. check and see if you can see where they are screwed in.

off topic: i was in denham springs not too long ago. i love it there

this is a pic of the regular (non-trd) grill...but it's more or less the same. it should just be screws holding it up

I have looked several times, and my grill nothing like the pic you posted. It seems to be screwed in several places but it is also glued in.. Or not glued in.. but it seems to have some sort of tabs that fit into slots with plastic melted over the ends to keep it in place. It looks like I would have to take off my whole bumper to get to it.. and I really didn't want to go through that much trouble. And by the way D.S. sucks big time! I don't know where you were but you must have not spent very long there, lol.

ugh, that sucks if it gots melted tabs keep it into place.

if you don't want to take the front bumper off..you can always just mask everything up real well, jack the front up, and try painting it that way. (just don't go light with the masking tape...tape that whole front end up if you have to just to make sure you don't get paint on anywhere else but the grill).

and i like d.s...i have friends up there. there really not anything to do unless you go to baton rouge, but its pretty as hell. i'd live there before i stayed here in new orleans.

I was afraid someone would say that. While that idea was not lost on me.. I think it would be hard to get to the upper grill to block it off so I would not paint what was behind it. What would be the easiest way to take off a TRD bumper? I know it just bolts on.. but where? When I looked I saw three under the hood.. one by each light and one in the center.. there are two or three by either of the wheel wells.. one where the fender and bumper meet.. but where are the others.. are there others?

there are most likely 7 bolts on top I think..take off your plastics and you'll see more
and look underneath and there may be some there..on stock there are some underneath..but with TRD front idk...

and that piece you are talking about is not melted in any way or stuck on in anyway that you can't get it off...take the bumper off and you'll see that it most likely clips or is screwed into the bumper.

these install guides should help:
https://celicahobby.com/ubbthreads/thread.f_1869783396_0_collapsed_2__1.html

https://celicahobby.com/ubbthreads/thread.f_57083_0_collapsed_2__1.html

credit isaac for the guides.

I'm going to have to get up under there with a camera so I can show you what I am talking about. I dont know how else to explain it. Thanks for the help though!

Just unbolt/screw the bottom skid plates from the front of the vehicle. You may want to jack the front end up then you will be able to get to the attachments.