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How to remove the center lower grille piece?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by PaulHS, Apr 22, 2012.

  1. PaulHS

    PaulHS Member

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    Is it possible to remove the lower center grille piece without removing the front bumper cover? If so, how is it done? The side pieces come out with no problem but the center piece is a puzzle. I'd like to make a minor mod to the grille without the bumper complication. Any help much appreciated.
     
  2. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

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    surprising I found the center piece easier than sides as the mounting clips on the side pieces have different lengths and there is an order you have to do them in so as to not break the long clip.

    to remove the center piece push on the top straight back, start at one side and work your way to the other side, I believe there are 5 tabs that are quite thick (1" wide) so they came out easily w/o breaking, but nonetheless be careful and use slow steady pressure don't whack at it. Once the top is free lean it forwards or backwards (I forget) but the bottom comes loose easily. The bottom doesn't have clips but little "loops" that hook onto something in the bumper. Simply leaning it is enough to free them.

    are you trying to add L.E.D.'s? I've got all 3 sections of my lower grille out trying to find a set of L.E.D. lamps that will fit in the small spaces in the left and right sections. I was sick of the outdated round foglamp look and wanted something more contemporary looking (thanks a lot Audi!!) so I removed the foglamps and bought the non fog lamp L & R lower grilles now I'm just looking for L.E.D.s that will fit nice and snug.
     
  3. PaulHS

    PaulHS Member

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    I used a wooden tongue depressor. The sides popped right out. I mounted the socket for my EBH on the driver's side grille.

    Thanks for the instructions. I could get my hands in behind the center grille, but couldn't make sense of what I was feeling.

    Yes, I want to add LEDs to the center. Someone displayed pictures that looked great, but he said he had to modify the grille to mount them properly. I know I'll have to do the same.

    I like the foglights, but the original lamps are/were orangish and unattractive. I replaced them with white 68 led SMDs. They are still only decorative, but now they match the HIDs.
     
  4. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

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    I'd like to see a pic of your fog lights at night with and w/o the HIDs with those 68 LED SMDs
     
  5. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

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    I forgot to mention that the center grille "attaches" to the side grilles, I was under the impression that you had already removed the side grilles which is why I said the center grille is so easy. Removing the center grille w/o removing the side grille is going to be a little more tricky. Since you are so good at removing the side grilles I recommend removing them before removing the center grille.
     
  6. PaulHS

    PaulHS Member

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    The foglights will only illuminate when the headlights are on, so I can only get a pic of foglights WITH HIDs.
     
  7. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

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    if you have your fog lamp rotating bezel switched to on and then rotate the light switch half way you will get parking lights, taillights and fog lamps only, no h.i.d.'s,
    I am requesting a picture of your special L.E.D. fog lamp bulbs BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT THE H.I.D.'s
    thanks
     
  8. PaulHS

    PaulHS Member

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    Nope. Doesn't work that way. I thought I had tried it before but I just now checked again. Should have known anyway because I have the wiring diagram. No HIDs, no foglights.

    100_1146.jpg
     
  9. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

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    yeah those look better than stock 9006 fog lamp bulbs, but they are still round which makes them outdated, examples:
    Aston Martin DB9 had round fog lamps, newer aston martins do not
    Ferrari 355 had round fog lamps, all newer ferraris do not
    pretty much the same goes for any Mercedes, BMW, VW, Audi, Acura or Lexus.

    Gotta adapt to the times. it must be a new safety feature added in 06 because both my 05 and 04 Prius can run the fog lamps w/o the HID's, you do have to have the parking lamps on, I'm still on the lookout for an all-weather LED strip that fits snug in the lower grilles, i'll be able to wire it straight to the existing fog light harnesses simple plug and play.
     
  10. PaulHS

    PaulHS Member

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    A Prius is never going to look like a Ferrari.

    There's another "safety feature" as well. When the headlights are on high beam, the foglights turn off!

    I haven't yet seen any LED strips short enough to fit in the side grilles. Good luck with that.