I'd like to remove the upper grill on my 2003 Protege5 to see if there is sufficient room for a small red neon light behind it (put a grenn one behind the grill of a Maxima I once had - it looked awesome -- doesn't need a lot of space). I know about and can remove the two bolts at the ends and the two inner plugs/snaps. There seem to be two outer plugs/snaps which I cannot remove though. Some help would be highly appreciated

 

in my 99 LX the grill had three plastic screw-pegs that attached the top of the grill to the support that holds the condenser, hood lock, and headlights. There are also 3 screw-pegs that attached the bottom of the grill to the bumper. However, these screw-pegs could only be accessed from under the bumper(actually inside the bumper) so I just took the whole bumper off (there were a total of 11 screws/ screw-pegs).

 

I think your grill is a little different, but thanks for trying to help out...

 

when i took mine out of my 2002, i also had to take the bumper off. theres 3 pegs that go through the bumper and can only be reached by taking the bumper off.

 

Hmm...that's not what I was hoping for. What all is involved in taking the bumper off (be specific and give detail, if you may)?

Thanks!

 

well first, take the bolts out of the front of the wheel wells to access the inside of where the front quarterpanel meets the side of the bumper. theres 2 bolts and a clip on each side here. then, take the bolts out of the bottom of the bumper, theres either 2or4 ,cant remember. then under the hood, there is 2 bolts that hold the bumper to the grill and to the car. take them out and then take the clips out of the back of the grill that hold the grill to the car. that should do it, but if its still held on, you will be able to find the bolt that holds it on fairly easily. none of the stuff is hard to get to, it just takes some time.

 

http://www.smokinmhz.com/mazda/grill/

 

I had a problem with those 2 plastic clips too. That link was helpful, thanks!

 

Ah! Mon Dieu! Tu est le greatest! Merci beaucoup!

 

go to dewey's link. that's how i took off my grill. nice pictures and directions. maybe it should go into the how-to section.

 

Got it off last night, easier than I thought. Are those two (%#(*!&$) clips really necessary? I left them off because I'll be removing the grill again soon.

 

yes those clips are nessesary because mazda says so... LOL no they are not, you don't need like half the screws and clips in your car and if you take them out your car will still be okay.

Disclaimer: i am not serious