Honda Civic (FK/FN) Front Grille Swap Without Breaking Clips
Introduction
This guide covers swapping the front grille on the 8th-generation Honda Civic (FK/FN hatchback, 2006-2011) from one design to another while keeping every retaining clip intact. It is commonly used to replace the closed perspex/glass grille fitted to standard cars with an open mesh sports grille, which improves airflow to the radiator and gives the car a Type R style front. On automatic models the standard grille often has open cooling holes, while manual cars typically have those holes blanked off from behind. The workshop manual tells you to remove the entire front bumper, but the job can be completed in place in as little as fifteen minutes with patience and slim wrists. Doing it yourself also avoids a large labour charge: owners in the thread paid under a hundred pounds for the part against dealer quotes of several hundred. Adapted from a community writeup by docholiday on Civinfo (https://www.civinfo.com/threads/how-to-change-grill-without-breaking-any-clips.24334/), including corrections from the follow-up discussion.
Reference
Tools Required
- 10mm hex wrench
- Flat-head screwdriver (a short, sturdy one helps for the lower clips)
- Needle-nose (long-nose) pliers
Parts Required
-
Replacement front grille (e.g. genuine Honda mesh sports grille, part 08F21SMG600C)
-
Spare grille and trim clips (recommended in case any break during removal)
Safety Warnings
- ⚠ The clips are under spring tension and jump out readily; work slowly and keep track of every one so none are lost in the engine bay.
- ⚠ Grille and bumper edges can be sharp. Wear gloves when reaching blind behind the grille to avoid cutting your hand.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1 Release the upper trim cover
Along the plastic trim strip that sits directly above the grille there are eight round black push clips. Work each one loose with the flat-head screwdriver. These clips release under spring tension and tend to ping out, so cup a hand over each as it frees to stop it disappearing into the engine bay.
2 Lift off the trim cover
With all eight clips out, draw the trim cover forward off the car. The only awkward point is easing it past the bonnet release catch, so guide it gently around that area rather than forcing it.
3 Remove the two grille bolts
Two 10mm hex bolts hold the top of the grille to the body. Back both of them out with the 10mm hex wrench and keep them safe for reassembly.
4 Free the two upper grille clips
The top edge of the grille is held by two clips (described in the thread as dark green, and referred to elsewhere as brown). Squeeze each one with the needle-nose pliers to release it, then draw the top of the grille outward a small amount to create working room.
5 Free the two lower grille clips
This is the fiddliest stage. Slide a hand into the gap behind the grille, in front of the radiator, and reach down to the two lower clips. Press each clip while easing the grille to disengage it. A reliable trick is to hold the pliers closed and use only their tips to trip the clip; a short, strong flat screwdriver works equally well for the bottom pair.
6 Unhook the bottom clamp and remove the grille
The lower edge of the grille tucks under a lip behind the top of the front bumper. That clamp is spring-loaded, so it can be nudged. With all four clips held clear, push the grille forward and slightly downward to unhook the clamp, then tilt the grille toward you and lift it out. If clearance is tight, pull the bottom of the bumper outward by a few millimetres to gain the extra room needed.
7 Seat the new grille's lower lip
Offer up the replacement grille and hook its lower plastic lip in behind the top edge of the bumper first. This locates the bottom of the grille and holds it while you deal with the clips.
8 Engage the clips, bottom pair first
Line the lower clips up with their holes and press them home, then move to the top pair. If the bottom clips do not align cleanly, flex the new grille slightly so its holes meet the clips still fixed to the car. Confirm all four are fully seated.
9 Refit the bolts and trim cover
Thread in and tighten the two 10mm hex bolts. Refit the upper trim cover by locating it over the bonnet release area, then press its eight black clips back into place to finish.
Pro Tips
- 💡 If access proves too tight, removing the front bumper first makes the whole job noticeably easier and is worth doing if the bumper is already off for other work.
- 💡 Order a few spare grille and trim clips before you start; they are cheap and easy to break or lose.
- 💡 The bottom pair of clips is the crux. Keeping the pliers closed and using only the tips, or a short stiff flat screwdriver, gives the control needed to trip them without snapping anything.
- 💡 Switching from a closed grille to a mesh one increases airflow to the radiator, which aids cooling; the Type R uses an open grille as standard. The only minor trade-off some owners note is a slightly longer warm-up in cold weather.
- 💡 Fitting the grille yourself typically costs the price of the part alone; dealer labour for the same swap was quoted at several hundred pounds.
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