Help with false center light
 

Okay, I got in a minor accident the other day... truck in front was fine, and at first glance I was okay too. Well I'm not.

The false center light has been pushed backward from the bottom, exposing the metal frame behind the bumper and making it difficult to open the hood (because the hood latch hits the plastic "grille" section of the false light).

How do I remove the grille? I tried releasing the tabs on top and pulling but it won't budge.

remove grille
 

put a screwdriver between the grill and the bumper and carefully pry up on the grill to release the 2 bottom tabs
1 tab on each end
they're in rubber bushings and very very tight

That could be a serious problem. Seeing as the impact drove the light down and back. I can't really get a screwdriver under it.

Am I stuck? Do I really have to break the part to remove it? :(

First you have th eget the top tabs loose, then it will pull straight up...just takes some force if it's not been off before.

Figured it out. The light was caught on two bolts. I wedged screwdrivers under the light where the bolts were and pushed up, and it popped back up. I then removed it to inspect the damage.

Looks like I need a new center section. :o It's not too bad, but the top clips are shattered. It doesn't seal up anymore (there's space between the piece and the rubber trim), so I removed it and left it off. Maybe I'll get another one or something else to replace the middle with. For the moment, I really need new clips.

Thanks for all the help, guys.


http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9...ttopff4.th.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9...rontau3.th.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/9...tbarts9.th.jpg

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5...calihn4.th.jpg

Did you post in the Parts wanted section for a new center light? Good luck on the project. :)

new grille
 

Since you need to replace it anyway ...
I'd go for the 97 grille look which is available for around $130

btw ... I put red vinyl on my original waterfall grill and then added some gutter seal for that stainless mesh look

wish I knew how to paste a pic to the message I would show you

grille pics
 

ok
I'm going to try it
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ura...e2.jpg&.src=ph grille with mesh and vinyl
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ura...e2.jpg&.src=ph grille without mesh installed
hope it works

dang it! just the links showed up :confused:

And we need to be logged in to your account to view the links...

Get an address for just the image itself, it should end in ".jpg", then when posting, use this icon http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/imag...nsertimage.gif and paste in the address.

Are you sure it is the center grille piece that's bent? I didn't think such a big peice of plastic could bend.:confused: You don't think its maybe the grooves the tabs sit in that may have shifted back or where it should clip into the headlights? I could see that bending..
Maybe you can place the center grille in the tabs and not put the plastic tabs. Dustin (odepaj) has one of his SVX's like that. It seems the hood prevents the grill from lifting and getting out of those tabs so its been working well for him. I considered removing the clips from my grill just so its more accessible.

Good luck and take care,

Hocrest
thanks for the advice
It wouldn't work with rogers yahoo so I decided to scrap their hosting and go here http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com

http://aycu01.webshots.com/image/218...7815663_rs.jpg
waterfall grille with red vinyl and gutter screen fitted

http://aycu32.webshots.com/image/209...8869008_rs.jpg
waterfall grill with red vinyl on and before mesh was added

oh ... ignore the cracks on the bumper
they're not mine ;)

I'm sure it's not. It's the clips that got destroyed. From what I can tell the light itself is fine. Just the grille is cracked from the hood latch mechanism hitting it.

waterfall
 

i have an extra waterfall grille laying around from replacing mine with the 97 grill... its yours if you want it for just the cost of shipping...