How To: Remove 2012 Grille.

So I decided to plasti-dip my front grille and thought i'd make a quick write up on removing the 2012 grille since I couldn't find one on here. It is very simple but I figure this might help someone.

There are 2 screws and 5 clips that hold the front grille on. To remove the clips you just simply get a thin flat head screw driver and pry up. Once the center part of the clip pushes up you can pull out the clip. Once the screws and clips are out just gently slide the grille out of its slots.

The two screws (sorry for glowing micro-fiber):


The top two clips:

Passenger side:



Driver side:



The bottom three clips (I took these pictures with the grille removed just to show the location.):



The middle one is a little difficult to get to. I found that if you get the top two clips and screws out you can sort of bend the grille backwards and pop out this clip.






... and Voila!



...and the finished plasti-dipped grille:



Hope this helps!
-ajan246

 

Was the grill originally chrome? If you could get the lower bumper to match, it might look pretty smooth..

 

thanks for the write up.

 

Original grill:

I'm wondering if you can spray paint on top of plasti-dip to match the color of the lower bumper and still be able to peel it off if you ever want to. Either that or i'm just gonna buy a color matched grille surround...

 

I did all that and I cannot get it off!! Im afraid im going to break something if I pull any harder! Is there a trick to pulling it out?

 

There's two tabs on the ends of the grill that need to be pushed out. Just slight pull and she should come out.

 

thx I got it, just had to wiggle it a lot

 

it was a bitch to get mine off. i went from a chrome one (off road package ) to a black one (sport package) and looked easy enough at first, undo two screws and pull right?

it snaps out alright, but not without thinking you're about to snap the whole thing in half.

the trick was to start pulling on the lower corner of one side until the main snap snaps out an then just do a sort of zipper effect al the way down the line

 

replaced mine with a color-matched grille today, thank you for the write-up!

 

Nice job OP.

 

where are ya'll getting the '12 color matched body grilles?

 

+1 thanx for the write up, gonna need it when i get my grillcraft!

 

nice! I would have swapped with you, as I have the chrome grill, and I would have rather preferred a basic black grill. shucks

 

i believe its just the top 2 tabs that need to be pulled..at least thats what i had to do on mine..the bottom tabs arent for the grille.

So the two screws, and the two tabs on top that hold it in.

 

I emailed several local dealers and one of them got back to me about ordering & selling it to me. It was the same place I bought the truck, Vancouver Toyota. The parts manager was very helpful - he offered a competitive price right from the get-go (not as good as some of the online retailers, but I didnt have to have it shipped) and he kept me up to date throughout the process. Even made sure I had the part number correct (53100-04480-E0 for Pyrite Mica).

He ships stuff too, but that will probably cost a little more - email Mark Sherman at msherman@vancouvertoyota.com. And no I dont work there, I just like to promote honest helpful people.

 

I helped a local member do the BHLM and had never taken a 12 grill off before, with the 05-11's it takes like a minute, it took me a few though with the 12's lol....

OP you need to do the BHLM its looks great on the 2012's

 

Looks like I need to form a taco meet just a dang 12 grille off...everything went smoothly till no matter what i could not get the tabs to release..me and my dad tried to wiggle it around and such but no luck...UGH..i love the tabs..easily reusable

 

Are you talking about these clips? Or the clips that are on the bottom of the grille inside engine bay?

The ones in the engine bay are a little of a pain to get out. I found it easy if you pull it forward a little and putyourfingers in front of them by the light, and pull forward there. I'll try to post a picture of what I mean..I've taken mine off..prolly..15-20 times already? Headlights..horn..more headlights..yoda horns..yoda horns again.. I'm beginning to be a pro at taking the grille off

 

The two screws and 5 clips were piece of cake. The clips on the bottom on the inside..i see two large clips on the ends. Looks as if they should be pushed down but wont move..there seems to be like 3 or so smaller clips under the lip of the grill..but nothing seems to come loose from the bumper.

 

Those 8 clips with red arrows to them don't need to be removed..at least for me they don't lol. i removed the two screws and the two clips..then pull the grille right off...unless (being an engineer) I reengineered it to make it easier on myself which could be the case haha



These are the clips that I'm referring to being a biotch to get through the slot so the grille comes off easily.

Driver side:


Passenger side:



here's what I'm talking about pulling the front off..

Put your hand behind the grille and pull the forward like so

Driver side:


Passenger Side: