Repair Procedure
CAUTION:
To ensure correct fender-to-body alignment during re-installation of the right front fender at the end of this Repair Procedure, measure and record the gaps noted at Points A, B, and C in Figure 2 before beginning any Repair Procedure steps.
1. Open the hood.
2. Place masking tape or equivalent on the front right hand bumper wheel well area, front right hand door leading edge, and right hand edge of the hood (see Figure 3).
3. Remove the front grill (see Figure 4).
CAUTION:
To avoid damaging the grill or the 4 plastic clips which hold the grill in place, use a long necked screwdriver when removing it. When the grill is removed, place it on a dry, clean surface (such as a fender cover or similar material) to protect it from damage.
4. Remove the 4 plastic grill clips from the brackets next on either side of the radiator (see Figure 4).
5. Re-install the 4 plastic grill clips onto the back side of the grill (see Figure 5).
6. Remove the right hand headlamp assembly and disconnect the 3 headlamp assembly connectors (see Figure 6A and 6B).
CAUTION:
Place a shop rag on the horizontal surface of the bumper to protect the paint from damage (see Figure 6A).
7. Remove the silver plastic cap at the base of the antenna.
8. Put the vehicle up on a hoist and remove the right front tire.
9. Remove the right front mud flap.
10. Remove the inner fender, right (front) and left (back) pieces as follows (see Figure 7A and 7B):
A. Remove 7 screws around the rim of the wheel well.
B. Remove 3 clips from the left (back) inner fender.
C. Remove 3 clips from the right (front) inner fender.
D. Remove 3 screws at the bottom of the right front bumper.
11. Remove two 10 mm bolts from the right front bumper support bracket (see Figure 8).
12. Remove three 10 mm screws from the right front bumper and right front fender (see Figure 9).
13. Pull the right front bumper fascia down to access and remove the 10 mm screw attaching the bumper to the fender (see Figure 10).
14. Remove the bolt from the base of the antenna bracket (see Figure 11).
CAUTION:
Do not allow the antenna to dangle. Place it down on the coil spring.
15. Detach and remove the right front fender as follows:
A. Remove three 10 mm bolts accessed from the hood (see Figure 12).
B. Remove the clip securing the windshield washer fluid hose to the hood railing (see Figure 12).
C. Remove the clip from the sponge foam insulator bracket located in the middle of the right front wheel arch, behind the fender (see Figure 13).
CAUTION:
The sponge foam insulator and bracket are affixed to the inside of the fender with doublesided tape. Do not tear the insulator and bracket away from the inside of the fender when removing the fender.
D. Remove two 10 mm bolts from the leading edge of the right hand front door (see Figure 14).
E. Remove one 10 mm bolt from the area under the right hand front door (see Figure 15).
CAUTION:
When removed, place the fender on a clean, dry surface (use a fender cover or similar material under the fender to protect it from damage).
16. Locate the inner tender cowl drain access area (see Figure 16).
17. Insert a flat bladed screwdriver between the inner cowl drain panel and inner plate (see Figure 17A).
18. Use the flat bladed screwdriver to lift the top inner cowl drain panel up from the inner plate 2-3 mm (see Figure 17B).
19. Perform Confirmation Test # 2 (below) to verify the squeak/creak/rattle noise is no longer present.
Confirmation Test # 2:
1. Remove the antenna from the coil spring and re-install the antenna base.
2. Secure the antenna rod to the engine bay/inner fender using duct tape or equivalent (see Figure 18).
3. Put the right front tire back on the vehicle and lower the vehicle from the hoist.
4. Start the engine. Put the shift lever in REVERSE and slowly (less than 5 mph) very carefully roll backward approximately 5 feet.
5. Apply moderate braking force and listen for a rattle, squeak, or creak noise in the right hand dash area.
6. Put the shift lever in DRIVE and slowly (less than 5 mph) very carefully roll forward approximately 5 feet.
7. Apply moderate braking force and listen for a rattle, squeak, or creak noise in the right hand dash area.
^ If the noise is still present, put the vehicle up on the hoist and remove the right front tire and antenna. Repeat Steps 17 and 18 and Confirmation Test # 2.
^ If the noise is no longer present, the procedure is complete. Install all parts removed in reverse order.
CAUTION:
To ensure correct fender-to-body alignment, verify that the gap measurements recorded at the beginning of this procedure (Points A, B, and C in Figure 2) match during re-installation of the right front fender.