Rep Power: 0

Hey guys, I’m hoping you guys can help me come up with a fix for my major mistake today.

So I put a new grille on my 02 Lx Coupe, and when I put everything back together I didn’t realize that I had covered my hood release latch with the new grille, so I closed the hood.

Well, now the hood won’t open or fully close, and I can’t take off the bumper and grille because the screws in the engine bay are impossible to access since the hood won’t open. Any ideas? Not sure how I managed to even put the grille back on with the latch covered but I did…


Before - Hood release latch visible

After - Hood release latch covered by grille

 
Rep Power: 125

You might be able to get something like a screwdriver into the grill to push the latch, assuming it's still free and not stuck. Otherwise, I see no other way than simply cutting the grille up.

 
Rep Power: 221

Bumper is pretty flexible, try undoing it and folding it up, otherwise long screwdriver through the grille

 
Rep Power: 0

Thread update:
I was unable to do anything to pry the hood release latch up because the plastic from the grille was blocking me from doing so.

So I stuck a saw under the hood and sawed the black plastic on top of the grille right off.

Lesson learned! The grille/bumper went onto the car surprisingly easily considering it was over top of the hood release latch.

 
Rep Power: 366

car-part.com for nearby scrapyards to find replacement

 
Rep Power: 221

Personally i wouldn't bother, just clean up the edges and it will look almost factory